Maricá closes strategic partnerships at the largest tourism fair in the world

Agreements are signed in a scenario of 37% growth in the sector in Brazil; The objective is to attract international investments to create jobs in the city

Maricá City Council closed strategic partnerships, this Wednesday (21/01), during the first day of the municipality’s participation in FITUR – the largest international tourism fair in the world, in Madrid, Spain. Among the initiatives signed is the signing of a letter of intent for an initial investment of R$1.5 billion in the MARAEY project. The expectation is that the tourist complex – which will have three five-star hotels – will generate around 18 thousand direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase, in addition to approximately 9 thousand permanent jobs after completion. Annual tax revenue is estimated at R$485 million.

“Maricá is betting on a new standard of urban development: planned, sustainable and integrated, with responsibility for professional training and job creation, going hand in hand with environmental preservation. We believe in people’s economy and MARAEY is aligned with this vision by creating jobs, income and new opportunities for our people through tourism, quality economic development and permanent income, protecting and regenerating the rich natural heritage of the APA of Maricá”, said Mayor Washington Quaquá.

The announcement comes at a time when the tourism sector in Brazil records an increase of 37%, indicating that Maricá is aligned with the federal government’s public policies to resume and strengthen activity.

“Tourism today is the new economy of the 21st century: it already represents 8% of Brazil’s GDP, while oil accounts for 12%. We are absolutely certain that it will be one of the main generators of employment and income in this century. Therefore, it is very important to bring culture and nature to the center of Brazil’s development. We are living in a great moment that cities need to take advantage of. And that is exactly what Maricá is doing,” said the president of the Brazilian Agency for International Tourism Promotion (Embratur), Marcelo Freixo.

The project foresees, in its first phase, total private investment estimated at R$4.5 billion, in addition to professional training actions and prioritization of hiring local labor.

Throughout 2026, 2,300 free places will be offered in qualification courses in the areas of civil construction and hospitality, aimed at residents of Maricá and neighboring municipalities. The training will be carried out through partnerships between the Maricá Development Company (Codemar), the Maricá Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation (ICTIM), Firjan SENAI and the EHL Group.

Economic impact of tourism

In addition to the three five-star hotels operated by the Marriott International chain, Maricá will have, through MARAEY, training focused on hotel management, with support from the EHL Group (École Hôtelière de Lausanne). “The objective is to develop the professional education of the city’s residents and prepare them to work in hotel and accommodation management. This will qualify the local workforce, allowing young people in particular to be prepared to work in this sector”, Benjamin Roberts, rector of the École Hôtelière de Lausanne.

The project also includes structures focused on sports, corporate events, environmental research and educational activities. The expectation is that the complex will attract around 500,000 visitors to Maricá per year.

“That’s why being at FITUR is strategic to position Maricá on the international tourism scene. The municipality’s presence reinforces our projects and increases the visibility of the city’s attractions”, highlighted Antônio Grassi, CEO of MARÉ (Maricá, Art, Tour and Experiences).

“And tourism is a strategic alternative to expand fundraising. The Maraey Complex and other partnerships we are seeking reinforce this path, involving businesspeople, entrepreneurs and the population in this new cycle of growth”, added the Secretary of Tourism of Maricá, José Alexandre.

Maraey also includes urban mobility interventions, such as the road connection between the districts of Itaipuaçu and Barra de Maricá, in addition to the integration of the Zacarias community into the city center. It is also planned to implement a 20-kilometer cycle path, open to the public and integrated into the municipality’s cycling network.

“MARAEY is an urban planning model that combines rigorous environmental preservation, cutting-edge infrastructure and social responsibility, making it today one of the country’s most strategic investments for sustainable tourism and real estate development”, concluded Emilio Izquierdo, CEO of MARAEY.

Other partnerships

Also during the first day of FITUR, Mayor Washington Quaquá met with Cuba’s Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García Granda. During the meeting, several possibilities for partnerships between Maricá and Cuba were discussed, with a focus on strengthening tourism and culture.

Among the topics covered, the proposal to allow Companhia Alimentos Maricá (AMAR) to sell its products in Cuban hotels, promoting the city’s gastronomy internationally. Furthermore, Quaquá and Granda explored the feasibility of broad cooperation between Maricá and Cuba, covering different sectors of tourism and cultural activities.