Starting this Saturday the 26th and until Tuesday the 29th of March, Barranquilla dresses up for Carnival, where the congos, the marimondas, the toritos, the negritas puloy and the cumbiamberas the streets of the city are taken.
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And it is that after a pause, due to the ravages of the pandemic, this cultural festival that returns to face-to-face events hopes to generate more than $400,000 million, exceeding the figure reported in 2020, reactivate the more than 30,000 jobs of Carnival makers and generate others 23,500 jobs in activities that depend on the season.
“The Carnival materializes in employment and in an increase in employed people. There are more than 30,000 artisans, dancers, costume designers, trainers, musicians, producers, logistics and other behind-the-scenes workers who have been yearning for this opportunity for almost two years”, pointed out the Mayor’s Office of Barranquilla.
Jaime Pumarejo Heins, mayor of the capital of Atlántico, made a call to live the festival fully and contribute to the economic revival of the people who are part of the event.
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“We are going to live life fully with a Carnival of culture, of our customs and a party where we dream again. You have to go out full of joy and enthusiasm, but also wanting to spend money to help many people who continue to be beaten.”, added Pumarejo.
For her part, the secretary of Culture and Heritage of the city, María Teresa Fernández, affirmed that the return of the Carnival was a joint decision between the District, Carnaval SAS and the private sector, “supported by the vaccination and hospitalization indicators of Barranquilla”.
Likewise, Fernández specified that one of the District’s main bets was to seek an economic reactivation of the city, while the party was kept alive throughout the month of March.
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“This materializes with the investment of $5,900 million through the Carnival Stimulus Portfolio, which seeks to promote more than 120 events, which include shows, parades and celebrations, for the enjoyment of locals and visitors.”, explained the official.
BOOST TO TOURISM
According to the forecasts of the Ministry of Economic Development, the arrival of up to 357,000 national and international visitors, “which would represent an increase of 5% (17,000 more visitors) compared to the year 2020, where more than 340,500 were registered.”, said Kathy López, head of the Tourism Office.
Another of the data indicated by the Tourist Office corresponds to the hotel occupancy that is expected to be above 90% this Saturday of Carnival and It is calculated that the average expenditure of national and foreign tourists, including tickets, is $1,329,809 per visitor.
Likewise, it is expected that during the four days of the festival, sales expectations will be concentrated in establishments such as liquor stores (90%), pubs (46%), hairdressers (41%) and drugstores (24%), while sectors such as transport they also expect to benefit (54%).
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“This party is a great engine of the economy of the Caribbean region. More than 900,000 attendees annually enjoy this celebration, which stimulates tourism, commerce and transportation, sectors that mobilize more than $380 billion, for which we are very optimistic about what 2022 may represent”, said Manuel Fernández Ariza, executive president of the Barranquilla Chamber of Commerce.
Carnival dancers.
BEYOND CARNIVAL
Although in many municipalities of the Atlantic a good number of Carnival activities were canceled as a precaution of the omicron variant of covid-19, the departmental government extended the invitation to visitors to get to know the different attractions that the municipality has.
“The Atlantic is a tourist destination that offers experiences for all tastes: sun, beach, ecotourism, culture, gastronomy, among others”, said Elsa Noguera, governor.
Puerto Colombia, Tubará and Juan de Acosta They are the beach destinations to which the Government invites and which are located just a few minutes from Barranquilla.
On the other hand, in Usiacurí and also in Tubará you can practice ecotourism. In Baranoa, at the access to the district of Pital de Megua, you can do the ‘Ruta del Girasol’.
For cultural and historical tourism as well sand recommends visiting the municipality of Usiacurí.
FAIRS TO UNDERTAKE
With the support of the Secretariat of Economic Development, the Chamber of Commerce and the Santo Domingo Foundation, from the Mallplaza Buenavista shopping center in the capital of Atlántico, the queen of Carnival 2022, Valeria Charris, announced the balance of the strategy to support the reactivation of microentrepreneurs of the Carnival.
Through these spaces More than 95 gastronomy, handicrafts, crafts and fashion businesses have benefited, among other sectors and sales have been generated for more than $80 million.
JOHANA LORDUY AND ROBERTO CASAS
Journalists Portfolio
