The government of Bahia announced on Carnival Tuesday (17 February 2026) that the state expects 3.7 million visitors by Ash Wednesday, generating an estimated R$8 billion (US $1.6 billion) in tourism revenue. The projection, released by the State Tourism Secretariat (Setur-BA), is based on hotel-occupancy reports showing 95 % capacity in Salvador and 85 % in key inland destinations.
Carnival remains primarily a domestic affair, yet international connectivity is quietly returning to pre-pandemic levels: Salvador International Airport is handling 19 charter and scheduled flights this week, linking the city to Buenos Aires, Lisbon and Miami. Porto Seguro, another coastal hotspot, has logged 461 arrivals and departures for the holiday period, of which 19 are international leisure charters from Argentina and Paraguay.
![Bahia forecasts 3.7 million visitors and 19 international flights during Carnival week]()
Amid this resurgence of foreign arrivals, travelers whose nationalities now require visas for Brazil can save valuable time by using VisaHQ’s digital application service (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/). The platform walks applicants through each step of the e-Visa or consular process, provides real-time status updates and optional courier pickup, ensuring that Carnival-goers spend less time on paperwork and more time enjoying Bahia’s blocos.
Setur-BA credits coordinated investment in border-control staffing and a temporary 24-hour customs lane for the smoother flow of foreign arrivals. Hoteliers reported average daily rates up 17 % year-on-year, while ride-sharing platforms added 6,000 temporary drivers under a special state licence scheme designed to absorb Carnival traffic.
For mobility professionals the message is two-fold: 1) Bahia’s infrastructure is once again capable of supporting short-term, high-volume international events, and 2) companies planning incentive trips or regional conferences should lock in room blocks at least nine months out, as inventory is being snapped up earlier each season. The state will debrief carriers in March to negotiate additional scheduled services for Carnival 2027, potentially opening new city-pair opportunities for corporate groups.
Carnival remains primarily a domestic affair, yet international connectivity is quietly returning to pre-pandemic levels: Salvador International Airport is handling 19 charter and scheduled flights this week, linking the city to Buenos Aires, Lisbon and Miami. Porto Seguro, another coastal hotspot, has logged 461 arrivals and departures for the holiday period, of which 19 are international leisure charters from Argentina and Paraguay.
Amid this resurgence of foreign arrivals, travelers whose nationalities now require visas for Brazil can save valuable time by using VisaHQ’s digital application service (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/). The platform walks applicants through each step of the e-Visa or consular process, provides real-time status updates and optional courier pickup, ensuring that Carnival-goers spend less time on paperwork and more time enjoying Bahia’s blocos.
Setur-BA credits coordinated investment in border-control staffing and a temporary 24-hour customs lane for the smoother flow of foreign arrivals. Hoteliers reported average daily rates up 17 % year-on-year, while ride-sharing platforms added 6,000 temporary drivers under a special state licence scheme designed to absorb Carnival traffic.
For mobility professionals the message is two-fold: 1) Bahia’s infrastructure is once again capable of supporting short-term, high-volume international events, and 2) companies planning incentive trips or regional conferences should lock in room blocks at least nine months out, as inventory is being snapped up earlier each season. The state will debrief carriers in March to negotiate additional scheduled services for Carnival 2027, potentially opening new city-pair opportunities for corporate groups.
