What is ethnic tourism: where and how to practice it?

By Guilherme Soares Dias, from Guia Negro

Ethnic tourism is an aspect of cultural tourism that values ​​the material and immaterial heritage of a certain ethnic group. In the case of Afro-ethnic tourism, the focus is the black population and their identity, which is why it is also called afrotourism. Although the objective is to learn more about black culture and history, it can be practiced by anyone.

Sebrae carried out a study on the growth of the sector in Brazil, which highlights that Afro culture is one of the bases of Brazilian traditions, present in most of the country’s tourist attractions and destinations, such as churches built by enslaved people, museums, cultural centers.

It is interesting to realize that Palmares (AL), which represents one of the greatest symbols of resistance during the era of slavery, is not part of the Brazilian population’s imagination as a desired destination.

Companies, entities and professionals linked to afrotourism are growing across the country and trying to change this reality.

Among the initiatives are:

• Diaspora.Black: market place which sells experiences linked to black culture and accommodation in the homes of black people. Instagram: @diaspora.black
• Brafika Viagens: Afro-centered tourism agency, which sells trips to destinations such as Ouro Preto, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. Instagram: @brafrika_viagens
• Blackbird Viagem: which develops experiences such as the Caminhada São Paulo Negra and the Suburbana Tour, in Salvador; Sou + Carioca, who develops tours in Rio; Black Travelers, which welcomes black tourists in cities like Rio and Salvador; Rota da Liberdade, which develops tours for quilombos in the interior of São Paulo, among others. Instagram: @blackbird_viagem

Black São Paulo Walk, developed by Black Bird. Photo: Heitor Salatiel

São Paulo Negra and the walk are from São Paulo Negra, in São Paulo, developed by Black Bird, and the other two are from Suburbana Tour, the boat one is in Plataforma and the other is at Feira de São Joaquim, in Salvador .

Know more: Black Bird, for a world with more black travelers and destinations

The cities of São Paulo, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro are the national destinations that concentrate most of the experiences. But there are possibilities to practice afrotourism in practically all states.

In Curitiba, for example, there is the Linha Preta, which takes tourists to discover the city’s black history. This tourism more based on experience, history and experiencing a culture little publicized by more commercial tourism is a trend throughout the world and will have even more space in the post-pandemic world, which will seek to escape crowded tourist monuments.

In the United States, the #blacktravelmovement takes African Americans to experiences in African countries or the black diaspora and generates billions of dollars every year. There, companies that carry out Afro-centric trips are: Nomadness, Travel Noire and Black and Abroad.

Read too: The National Museum of African American History and Culture and the importance of black destinies

We hope that this movement reaches here and that everyone can learn more about the history of the black population, which is the majority of the Brazilian population.

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