June parties heat up the economy and should move about R$ 6 billion this year

The 2023 June festivities should have one of the biggest economic and public movements in recent years. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism released this month, the festivities of Saints Antônio, João and Pedro, in addition to preserving popular culture, should attract more than 26.2 million people and raise around R$ 6 billion throughout the country. The number is 76% higher than last year, when there was a financial return of more than R$ 3.4 billion. From the north to the south of the country, the success of the June festivals — rocked by forró and other popular rhythms, in the most varied “arraiás”— heats up the national economy.

In addition to the joy that contaminates people around the bonfires and square dances of São João, the Minister of Tourism, Daniela Carneiro, points out that the time of the June festivities brings much prosperity to the interior of the country. She emphasizes the effort to increasingly consolidate this period. “These festivities guarantee a significant economic movement, mainly in the interior of the country, generating jobs and income for the entire local tourist chain, from hotels to rural producers, who increase their sales with the offer of typical products. We are working to strengthen and structure these festivities so that they are potent tourist products”, she explained.

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Several northeastern cities have high income and public expectations for this period. In two of the main June parties in Brazil, Caruaru (PE) and Campina Grande (PB), the estimate is 5.7 million people enjoying the parties, which should move more than R$ 1.1 billion in collection. In Mossoró (RN), the expectation is that the public will reach 1 million and that the festivities will move R$ 140 million in the local economy. In Petrolina (PE), 800 thousand people should generate R$ 275 million. Among the northeastern states that should have the biggest movements because of the June festivities are, in addition to Paraíba, Pernambuco, there are also Sergipe, Ceará, Maranhão and Bahia — which this year also presents many artistic attractions in the capital, Salvador.

Musician Felipe Rodrigues, who for more than 15 years has been working on northeastern culture, with forró pé de serra, lives in the Federal District but is spending some time in Bahia to perform at the June festivities in the region of Irecê, in the hinterland. He tells how this season is intense for those who make the party happen. “In this period we have a very intense agenda, even in relation to contracts. Presentations are four times greater than the number of hires in the normal period. By weekend and by day too. There are days on the weekend when we have four or even five shows, which we do in this period of São João ”, he highlighted.

Outside the main axis of June celebrations, the parties should also boost tourism and the economy. In the north of the country, in Parintins (AM), the state government hopes to attract 100,000 people and R$ 105.8 million in the event that takes place between June 30th and July 2nd. In Minas Gerais, what is expected by the state government is to double the movement registered last year and reach 6 million people during the month. The state is known for festivals with unique characteristics, with emphasis on processions and the hoisting of flags on poles near the churches, with images dedicated to Saints Antônio, João and Pedro.