Labor Day, a national holiday celebrated on May 1st, which falls on a Thursday this year, significantly boosted the demand for bus tickets across Brazil. According to data from ClickBus, the largest bus ticket sales app in Brazil, there was an177% increase in ticket searcheswith boarding between April 30 and May 7, compared to the same period last year, when the holiday fell in the middle of the week.
The numbers show a trend in the sectorlong holidays continue to be one of the main drivers of national tourismespecially when road transport is the most affordable choice for short and medium-distance trips.
"Holidays increase Brazilians' desire to travel, as they become the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy a few days of rest without straining the budget. When the time off allows for three or four consecutive days, we see a significant increase in departures, especially to destinations like major urban centers," says Elbert Leonardo, Commercial Vice President of ClickBus.
The most searched destinations for this holiday include cities likeSão PauloandRio de Janeiro, already known as major tourist hubs throughout the year, this year with even more prominence due to the show by singer Lady Gaga on Copacabana beach.Belo Horizonte and Curitiba,that typically receive a significant flow of visitors during holidays due to their cultural centers, museums, and good gastronomy, andLondrina,which features cultural events and various outdoor excursions, in addition to being next to Cambé, a neighboring city where the Workers' Festival and the traditional May Day sports tournament take place.
In seasonal periods like this, road transportation proves to be increasingly competitive due to the variety of schedules, more affordable prices, and ease of connection to smaller destinations outside the radar of major airlines. The sector's expectation is that the positive trend will repeat during the upcoming long holidays of the year, confirming therecovery and continuous growth of the road transport sector.
