Even with the end of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, it will not be this time that the National Sanctuary of Aparecida (SP) should again register public in the Holy Week at the same levels seen before Covid-19.
The estimate takes into account projections from the hotel chain, the Catholic Church and one of the bus companies responsible for the stretch from São Paulo to Aparecida, in the interior of the state.
The vice president of Sinhores (Union of Hotels, Restaurants, Bars and Similar Services of Aparecida and Vale Histórico), Valdecir Henrique, said that, from what has been observed so far, the hotel chain in Aparecida should reach 30% of capacity, quite different 2019, when the occupancy rate was 80%.
That year, according to union data, around 188,000 visitors were in Aparecida during the celebrations. The amount takes into account Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday, the day that registered approximately 92 thousand faithful, the largest number of people on that holiday.
“We still don’t have an exact forecast, but it will be lower. People are still policing themselves in relation to the pandemic”, he told the Sheet.
The vice president of the union was keen to point out that, even with the release of activities, hotels are still protecting themselves against the coronavirus. “What I can guarantee is that our hotels are all suitable, still complying with the protocol against Covid. Those who have not yet made the reservation, did not book in advance, we still have vacancies in hotels and inns able to receive this public that is moved by the faith.”
The administration of the National Sanctuary of Aparecida is also not optimistic about receiving a large number of faithful during Holy Week.
“Regarding the number of expected visitors, there is no forecast in this regard, since the presence of devotees is still impacted and has not returned to the level before the pandemic”, wrote the Sanctuary in a note sent to the report.
Asked about the public present on Palm Sunday, the Sanctuary’s press office said it was “similar to what has been present on other Sundays”, without specifying an average number of visitors.
If, on the one hand, the hotel chain and the administration of the Sanctuary do not expect a large audience, Viação Cometa, one of the companies responsible for transporting passengers leaving the capital towards the city of Vale do Paraíba, stated that “it expects a growth of 40 % in the flow of passengers to Aparecida during the Good Friday holiday, compared to the same period last year”.
“Between April 15th and 17th, the company will implement overtime to meet demand, especially in the morning, the busiest shift for customers,” reads an excerpt from the statement.
However, the company said that, “considering the holiday period, the volume is still 25% lower than in 2019”. The note adds that travel continues at a pace of gradual resumption.
