BRASILIA — The latest statistics from Brazil show the country is again recording positive numbers of international tourism arrivals and spending.

With 23,577 arrivals up to July 2022, international flight arrivals into Brazil have already surpassed the entire year of 2020 and continue to recover, returning to operate above 70% of the numbers achieved in 2019.

“We have been working hard to promote Brazil in strategic markets, holding meetings with airlines to increase our flights. Even in the face of difficulties such as the price of airline tickets and strikes in the sector around the world, we are maintaining the recovery scenario, and this shows that we are on the right path,” says the president of Embratur (Brazilian Agency for International Tourism Promotion), Silvio Nascimento.

International visitor spending is rebounding too. According to data released by Brazil’s Central Bank, the revenue generated by tourists from other countries from January to March 2022 was US$ 1.23 billion. The performance was driven by the month of March, with revenue of US$453 million, the highest recorded period.

By way of comparison, spending by international tourists stood at US$693 million between January and March 2021 and US$1.44 billion in the first three months of 2020. In 2019, the figure was US$ 1.8 billion.

“This year, we have already surpassed the mark of 1 million foreign tourists coming to Brazil, and the economic impact is a reflection of the tourism rebound. These are revenues that feed and sustain the sector, generating employment and income for those who work and live off tourism. Therefore, international dissemination actions are essential for us to have even better results in the future,” says Nascimento.

In March 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, foreigners spent US$567 million on travel in Brazil, against US$544 million in the same month of 2018. In 2020, the figure was US$385 million. The WHO declared the pandemic on March 11, 2020.

Embratur’s initiatives this year include a partnership with the Brazilian Micro and Small Enterprises’ Support Service Agency (Sebrae) to strengthen the international promotion of Brazilian tourism. The initiative expanded the reach of actions that resulted, in the first half of 2022, in ad campaigns, travel shows and more.

“Embratur’s various actions around the world were of great importance for the rebound of international tourism to Brazil in 2022. In just six months, we more than doubled the number of foreign visitors in relation to 2021, exceeding 1.2 million foreigners in June. We are confident that with the promotion of our destinations, we will return as soon as possible to the level of 2019,” said Nascimento.