Culture and sustainable tourism add up to investments from the Government of Amazonas in 2023

Manaus (AM) – Throughout 2023, Governor Wilson Lima reinforced his commitment to the Culture of Amazonas, through the Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy, and to the tourism sector, through the Amazonas State Tourism Company (Amazonastur). Investments boosted projects that highlight the state’s cultural richness, enriching the experience of tourists who visited Amazonas.

People’s Carnival

At the beginning of the year, in February, an unprecedented initiative took the traditional Manaus Carnival to the north of the city with the Grupo Experimental, also created in 2023. The three-day party also led to the launch of the traditional Carnaboi to Novo Aleixo, in yet another action to decentralize Culture in the capital.

Furthermore, the Samba Schools of the access groups and the special group held their traditional parades at the Sambódromo, for three days, with the largest investment ever made by the State Government in the festivities.

At Carnaboi, there was also innovation: the revelry to the rhythm of the ox was moved from the four days of Carnival and was held on the weekend following the momesca court, a novelty approved by both the public and the ox artists.

25th Amazonas Opera Festival

At the 25th Amazonas Opera Festival (FAO), held in April and May, national erudite culture was highlighted with partnerships with the Brazilian Academy of Music, FAO rescued lost scores from the opera “O Contractador de Diamantes” by Francisco Mignone, presented in the last century.

Furthermore, the festival hosted the first Brazilian production of the renowned opera “Anna Bolena”, a local production in collaboration with the Municipal Theater of São Paulo. The participation of the Coral do Amazonas and the Amazonas Filarmônica, supported by the Government of Amazonas, further enriched this milestone on the world lyrical scene.

The consolidation of the FAO was evidenced by the Annual Meeting of Ópera Latinoamérica (OLA) in Manaus, marking the first meeting in Brazil of this entity that brings together representatives of opera theaters from all over Latin America and Spain.

Parintins Festival: visitors’ party at Bumbódromo

For the first time, the visitors’ party was held at the Bumbódromo de Parintins (369 kilometers from Manaus) with shows by Ludmilla and Simone Mendes. The unprecedented format of the party offered the public more comfort, better structure and more security.

The 360⁰ stage was yet another innovation that took the Visitors’ Festival to another level, allowing the show to be watched in a privileged way from everywhere in the Bumbódromo.

The festival itself, held over three nights, was one of the biggest ever, with Caprichoso and Garantido once again delighting veterans and new visitors alike at the Festa do Boi.

Amazonas Green Jazz Festival

The release of the album “Randy Brecker Live in Amazonas” marked the end and was the highlight of the 2023 edition of the Amazonas Green Jazz Festival, which was marked by the tribute to female jazz voices, with a line up largely made up of attractions feminine.

The Amazonas Green Jazz Festival is also consolidated as one of the most important events of its kind in the world, attracting jazz lovers from all over the world with its strong line up.

Amazonas Folklore Festival

The competitive exhibition of the Gold Series of the Amazonas Folklore Festival, at the Centro Cultural Povos da Amazônia, was also a success with the public and critics, boosting the creative economy and the folklore universe of the capital. Quadrilhas, cirandas, bois-bumbás and several other folkloric groups were so enchanted that they went to the Bola da Suframa arena to see the performances.

Notices of the Paulo Gustavo Law

The participation of cultural workers in the preparation of the nine notices of the Paulo Gustavo Law launched by the Government of Amazonas, through the Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy, was the great innovation with regard to notices to promote culture in 2023.

Meetings were held to listen to all cultural sectors before the draft notices were drawn up. The demands and suggestions of the artistic class in its various categories were taken into account when preparing the notices. Making them more democratic and accessible.

All of this along with countless exhibitions, shows, presentations by the Artistic Corps of the Government of Amazonas and shows, which make up the extensive cultural program of the Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy throughout the year. And 2023 is not over yet. Transformative innovations are coming in the “Enchanted World of Christmas”, which will bring great programming to various cultural spaces in the capital and the interior.

Largo New Year’s Eve

In an unprecedented way, the Government of Amazonas held New Year’s Eve in Largo, in the center of Manaus. More than 28 thousand people visited the place and were able to celebrate the arrival of 2024 next to the Teatro Amazonas, one of the main tourist attractions in the state.

In total, more than 100 artists performed on the stage set up on Rua José Clemente, on the side of Teatro Amazonas. There were more than 15 attractions of different rhythms, including samba, pagode and boi-bumbá that rocked the party from 6pm to 4am.

To guarantee a safe party for everyone, the security forces worked with employees from Detran-AM, Military Police, Civil Police and Fire Department. More than 2,000 servers reinforced security across the state. The Center of Manaus, as well as other areas of the city, were being monitored by surveillance cameras.

Tourism in 2023

More than R$420 million were injected into the Amazonas economy through tourism in 2023, according to data from the Amazonas State Tourism Company (Amazonastur).

To strengthen and promote the Amazonas destination, the Government of Amazonas, through Amazonastur, promoted actions aimed at sustainable tourism, tourist infrastructure works, planning actions, expansion of the air network and training of tourism professionals.

Amazon to go

Launched in 12 municipalities, including: Manaus, Rio Preto da Eva, Parintins, Presidente Figueiredo, Manacapuru, Iranduba, Novo Airão, Careiro, Boa Vista do Ramos, Maués, Humaitá and Itacoatiara, Amazonas to go offers easy and safe information about accommodation, restaurants, accredited guides and other useful information for tourists, through a chatbot that redirects to the Amazonas to go application.

Brilha Amazonas

Brilha Amazonas, launched in February, aims to bring solar panel kits to communities that have tourism as a source of income, generating clean energy. In 2023, 506 panels were delivered in ten municipalities, namely: São Sebastião do Uatumã, Presidente Figueiredo, Maués, Manaus, Iranduba, Parintins, Rio Preto da Eva, Boa Vista do Ramos, Careiro and Autazes, benefiting energy.

POT

The Tourist Planning Plan (POT), planning was one of the axes strengthened by Amazonastur, taking technical visits to the interior of the state and carrying out awareness-raising work for the formalization of tourist services through the Register of Tourist Service Providers (Cadastur). Due to the actions, 2,508 service providers were registered regularly, representing an increase of 38.26% compared to 2022. The planning actions also include indigenous communities with the aim of promoting ethnotourism.

Welcome

To increase job and qualification opportunities in the sector, Amazonastur promoted the training of 800 professionals through the Bem Receive workshop in 11 municipalities. And approximately 293 people were qualified in the Sport Fishing Driver course.

Route network

The expansion of the air network includes new international and national routes, leaving from Eduardo Gomes International Airport. In March, the state government launched the flight that connects Manaus to Bogotá, non-stop, operated by Avianca. Nationally, new routes were launched to Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and direct flights to São Paulo (SP) and Belém (PA). The expansion also includes the expansion of national and international cargo operations.

The new flights were made possible through an agreement signed between the Government of Amazonas and Latam under the government’s tax incentive policy for airlines.

Fairs

Promoting Amazonas, Amazonastur was present at the international fairs Fitur, in Spain; Anato, in Colombia; BTL in Portugal; ITB in Germany; Seatrade Cruise, in the United States; IMEX in Germany; and Fiexpo, in Panama. And also at national fairs, Barco Show, in Bahia; Fishing Trade Show, in São Paulo; WTM Latin América, in São Paulo, BNT Mercosul, in Balneário Camboriú (SC), Naval Shore, in Manaus (AM), Cataratas Festival, in Foz do Iguaçu (PR), at the Amazon International Fair (Fita), in Belém (PA) and at the Barco Show Amazonas.

*With information from consultancy.

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