Guanajuato, Gto.- With a ceremony held in the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, this October 11 began the 52nd International Cervantino Festival (FIC), event that will be held until October 27 in Guanajuato, Guanajuato. In this edition, Oaxaca is the guest state and Brazil the featured country, both bringing a wide range of cultural, tourist and gastronomic activities.
The arrival of around 128,000 visitors is expected, which will boost hotel occupancy of 47%, according to estimates from the Municipal Hotel Associationand an economic benefit of 250 million pesos, although this calculation is conservative and is expected to be exceeded, he noted. María Guadalupe Robles León, Secretary of Tourism and Identity of Guanajuato to The Economist.
The secretary emphasized that the FIC not only generates economic development, but also strengthens the image of Guanajuato as a safe destination for international events, consolidating its tourist and cultural offer, and providing growth opportunities for merchants and the local value chain.
Arts, inclusion and equity: the face of Cervantino 2024
During the ceremony, Libia Muñoz Ledo, governor of the state of Guanajuato, highlighted that this year the festival has a special focus on the arts, inclusion and equity, with particular recognition of the role of women in Mexico and Guanajuato.
With the participation of 3,200 artists and creators from 24 countries, the festival offers 17 days of art, culture and creativity. The municipal president of Guanajuato, Samantha Smith Gutiérrez, added that art is a transformative engine and highlighted that the city is safer than ever to receive attendees.
Oaxaca and Brazil: protagonists of Cervantino
Representing the governor of Oaxaca, Salomón Jara Cruz, the Secretary of Culture of Oaxaca, Víctor Cata, thanked the invitation to participate in the festival, highlighting the presence of 77 cultural, tourist and agro-industrial activities that reflect the mosaic of Oaxacan expressions.
Brazil, as a guest country, will also play a key role in the festival, in a year in which 190 years of bilateral relations between Mexico and Brazil are celebrated.
Sustainability and international projection of the FIC
Mariana Aymerichdirector of Cervantino Festivalthanked the sponsoring brands and authorities for their support, which allows the event to be sustainable and projected internationally. In turn, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, federal Secretary of Culture, stressed the importance of Cervantine as the most relevant festival in Latin America and a cultural pillar for Guanajuato, a UNESCO heritage city.
