Brazil expects record number of foreign tourists this year - Valor International

Brazil received 4.9 million foreign tourists between January and September this year, 12% more than in the same period in 2023. Just last month, there were 445,400 international visitors, the best result for September since official records began in 1989, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism.

The plans to boost the tourism industry in the country, the potential to be explored, and the goals already set for the sector were the topic of a live session held Monday in the series “Caminhos do Brasil,” an initiative by the newspapers “O Globo” and Valor, and the radio station CBN, sponsored by CNC, Sesc, Senac, and their federations.

To discuss the topic, Celso Sabino, minister of tourism; Marcelo Freixo, president of Embratur; and Ana Carolina Medeiros, president of the National Council of the Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies (Abav), were brought together. The session was moderated by Glauce Cavalcanti, journalist of “O Globo,” and Marcello Corrêa, Valor’s coordinator in Brasília.

The agenda included topics such as strategies to enhance the promotion of Brazil as an international destination, the development of new products and tourist regions in the country, as well as opportunities for generating employment and income. A relevant part of the debate also involves the issue of sustainability, considering the social, economic, and environmental impacts of tourism activities.

The minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino, highlighted the government’s success in attracting international events to the country and their importance in promoting a positive image of Brazil. He mentioned the example of COP30 in Belém, which will help convey a good vision of the country to heads of state, ministers, and civil society members. The UN climate conference takes place next year in Brazil.

In command of the BRICS in 2025, Brazil will also host events that, like COP30, are expected, in his view, to unlock bottlenecks in the Brazilian tourism market, such as fake news related to the country and the challenges of public safety and infrastructure.

“We are directly working to combat these issues. Of course, there are episodes of insecurity in the country, but that exists everywhere, and we have been able to overcome this bottleneck. Large surveys have pointed to Brazil as a tourist destination. Even Brazilians are traveling more within Brazil,” said the minister.

Ana Carolina Medeiros, president of the National Council of the Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies (Abav), mentioned that the transfer of flights from Salgado Filho in Porto Alegre to other airports, such as Canoas, required long and complex logistics, but the tourists’ understanding ensured that the operation happened in the best possible way.

Now, with the anticipated return of activities at Salgado Filho Airport and the proximity of major events, such as Natal Luz in Gramado (in the Serra Gaúcha), it will be possible to ensure the resumption of the tourist flow for important dates, according to her. “We hope that this resumption comes with significant development,” she stated.

Tourism represents 8% of Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and according to Marcelo Freixo, president of Embratur, the expectation is to break records in revenue and the number of tourists in 2024. By September, there was an influx of 5 million international tourists and an 18% increase in the air network compared to 2023.

“The most attractive months are October, November, and December, due to the year-end festivities. Therefore, everything indicates that we will set a record in the number of tourists,” he said.

This article was translated from Valor Econômico using an artificial intelligence tool under the supervision of the Valor International editorial team to ensure accuracy, clarity, and adherence to our editorial standards. Read our Editorial Principles.