Brazil surpasses $6 billion in international tourist spending

Brazil tourism has generated US$6 billion (R$34.9 billion) in spending by international tourists during the first ten months of 2024.

New data published by the Central Bank highlights growth of 5.9% compared to the same period last year.

Over 5.4 million visited the country through October generating revenue in F&B, accommodation, services, transportation and the informal economy.

In October alone, US$596 million was injected into the country’s economy by international tourists’ spending.

President of Embratur, Marcelo Freixo, notes the tourism agency’s work to transform Brazil into a sustainable and diverse destination and expanding air connections.

“Embratur operates very efficiently with a segmented promotion strategy, always presenting our country as sustainable, cheerful and diverse.,” Freixo said

“On the other hand, we work to expand the number of international flights, which is a record, ensuring that the interest in visiting Brazil is converted into more tourists arriving in our country, boosting our economy and generating jobs.”

The Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino, also believes that the increased figures are the result of the positive reinforcement of the country’s image that is being made. “We are in a very promising moment, with Brazil being seen and remembered abroad.”

Attracting more foreign tourists to Brazil is part of the National Tourism Plan (PNT) 2024-2027, which seeks to make the country the largest recipient of tourists in South America.

It sets the goal of reaching 8.1 million foreign travelers per year, plus increasing to US$ 8.1 billion in revenue generated from spending.

The more than 5.4 million international tourists who visited the country through October represents a 13.4% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

More than 508,000 foreigners arrived in Brazil in October, up 24% higher.

The main gateway to Brazil in October was São Paulo, with almost half of the arrivals (200,664), followed by Rio de Janeiro, with almost 131,000 arrivals.

The main source of tourists to Brazil is Argentina with more than 1.58 million visitors since the beginning of 2024.

The United States is second with more than 572,338 to date, followed by Chile, with 518,345.

The UK is the fourth largest European market for Brazil, with 124,639 British tourists visiting by October 2024, up from last year’s 105,457 visitors in the same period.