The Minister of Tourism, Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, announced in September, at the Museum of Inconfidência in Ouro Preto (MG), the National Tourism Recovery Plan. The initiative is part of various actions taken by MTur to mitigate the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. During the institutional agenda, the minister and the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, signed a protocol for the development of the audiovisual sector in the state. The activities concluded with a light show in the Historical Center of the mining city.
Also present at the ceremony were the executive secretary of MTur, Daniel Nepomuceno; the national secretary of Tourism Development and Competitiveness, William França; the secretary of State for Culture and Tourism of Minas Gerais, Lêonidas Oliveira; the president of the Brazilian Institute of Museums (IBRAM), Pedro Mastrobuono; the director-president of the National Cinema Agency (Ancine), Alex Braga; and the president of the Development Bank of Minas Gerais (BDMG), Sérgio Gusmão.
During the announcement ceremony of the Plan, Minister Marcelo Álvaro Antônio emphasized the importance of the responsible return of activities in the sector, especially for all those who have suffered for months due to the halt in tourism and culture. “We came from a successful year for tourism. The year 2019 was marked by records and historic achievements, but unfortunately, we were surprised by an unprecedented pandemic. That is why this evening is so important: this is the milestone of the recovery of tourism in our country,” declared the minister.
Álvaro Antônio also highlighted the importance of tourism and culture in Brazil’s economic recovery. “Our work does not stop here, and soon we will have more news to share. Always focused on ensuring economic recovery and social inclusion for all Brazilians affected by this situation,” he said.
As part of the planned announcements, the Ministry of Tourism also ensured the transfer of R$ 3 million for the Minas pra Minas Program aimed at promoting local destinations and boosting regional tourism. This action is part of the 300-year celebration of the state, commemorated in December. On this occasion, a check was also presented to the president of the Development Bank of Minas Gerais (BDMG), Sérgio Gusmão, representing the funds that the financial agent will allocate to the sector via Fungetur.
The governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, highlighted during the ceremony the actions taken by the federal government to address the effects of the pandemic and thanked the partnership of the Ministry of Tourism for strengthening essential sectors for the country. “For me, it is a great pleasure to participate in this moment. I am very pleased to be here today for this important announcement for Tourism and Culture,” he said. “Here in Minas, we do not have a beach, but we have many historic cities and a unique cuisine,” he commented.
During the stay in Ouro Preto, the minister and the team from the Ministry of Tourism visited the Museum of Inconfidência, which is now located in the old Town Hall and Jail of Vila Rica, situated in Praça Tiradentes. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Inconfidência Mineira and offers a rich overview of the society and culture of Minas during the gold and diamond cycle in the 18th century. Paintings, images, utensils, statues, jewelry, clothing, among other pieces, enhance the valuable and historical collection of the museum.
Source: Ministry of Tourism