Minas Gerais Agency | Minas Santa 2024: tourist flow in the state reaches half a million people and exceeds expectations

The tourist flow generated by the Minas Santa 2024 program exceeded expectations.

Around half a million people traveled through Minas Gerais during Holy Week, a number 20% above that estimated by the State Tourism Observatory.

Almost half of the cities recorded an increase in movement compared to 2023, with an increase of at least 50%.

The second edition of Minas Santa brought together 660 events in around 600 cities participating in the project, and positions Minas Gerais as the country’s main tourist destination for the religious holiday.

The Minas Gerais Government program, carried out through the State Secretariat of Culture and Tourism (Secult-MG), also boosted hotel occupancy. From Friday to Sunday (29 to 31/3), the main accommodation facilities in the cities of Ouro Preto, Mariana, Tiradentes, Lavras Novas, São João del-Rei, Congonhas, Santa Bárbara, Caeté, Diamantina and Serro registered 100 % occupancy, according to research carried out by the Brazilian Association of the Hotel Industry of Minas Gerais (ABIH-MG).

The movement was reflected at Confins International Airport, which offered almost 90 more flights during Holy Week. The BH Airport concessionaire estimates that 139,100 passengers passed through the terminal between 3/28 and 4/1.

Destinations

The historic Ouro Preto received 35 thousand tourists, who were able to enjoy attractions such as the traditional Fogaréu and Ressurreição processions, in addition to the making of devotional carpets.

“All expectations were exceeded. We had the Ouro Preto population as an active force during Holy Week, whether in planning the religious festival or in making carpets. This demonstrates the feeling of belonging to this important moment”, declared the director of Tourism of Ouro Preto, Felipe Henrique Xavier.

The technical coordinator of the Municipal Secretariat of Tourism, Culture and Heritage of Caeté, Pedro Silva Conceição, identified a clear increase in demand for the city.
Between Thursday and Sunday (28 to 31/3), the Basilica Nossa Senhora da Piedade Sanctuary alone received more than 4 thousand visitors.

“In the historic parishes and the sanctuary we had the largest attendance ever, in addition to the clear perception that many tourists, including foreigners, were attracted”, reported Conceição.

In addition to the daily masses at the basilica, dedicated to the Patroness of Minas Gerais, Caeté also featured a reenactment of the Passion of Christ, processions and sermons.
These and other celebrations were published on the Minas Gerais Portal (minasgerais.com.br).

The catalog helped tourists from Minas Gerais and across the country plan trips and take advantage of the state’s cultural and religious diversity, promoting Minas Gerais cities and celebrating respect for all manifestations of faith.

“Holy Week is the great moment of tourist movement in Minas Gerais, it is the biggest celebration we have here and a great movement of internal tourism in Minas. This flow of faith tourism is very important for the state. All our actions during Holy Week involve culture, from historical heritage to crafts. During this period, we have the union of arts: theater, music, dance, plastic arts, sculpture and fashion”, highlights the Secretary of State for Culture and Tourism of Minas Gerais, Leônidas de Oliveira.