Boosted by a strong line up of events, like the Rio Carnival (pictured above), Brazil has seen a strong growth in tourist arrivals (Photos: Rio de Janeiro)
Brazil saw spending by over 1.3 million international tourists visiting the country hit a record USD 823 million in February, representing a 22.2 pc growth compared to February 2024.
In a press statement, the Brazilian International Tourism Promotion Agency, Embratur says that the arrival of over 2.8 million international visitors contributed a total of USD 1.6 billion in tourism revenue for the first two months of the year, a 10.4 pc rise compared to 2024.
The statement adds that foreign tourist arrivals have grown due to multiple factors and that besides expanded air connectivity and promotional efforts, an important reason is a strong line up of international events that Brazil is hosting this year.
According to Embratur, the sector has been boosted by a calendar of international events, which is expected to remain strong throughout the year, with the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in July and the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30) in Belém, Pará state, in November.
Embratur says that tourism is a major economic driver as 95 pc of tourism businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The statement adds that the latest data has been gathered by the Ministry of Tourism, through inputs from Embratur and the Federal Police, based on figures released by Brazil’s Central Bank (BCB) last week.
Marcelo Freixo
“International tourism has become a major driver of Brazil’s economy. It’s the fastest growing sector and a great job creator. After all, it’s where 95 pc of business is done by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises,” says Marcelo Freixo, President, Embratur.
In the first two months of the year, the inflow of travellers from abroad surged by 57 pc compared to the year before, amounting to 2.8 million arrivals.
In Freixo’s view, the successive records in the sector also reflect an effort to expand the country’s promotion overseas, combined with increased air connectivity. “Brazil is in fashion, but it is thanks to the joint work of the public and private sectors,” he adds.
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