Cruise season expected to bring 179,000 tourists to Bahia; Itacaré was part of the previous one

The 2026/2027 cruise season began on Wednesday, October 7, with the arrival of the first ship at the Port of Salvador. According to a report in the newspaper A Tarde published on October 9, 48 vessels are expected to bring more than 179,000 tourists to the ports of Salvador and Ilhéus through April 2027.

What to expect

The first ship was the World Odyssey, from Star Ship, carrying about 600 passengers. In all, 46 port calls are scheduled in Salvador and two more in Ilhéus. The season is expected to run until April 9, 2027.

To receive the passengers, the operation brings together Codeba, the State Government, city governments and Contermas. According to the report, the setup includes passenger and baggage control equipment, metal detectors, X-ray machines, security systems and reinforced operations in the port and urban areas.

Where Itacaré comes in

The town enters this story through the numbers from the previous season. According to data released by the State Tourism Secretariat (Setur-BA), cited by the newspaper, 230,000 cruise passengers visited Bahia between 2025 and 2026. The count includes Salvador, Ilhéus and operations in destinations such as Porto Seguro, Itacaré and Barra Grande. During that period, the activity injected around R$ 115 million into the Bahian economy.

The sources consulted do not say whether Itacaré will have cruise stops in the season that is starting now. The forecast released mentions only the ports of Salvador and Ilhéus, the latter just over an hour by road from the Itacaré coast. When itineraries or port calls in the municipality are confirmed, the guide will follow up.

Impact on businesses and services

The report highlights that the impact of cruises is not limited to the maritime terminal. Passengers who disembark may spend money on food, transport, shopping and tours before returning to the ship, which reaches restaurants, bars, shops, guides and local tour operators. Hotels can also benefit when visitors arrive before boarding or stay in town after disembarking.

In the 2025/2026 season, a tour operator serving MSC passengers said it used between 12 and 20 buses per week in Bahia. The itineraries included Salvador and destinations on the Litoral Norte, which shows that the activity can extend beyond the areas near the port.

National benchmark

A study by the Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), carried out in partnership with the Brazilian Association of Cruise Lines (CLIA Brasil), found that the 2025/2026 season generated R$ 4.76 billion for the Brazilian economy. Of that total, R$ 2 billion came from spending by passengers and crew in the cities of embarkation, disembarkation and transit.

• Cabotage operations generated R$ 4.28 billion and were associated with 64,529 jobs.
• Including international ships in transit through the country, the number of associated jobs reached about 72,000.
• Every R$ 1 invested by cruise companies generated R$ 3.89 in the Brazilian economy.

If you are planning a cruise

The publication notes that Christmas, New Year's Eve, Carnaval and long holiday weekends tend to have higher fares, while trips outside those periods may be cheaper. Accommodation and main meals are usually included in the fare, but drinks, specialty restaurants, excursions and some services may carry additional charges.

For the southern coast, the takeaway is that cruise tourism remains part of Bahia's calendar and has already reached Itacaré in a recent season. Since the activity is spread across ports and destinations, the final result in each town depends on the itineraries set by the cruise lines and on local tour services.

With information from A Tarde (report of October 9, 2026), the Bahia State Tourism Secretariat (Setur-BA), FGV and CLIA Brasil.