The Carnival celebrations officially resume today in Brazil: after the paralysis due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2023 version of the most famous pagan festival in the world is expected to attract around 46 million people across the
country
.
The data comes from the local Ministry of Tourism, which expects record numbers in the first full edition of the Carnival, after the 2021 parades were canceled due to Covid-19 and those of 2022 limited to closed events and a limited number of cities due to health restrictions.
According to projections by the National Confederation of Commerce (CNC), cited by the Brazilian government, the revenue generated in the tourism sector by Carnival nationwide will be around 8.1 billion reais (about 1.46 billion
euros
), on 26 9% more than in 2022. The figure, if reached, will be the second highest in the last eleven years, after 2020 (1.52 billion euros).
The main spotlights are obviously on
Rio de Janeiro
, known for the majesty of its samba schools and for the parades of 'blocos de rua' (street music groups).
The latter, which will invade the streets of the Carioca metropolis for five days, are becoming more and more successful every year both for their free admission and for their originality.
The expectation is that around five million 'folioes' (people in masks) will dance to the rhythm of the 400 'blocos' scheduled in Rio.
According to the Brazilian body for the promotion of tourism (Embratur), this year's Carnival throughout Brazil will register a record number of foreign tourists: 80,000 are in fact those who had already bought tickets at the beginning of January, well more than 55,000 who visited the Latin American giant last year.
