The Government of Pará invests in sustainable tourism with training and structuring in parks and islands of the State
In 2024, Pará received over 1.2 million tourists, a 15.4% increase compared to 2023, with ecotourism being one of the segments that attracted visitors
The Government of Pará has been strengthening ecotourism experiences through initiatives from the State Secretariat of Tourism (Setur) and the Institute of Forest Development and Biodiversity (Ideflor-Bio). Among the main actions are access to ecological trails, Conservation Units, and other leisure options that bring visitors closer to biodiversity and the traditional knowledge of local communities.
The segments that most attract tourists in the state are business and event tourism, cultural tourism, which includes religious and gastronomic tourism, and nature tourism, which includes ecotourism and adventure tourism, in addition to sun and beach tourism.
Pará is home to some of the most emblematic ecotourism destinations in the Amazon, such as Alter do Chão (Santarém), the Marajó archipelago, and the Calha Norte region, with extractive reserves and conservation areas of great potential for community-based tourism.
The Conservation Units also stand out, including the Utinga State Park "Camillo Vianna" in Belém; the Serra dos Martírios/Andorinhas State Park in São Geraldo do Araguaia; the Monte Alegre State Park; the Metropolitan Wildlife Refuge of the Amazon in Greater Belém; and the Environmental Protection Area (APA) Marajó Archipelago.
Strategy - Focusing on the preservation of ecosystems and the appreciation of natural and cultural heritage, ecotourism consolidates itself as an essential strategy for environmental conservation and sustainable development.
"We are preparing Pará to establish itself as a reference in sustainable tourism in the Amazon. Ecotourism is one of the state's great vocations, and investing in the qualification of people and the structuring of natural attractions means generating real opportunities for local communities and promoting development with environmental responsibility," highlighted Eduardo Costa, head of Setur.
Among the initiatives of the secretariat are courses such as Environmental Trail and Hiking Guide and Birdwatching, aimed at training specialized professionals in ecotourism activities.
The manager of the Administrative Region of Belém at Ideflor-Bio, Júlio Meyer, emphasized that the courses have two main objectives: to ensure safety in the activity and quality in the visitors' experience.
Among the training promoted by Ideflor-Bio are: Safety in Adventure Tourism; Quality in Service; Trail Management and Signage; Training of Trail Guides in Conservation Units; and Responsible Conduct in Wildlife Observation. The Institute also supports the creation and maintenance of trails such as Ererê and Paytuna (Monte Alegre State Park), the Serra das Andorinhas Crossing (Serra das Andorinhas State Park), and the Atlantic Amazon Trail in northeastern Pará.
In addition to proper signage — following standards from the Brazilian Trail Network — the work includes mapping support services for ecotourism, such as food, lodging, logistics, and guiding. This information is gathered on the eTrilhas platform, available on the Play Store and App Store, which centralizes data on trails and natural attractions throughout Brazil.
The Atlantic Amazon Trail, the largest cycling tourism route in Northern Brazil, received 2,000 signs and 2,000 metal arrows. The route connects 13 protected areas, including seven Conservation Units and six quilombola territories, and runs from Belém to the Serra do Piriá in the municipality of Viseu.
Experiences - A visitor to the Utinga State Park for five years, Ana Julia Saldanha, 29, emphasizes the importance of the experience. "Having contact with nature in a park in the center of Belém is essential for physical and mental health, in addition to valuing the urban environment. This contact also educates and raises awareness about the importance of conservation," she states.
Carina Rocha, 35, also often visits the park on weekends. "Everyone should take advantage of Utinga Park. It's close and brings many benefits for health and well-being," she concludes.
Tourism on the rise - In 2024, Pará received over 1.2 million tourists, a 15.4% increase compared to 2023, according to data from the Pará Tourism Observatory, released by the State Secretariat of Tourism (Setur).
This advancement generated a significant economic impact, with revenue exceeding R$ 870 million — combining the spending of national and international tourists visiting Pará in the accumulated last year — and projects even stronger expectations for the close of this year, which has COP30 as the main attraction.
This year, it is estimated that Pará will attract around 1.5 million visitors throughout the year. This number represents a projected increase in tourist flow, which corresponds to a growth of over 20% in 2025.
*With text from Giovanna Abreu (Secom) and Sâmia Maffra (Setur)
