Last week (February 27th), the Ministry of Tourism published Ordinance No. 1/2026, updating the guidelines of the Tourism Regionalization Program (PRT) and the Brazilian Tourism Map.
If you are a municipal manager, tourism professional, council member, or participate in a Regional Governance Body, this update deserves your attention.
This is not just a bureaucratic change. What the Ministry did was reorganize rules, clarify roles, and demand more institutional organization—but also bring more predictability and security to the municipalities.
Next, we'll explain in a straightforward way what's changing and what you need to be aware of from now on.
The Tourism Regionalization Program enters a new phase.
The Tourism Regionalization Program (PRT) continues to be the basis for the organization of Brazilian tourism by region. The logic remains the same: tourism is strengthened when municipalities work in an integrated way.
What changes is that the program now has a more detailed and organized structure, with:
- 12 defined objectives
- 9 updated areas of focus
- 7 implementation strategies
- 2 structural actions
In practice, this means that the Ministry is making clearer what it expects from the regions and municipalities. Regionalization is no longer just a concept, but is now being given more objective guidelines.
For managers, this is important because it facilitates the alignment of municipal plans with national policy.
The role of Regional Governance Bodies (RGBs) has become clearer.
One of the most important aspects of the new regulation is the strengthening of the IGRs (Integrated Regional Management Offices).
It is now formally established that the Regional Governance Body is:
- Civil society organization
- Of a private nature
- Non-profit
- Based on Law No. 13.019/2014
Furthermore, IGR will officially become the representative of the tourist region on the Brazilian Tourism Map.
Another important point is the requirement for tripartite composition:
- Public authorities
- Private initiative
- Civil society
The message is simple: regional governance. needs to be active and organized. It's not enough to exist on paper. A work plan, meetings, and effective participation are necessary.
For many regions, this is nothing new. For others, it's a warning that better structuring will be needed.
What changes for municipalities in the Brazilian Tourism Map?
Here is one of the points that most interests municipal managers.
To remain on or be included in the Brazilian Tourism Map, municipalities will need to present:
- Minutes of the inauguration from the current board of directors of the Municipal Tourism Council
- Work plan of the Municipal Council or Forum for the entire management period.
- Proof of active participation in the IGR
Furthermore, it is recommended that this information be available on the official website of the city hall.
An important new development is that, in order to renew its registration, the municipality will need to present a formal statement from the IGR proving its active participation.
And there's an important detail: charging any fee for registration, renewal, or issuance of this declaration is prohibited.
In other words, the focus shifts from purely documentary to genuine participation in regional governance.
Longer deadline for registration renewal
One positive change is the extension of the deadline to request renewal from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA).
- Prior notice: minimum of 60 days in advance.
- Now: minimum of 90 days
This allows more time to organize documents, update minutes, and align the situation of the council and the IGR.
Still, ideally you shouldn't leave it until the last minute. Organized municipalities tend to have less risk of setbacks.
States will also have clearer requirements.
The states and the Federal District will also need to provide proof:
- Existence and functioning of the State Tourism Council or Forum
- Act of creation
- Minutes of the inauguration
- Meeting minutes from the last 12 months
- Council work plan
- Work plan of the PRT State Representative
The recommendation is that this information be available on the official website.
This reinforces the idea that tourism needs to be institutionalized at all levels.
Pay attention to the adaptation period.
The new rules will take effect from April 1, 2026. Until March 31st, the guidelines of Normative Act No. 9/2025 will continue to apply. This transition period was designed precisely so that states and municipalities can organize themselves calmly, review documents, and adjust any pending issues without the immediate risk of exclusion from the Map.
This is an important opportunity to put governance in order: update board minutes, review the work plan, verify participation in the IGR, and check if the information is available on the official website.
Those who take advantage of this time to get ahead avoid rushing and work with more security throughout the year.
And what about FUNGETUR in this context?
The updated guidelines for the Regionalization Program and the Tourism Map also align with another strategic instrument of the Ministry of Tourism: the New Fungetur. While Ordinance No. 1/2026 organizes and strengthens governance, Fungetur operates at the grassroots level, providing financial support to those who drive the sector.
The General Tourism Fund provides credit lines with differentiated conditions, including:
- Financing up to R$ 15 million
- Reduced interest rates, around 5% per year plus adjustment.
- A waiting period that can last up to five years.
- Up to 60 months for working capital.
- Up to 240 months for construction and expansion.
In practice, this shows that the federal strategy is organized into two complementary fronts: on the one hand, it requires greater institutional structure, planning, and active governance; on the other hand, it maintains financial instruments so that the private sector can invest, modernize, and grow.
What does this mean for the municipal manager?
In practice, the update reinforces something that many managers already know: tourism needs to be institutionalized.
It is not enough to have a council created by law if it does not meet; it is not enough to be linked to a tourist region if there is no active participation in the Regional Tourism Management (IGR). The new ordinance brings more clarity to these responsibilities and requires continuous organization, not just one-off actions close to the renewal deadline.
For the municipal manager, this means keeping the council active, having a defined plan, participating in regional bodies, and ensuring transparency in information.
More than just fulfilling a federal requirement, it's about structuring tourism in a consistent way, providing a foundation for accessing public policies, resources, and future opportunities.
Conclusion
Decree No. 1/2026 marks a new moment for Brazilian tourism, with clearer rules, strengthened governance, and greater integration between municipalities, regions, and states. For managers, it is time to review structures, strengthen councils, organize participation in the Regional Tourism Integration Network (IGR), and align municipal planning with the new national guidelines. More than just meeting requirements, it is about consolidating tourism as a structured and strategic public policy for local development.
In this process, count on Girus Soluções em Turismo. We work alongside municipalities, offering technical support in institutional organization, alignment with federal policies, and the development of strategies that transform guidelines into concrete actions and consistent results for the territory.
To learn more and access Ordinance No. 1/2026 in its entirety, please visit the official website of the Ministry of Tourism.