Bahia

Bahia, gathering unique features, is different on the national scene because of its history, customs and culture, which earned it notoriety as one of the States that most contribute to the formation of the history and development of the country. This is where Brazil was born. The wealth and cultural diversity of Bahia come from the ethnical miscegenation that hark back to the period of the Brazilian colonization. Bahia always captivated those who visited it, boasting a natural beauty, protected by Gods and Orishas, and it may be said that Bahia lives in a permanent state of celebration. This mixing of races and cultures was responsible for a strong syncretism that is revealed in the multiplicity of religions, beliefs and faiths. That is why its annual festive calendar is filled almost entirely with religious and profane parties.

Touristic Zones
The territorial vastness and the huge diversity of landscapes, cultural traditions and attractions allowed Bahia to be divided into touristic areas, each one of them receiving the characteristic name of its main physical and thematic identity. This variety of attractions offers to the visitor and also the investor a wide range of options, favoring the increase of the average permanence and return rate of visitors. See below the map that illustrates the tourist geography of the State of Bahia.

New ventures
The Northern coast is consolidated as an international tourist destination, and has even won the name of Brazilian Riviera. Coqueiros coast calls the attention of large investors of the sector, which continuously announce new ventures, especially in the hotel area. The region is today the one that concentrates the largest number of investments in tourism in the country. Large complexes are being implemented or announced, which will provide business for the State and generation of about 23 thousand direct jobs in the next years. It is estimated that by 2010 more than US$ 3 billion (R$ 6.3 billion) will be invested; more than US$ 247 million (R$ 530 million) are already running.

The new hotel ventures will provide the opening of at least 11 thousand new apartments, ensuring the offer of beds for the growing demand of tourists to Bahia, mainly foreigners. Currently, more than 1.9 thousand hotel units in the region are running. In addition to private resources, there are projects for public investments of R$ 140 million to ensure infrastructure.

According to information from the Department of Tourism, by 2020 Bahia may become the main tourist destination in Brazil and the Northern coast shall be consolidated as the major hotel pole of Latin America, even surpassing Cancun, in Mexico. Today, the consolidation of some touristic ventures at Coqueiros coast has provided the constant attraction of other companies and projects.