The City of Bonito (MS), with an area of 4,934 km2, was formed from an
old farm called Rincão Bonito at the beginning of the 20th century, but its political
emancipation was only on October 2, 1948.
300 km from Campo Grande, the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul, in Brazil,
Destino Bonito (MS) receives flights five times a week from Azul Airlines, connecting
Campinas (São Paulo) directly to Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul), as well as van
services between Campo Grande and Bonito.
The city's economy encompasses agriculture, especially with soy and
corn, beef cattle, limestone mining and tourism, the latter being consolidated as the
largest generation of jobs and representing more than 50% of the municipality's GDP.
Tourism started in the 1980s and has always been harmonious with
environmental conservation, taking advantage of natural beauty, especially the
crystal clear waters, among the clearest in the world.
Bonito, inserted in the Serra da Bodoquena (Bodoquena Hills), with its
limestone massifs, these rocks that provide the waters of an unparalleled
transparency, making rivers, true sanctuaries of underwater life, with a wealth of plant
and fish species.
In addition to the “snorkeling” activity, which is floating on the rivers of
Bonito, contemplating and experiencing nature, there is a diversity of tourist options
in the city and region. The tourist can enjoy more than 50 activities, among waterfalls
with their different forms, due to the minerals of the limestone, such as knowing the
caves and their stories. There are also activities like abseiling, diving, cycling,
horseback riding, etc.
Taking advantage of the more than 35 natural attractions, Bonito has 8
thousand beds in different types of accommodation, in the most diverse categories,
tous offices, tour guides, in addition to a growing gastronomic diversity and stores of
tourist interest that are open until 23 hours. One characteristic is the lack of a national
or international hotel chain. Thus the tourism income remains in the local community.
Bonito has been a model of ecotourism through its tourism-environmental
management, with policies that involve the Public Power, the Private Sector and the
Community, collecting various awards, among them: 16 times Best Ecotourism
Destination (Travel & Tourism); Best Sustainable Tourism Project (Guia Quatro
Rodas); Best Tourist Attraction in Brazil (Guia Quatro Rodas); World Responsible
Tourism Award (WTM London 2013); Bonito is in the tourism book “1000 places to
see before you die”; Best Ecotourism Destination (Folha de São Paulo).
The city is already prepared to host different events, having a Convention
Center with capacity for 2 thousand people, in addition to different spaces in the hotel
chain.
Bonito, with its 21 thousand inhabitants, receives 240 thousand visitors
per year and has invested more and more in events, in order to take advantage of
the tourist potential of the Destination, as well as the generation of business and
income, often in periods low season.
The Municipal Tourism Council - COMTUR de Bonito was one of the first
to be created in the country, since 1995 and is the democratic forum, in which the
different segments of society come together for the organization and promotion of
tourism. Not unlike, the Municipal Council of Mero Ambiente - COMDEMA, also
among the pioneers of Brazil, has acted in the search for the balance between
human activities and the environment itself.
Destino Bonito-MS has been committed to sustainable economic
development, ensuring environmental balance, such as generating jobs and income
for future generations. These projects are policies incorporated in the Municipality of
Bonito, through the Secretariat of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.
Source: Bonito City Hall
Photos: Hudson Garcia
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