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| Minas Gerais State Secretariat for Tourism | |
|---|---|
| Name | Minas Gerais State Secretariat for Tourism |
| Native name | Secretaria de Estado de Turismo de Minas Gerais |
| Formed | 20th century |
| Jurisdiction | Minas Gerais |
| Headquarters | Belo Horizonte |
| Minister1 name | (current secretary) |
| Parent agency | Government of Minas Gerais |
Minas Gerais State Secretariat for Tourism is the state-level public body responsible for tourism policy, promotion, regulation and development in Minas Gerais. The Secretariat coordinates with municipal authorities, regional bodies and federal agencies to promote destinations such as Ouro Preto, Tiradentes, Inhotim and the Serra do Cipó corridor. It interfaces with national institutions including the Ministry of Tourism (Brazil), Instituto Brasileiro de Turismo and supranational organizations such as the World Tourism Organization.
Established in the late 20th century within the Government of Minas Gerais administrative framework, the Secretariat evolved from earlier provincial offices and secretariats tied to Secretaria de Estado reforms and public administration changes under administrations influenced by figures linked to Tancredo Neves era politics. It expanded after federal initiatives like the Plano Nacional de Turismo and cooperation with the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional to protect colonial-era sites in Ouro Preto and Mariana. Major milestones include promotional campaigns tied to events at Congresso Nacional-backed fairs and alignment with infrastructure projects such as state highways managed by Departamento de Edificações e Estradas de Rodagem de Minas Gerais to improve access to sites like Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca and Serra da Canastra National Park.
The Secretariat is structured into departments and directorates mirroring models used by other state secretariats such as Secretaria de Estado de Cultura de Minas Gerais and municipal bodies in Belo Horizonte. Units typically include departments for promotion, heritage tourism, ecotourism, regulation and planning, each interacting with bodies like the Fecomércio MG, SEBRAE Minas Gerais and regional tourism consortia around clusters including Circuito Caminhos do Ouro and Vale do Jequitinhonha. The hierarchy reports to the state secretary and coordinates with the Assembleia Legislativa de Minas Gerais on legislation and budgetary matters.
Key functions encompass destination marketing for sites such as Diamantina, São João del-Rei and Conselheiro Lafaiete; heritage preservation collaboration with IPHAN for colonial architecture; sustainable tourism planning for ecosystems like Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó; regulation of hospitality standards working with industry groups like ABIH-MG; and workforce training initiatives delivered with Fundação João Pinheiro and Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. The Secretariat manages public policy instruments, incentive programs, and certification schemes aligned with national frameworks from the Ministry of Tourism (Brazil) and participates in regional development forums involving Comitê de Integração-style entities.
Initiatives include promotion campaigns for the Estrada Real route, ecological stewardship projects in Serra do Caraça, cultural festivals in Ouro Preto and heritage routes in Caminho dos Diamantes. Programs often partner with educational institutions such as Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais and Universidade Federal de Viçosa to run hospitality training, and with NGOs like Instituto Estadual do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico de Minas Gerais for restoration works in Mariana. The Secretariat has supported events linked to Festival Internacional de Teatro de Belo Horizonte, trade missions to FITUR and WTM London, and initiatives to certify rural tourism enterprises in regions including Zona da Mata and Alto São Francisco.
Funding streams derive from the state budget approved by the Assembleia Legislativa de Minas Gerais, targeted taxes administered by Secretaria de Estado da Fazenda de Minas Gerais, and project grants from federal programs via the Ministry of Tourism (Brazil). Partnerships include collaboration with the SEBRAE Nacional, Banco do Brasil, BNDES for infrastructure loans, and civil society organizations such as the Instituto Inhotim and private sector associations like ABIH-MG, FCDL-MG and hospitality consortia. International cooperation has involved agencies similar to the Inter-American Development Bank on sustainable tourism projects and heritage conservation funding aligned with UNESCO World Heritage listings.
The Secretariat reports metrics on visitor arrivals to key sites like Inhotim, Diamantina and Ouro Preto, occupancy rates in Belo Horizonte and surrounding municipalities, and employment figures in hospitality sectors measured alongside studies from Fundação João Pinheiro and IBGE. Economic impact assessments link tourism to GDP contributions in regions such as Triângulo Mineiro and Vale do Aço, and monitor indicators tied to rural tourism growth in Serro and Conselheiro Lafaiete. Environmental monitoring for protected areas is coordinated with state agencies managing parks such as Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca.
Critiques have focused on resource allocation for restoration after disasters affecting sites in Mariana and debates over tourism’s role in cultural commodification in Ouro Preto and São João del-Rei. Environmentalists have challenged some initiatives impacting Serra do Cipó and Serra da Canastra National Park, leading to disputes involving state licensing authorities and heritage bodies like IPHAN. Questions over transparency in funding, procurement linked to events, and effectiveness of promotional campaigns have prompted scrutiny from the Assembleia Legislativa de Minas Gerais and civil society watchdogs, with legal actions occasionally reaching state courts in Minas Gerais.
Category:Government of Minas Gerais Category:Tourism in Brazil