Travel to Brazil is definitely on the rise.
Brazil has announced record-breaking growth as the country
has surpassed four million international
tourists between January and July 2024, representing a 10.4 percent increase
from the same period in 2023 and 1.9 percent higher than 2019 pre-pandemic
numbers.
The success of joint initiatives led by the Ministry of
Tourism and Embratur to enhance Brazil’s appeal as a travel destination
highlights the record-breaking growth numbers that generated US$4.3 billion, a
significant boost to the country’s economy.
July 2024 alone saw US$615 million in foreign exchange, the
second-highest amount for this month since 2014, the year Brazil hosted the
World Cup.
Argentina emerged as the leading source of international
tourists, accounting for 1.8 million visitors, followed by the United States
(668,400), Chile (458,500), Paraguay (424,400) and Uruguay (334,700).
Air travel remains the primary mode of entry, with 2.5
million tourists arriving by plane, followed by 1.3 million by land, and
smaller numbers
by sea (98,200) and river (54,500).
International tourists contributed US$4.3 billion to the
Brazilian economy in the first seven months of 2024, nearly US$1 billion more
than the US$3.7 billion recorded in the same period of 2023. July’s inflow of
US$615 million represented an 8.46 percent increase over July 2023, and a 2.8
percent rise from July 2019.
This surge is attributed to increased tourism
promotion, expanded flight routes and improvements in tourism infrastructure.
Grotto Falls hike. (photo courtesy of Embratur)
Embratur President Marcelo Freixo emphasized the
significance of these figures, noting that the money spent by foreign tourists
directly benefits local economies. “Tourism is highly democratic. The money
tourists spend reaches the beach vendor, the waiter, the Uber driver, and small
business owners, creating jobs and fostering local development,” he said in a
statement.
Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino expressed optimism about
breaking previous records by the end of the year. “In 2023, we welcomed 5.9
million international tourists. With 4 million already recorded in the first
seven months of 2024, we are on track to reach at least 7 million by year’s
end, one of the federal government's key tourism goals,” Sabino said.
Embratur’s strategy, in partnership with the Ministry of
Tourism, local governments and the private sector, focuses on data-driven
decisions and real-time monitoring to target specific tourist demographics. The
organization has also been working closely with airlines to expand
international flight routes, leading to a projected 19 percent growth in
available flights to Brazil in 2024 alone.
A major 2024 initiative launched by the International
Tourism Acceleration Program (PATI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports
and Airports is expected to increase seating capacity on foreign flights to
Brazil by 70,000 between October 2024 and March 2025.
To support the influx of tourists, Brazil has made
substantial investments in tourism infrastructure. In 2023, the Ministry of
Tourism completed 510 projects across the country, including the renovation of
waterfronts, road paving and event center construction aiming to enhance the
overall travel experience and attract more foreign visitors.
Freixo concluded by underscoring Brazil’s international
resurgence as a travel destination. “Our efforts are paying off. The world is
taking notice of Brazil's return as a leader in democracy, diversity, and
environmental stewardship, and this is reflected in the record-breaking numbers
we’re seeing in tourism,” he said.
With ongoing efforts to improve accessibility and promote
Brazil’s unique cultural and natural attractions, the country says it is poised
to continue breaking tourism records and solidifying its place on the global
tourism map.
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