After a robust growth in international tourism registered in the current year, the Brazilian government has unveiled its plans for 2025 that focus on developing new tourism sites within the country for foreign visitors as well as on significantly increasing the international air capacity for Brazil.

Launching the International Tourism Acceleration Programme (ITAP) for 2025, Celso Sabino, Tourism Minister of Brazil, called it a historic plan to promote Brazil globally and announced an investment of USD 10.6 million for generating at least 500,000 new international flight seats.

Celso Sabino

“I have no doubt that we are making history with programs like ITAP and others from the federal government. With the support of state governments, we are transforming the country’s economy. I want to acknowledge everyone involved, especially Embratur President Marcelo Freixo, whom I applaud for the success of international tourism and Brazil’s effective promotion abroad,” Sabino says.

According to Sabino, the programme will be rolled out in phases throughout 2025, beginning in late January with a call for proposals focused on regular international flights to unserved regions such as Northeast Brazil.

In March 2025, the call for charter flights will be launched, followed by sub-regional domestic flights in the second half of the year.  Marcelo Freixo, President, Embratur, the Brazilian Tourist Board, highlights the programme as a leap forward from the pilot project implemented in 2024.

“Regionalising our measures for each region of Brazil seems to be the right approach, as different regions face different challenges. I want to see the Northeast competing head-to-head with the Caribbean and to achieve this, we need to integrate regional promotion. This is a significant step toward generating jobs, income, and development for society,” says Freixo.

Marcelo Freixo

The initiative stems from collaboration within the Brazilian federal government, a joint effort by Embratur, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of Ports and Airports.

“We have been working together since the first week. What we deliver today is the result of that collaboration. From an initial USD 0.8 million investment on IATA Winter 2024/25, to over USD 10 million, with equal or higher investments of airlines and airports we are on the right path,” adds Freixo.

Freixo also highlights the historic milestones achieved in 2024 and the importance of ITAP in driving further growth. “We are in an exceptional moment. We will surpass records in foreign currency inflows, which generate jobs and income, and the number of international tourists is expected to exceed the 6.4 million recorded in 2014, the year of the World Cup,” he says.

As part of the National Growth Acceleration Programme (PAC), ITAP strengthens public-private partnerships with airlines and airports, expanding Brazil’s international flight network. Silvio Costa Filho, Minister of Ports & Airports of Brazil, says this is the first time Brazil has implemented a comprehensive programme to attract international flights.

Silvio Costa Filho

“The government’s goal is to strengthen international tourism in Brazil, boost our economy and create opportunities. The Northeast is a primary programme focus with a 38 pc increase in international tourists to the region in 2024. Four of the 10 most searched cities in Brazil are in the Northeast, demonstrating the region’s potential as a tourist destination for foreigners,” says Filho.

According to Brazilian government, a pilot programme undertaken under IATP has already delivered excellent results like a historical record of 7.48 million international seats for summer 2024/25 season, marking an increase of 1.2 million seats compared to the previous season. There has also been a 20 pc growth in international ticket issuance from overseas markets.

Fátima Bezerra

The government anticipates an economic return of ÙSD 4.72 for every USD 0.20 invested and has launched two startup projects aimed at enhancing the foreign tourist experience at Brazilian airports.

“ITAP was an idea born within Embratur alongside Marcelo Freixo. It prospered thanks to the sensitivity of Minister Silvio Costa Filho and Minister Celso Sabino. I am thrilled to be here today with the federal government to launch this important initiative to boost foreign tourism to our country, especially to our Northeast,” says Fátima Bezerra, Governor, Rio Grande do Norte in Northeast Brazil.