Barcelos is included in the AmpliAR Program and should boost tourism in Amazonas.

A municipality known for sport fishing will benefit from airport improvements and greater regional air connectivity.

The municipality of Barcelos (AM), known as the capital of sport fishing and the largest in territorial extension in Amazonas, with 122,476 km², was included in the first round of the AmpliAR Program, an initiative of the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) to increase air connectivity and boost regional development throughout the country.

Through AmpliAR, private concessionaires will be able to take over the management of loss-making regional airports in exchange for contractual adjustments, such as reduced concession fees or extended concession periods. The proposal aims to guarantee modern infrastructure, stable operation, and enable new regional routes, bringing Brazil closer to its natural and cultural riches.

Located approximately 400 kilometers from Manaus, Barcelos relies heavily on tourism as one of its main sources of income. The city attracts visitors from Brazil and abroad, especially during the sport fishing season, which runs from September to March, boosting business for lodges, restaurants, transportation services, and local commerce.

According to the Amazonas State Research Support Foundation (Fapeam), during the sport fishing season, even with transportation limitations since the river journey can take up to 30 hours, the local population practically doubles with the arrival of tourists and fishermen. The increased demand for lodging, food, and transportation boosts the economy and reinforces the importance of improving access to the city.

With the AmpliAR Program, Barcelos Airport should have more infrastructure and conditions to expand the number of flights. The trip to Manaus, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes by air, will reduce travel time and expand opportunities for tourism, business, and income generation in the region.

According to the National Secretary of Civil Aviation, Daniel Longo, AmpliAR will optimize the use of existing infrastructure and strengthen the regional air network. “The program was designed to improve connectivity between medium and small cities and large centers. In the case of Barcelos, it is a strategic airport that can boost tourism and drive important economic activities for Amazonas, such as sport fishing and ecotourism,” explained Longo.

Besides sport fishing, Barcelos is enchanting for its collection of archipelagos, rivers, and freshwater beaches, which offer unique ecotourism experiences and direct contact with the Amazonian nature.

Among the cultural highlights, the Ornamental Fish Festival is one of the largest events in the municipality. Held between the last days of January and the first days of February at the Mariuá Cultural and Sports Center, known as the "Piabódromo," the festival celebrates local tradition with a symbolic competition between two emblematic ornamental fish: the Discus fish, with its black and yellow colors, and the Cardinal fish, with its red and blue tones. The program mixes dance, music, and allegories, exalting the figure of the piabeiro, the professional responsible for collecting ornamental fish in the region's rivers.

With the arrival of AmpliAR, Barcelos takes a new step towards strengthening sustainable tourism, regional integration, and generating employment and income, consolidating itself as one of the most promising destinations in the Amazon.

The public session to open the bids for the management of the airports planned for the first phase of the program is scheduled for November 27th, starting at 10:00 AM, at B3 in São Paulo.