Tourism in Brazil

Tourist arrivals of 2024 in %^[10]

More information Historical international tourism arrivals 1995-2019 ...

Historical international tourism arrivals 1995-2019
Year	International tourist arrivals (x1000)	Annual growth (%)	Total revenue (millions USD)	Annual growth (%)
1995[11][12]	1,991	-	972	-
2000[11][12]	5,313	-	1,810	-
2003[11][12]	4,133	-	2,479	-
2004[11][12]	4,794	16.0	3,222	30.0
2005[13]	5,358	11.8	3,861	19.8
2006[13]	5,019	-6.3	4,316	1.1
2007[14][15]	5,025	0.1	4,953	14.8
2008[16][17]	5,050	0.5	5,780	16.7
2009[18]	4,802	-4.9	5,305	-8.2
2010[19][20]	5,161	7.5	5,702	7.5
2011[19]	5,433	5.3	6,555	14.9
2012[19]	5,677	4.5	6,645	1.3
2013[21]	5,813	2.4	6,704	0.9
2014	6,430	n/a	n/a	n/a
2015	6,306	n/a	n/a	n/a
2016[22]	6,578	n/a	n/a	n/a
2017[22]	6,589	0.6	5,809	n/a
2018[23]	6,621	0.5	5,921	n/a
2019[23]	6,353	-4.4	5,995	n/a

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Yearly tourist arrivals in millions^[24][25][26]

According to the World Tourism Organization, international travel to Brazil began to grow fast since 2000, particularly during 2004 and 2005. However, in 2006 a slow down took place, and international arrivals have had almost no growth both in 2007 and 2008.^{[13][16][27][28]} In spite of this trend, revenues from international tourism continued to rise, from US$3.9 billion in 2005 to US$4.9 billion in 2007, a US$1 billion increase despite 333,000 less arrivals. This favorable trend is the result of the strong devaluation of the American dollar against the Brazilian real, which began in 2004, but on the other hand, making Brazil a more expensive international destination.^[29] This trend changed in 2009, when both visitors and revenues fell as a result of the 2008–2009 economic crisis.^[18] By 2010, the industry recovered, and arrivals grew above 2006 levels to 5.16 million international visitors, and receipts from these visitors reached US$5.9 billion.^[20] In 2012, the historical record was reached with 5.6 million visitors and US$6.6 billion in receipts.^[19]

Despite continuing record breaking of international tourism revenues, the number of Brazilian tourists travelling overseas has been growing steadily since 2003, resulting in a net negative foreign exchange balance, as more money is spent abroad by Brazilian than receipts from international tourist visiting Brazil. Tourism expenditures abroad grew from US$5.76 billion in 2006, to US$8.21 billion in 2007, a 42.45% increase, representing a net deficit of US$3.26 billion in 2007, as compared to US$1.45 billion in 2006, a 125% increase from the previous year.^[30] This trend is caused by Brazilians taking advantage of the stronger Real to travel and making relatively cheaper expenditures abroad.^[30] Brazilian traveling overseas in 2006 represented 3.9% of the country's population.^[31]

In 2005, tourism contributed with 3.2% of the country's revenues from exports of goods and services, and represented 7% of direct and indirect employment in the Brazilian economy.^[32] In 2006, direct employment in the sector reached 1.87 million people.^[33] Domestic tourism is a fundamental market segment for the industry, as 51 million traveled throughout the country in 2005,^[34] and direct revenues from Brazilian tourists reached US$21.8 billion,^[35] 5.6 times more receipts than international tourists in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

In 2005, Rio de Janeiro, Foz do Iguaçu, São Paulo, Florianópolis, and Salvador were the most visited cities by international tourists for leisure trips. The most popular destinations for business trips were São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Porto Alegre.^[36] In 2006, Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza were the most popular destinations by national visitors.^[37]

The year 2025 marked a record-breaking number of international visitors,^[40] as announced by Embratur and the Ministry of Tourism. In 2025, Brazil registered 9,287,196 international arrivals from 205 countries. This represented a 37% increase compared to the previous record set in 2024, far surpassing the influx of tourists recorded during major mega-events hosted by the country, such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The most significant growth in arrivals came from Argentina, which saw a 72% year-over-year (YoY) increase. With over 3.3 million tourists, Argentines formed the largest demographic group to visit Brazil, followed by visitors from Chile, the United States, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Brazil also registered a substantial rise in tourists from Europe and Asia, with an overall increase of more than 20% from these regions. The United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Italy, and China represented the largest source markets outside the Americas.^[39]

The following table provides a breakdown of the top 88 source nationalities visiting Brazil, comparing arrival data between 2024 and 2025, alongside the year-over-year percentage growth:^[2][41]

Comparison with other destinations

The following is a comparative summary of Brazil's tourism industry key performance indicators as compared with countries considered among the most popular destinations in Latin America, and relevant economic indicators are included to show the relative importance that international tourism has on the economy of the selected countries.

More information Selected Caribbean andLatin American countries, Internl. tourist arrivals2019 (x1000) ...

Selected Caribbean and Latin American countries	Internl. tourist arrivals 2019[42] (x1000)	Internl. tourism receipts 2019[42] (million USD)	Receipts per arrival 2019 (col 2)/(col 1) (USD)	Arrivals per capita per 1000 pop. (estimated) 2007[27][43]	Receipts per capita 2005[12] USD	Revenues as % of exports goods and services[32] 2003	Tourism revenues as % GDP[8][32] 2012	% Direct & indirect employment in tourism[8][32] 2012	World Ranking Tourism Compet.[6] TTCI 2024	Index value TTCI[6] 2024
Argentina	7,399	5,241	708	115	57	7.4	10.5	9.9	49	4.10
Brazil	6,353	5,995	944	26	18	3.2	8.9	8.1	26	4.41
Chile	4,518	2,302	510	151	73	5.3	8.4	8.0	31	4.33
Colombia	4,169	5,682	1,363	26	25	6.6	5.1	5.5	40	4.08
Costa Rica	3,139	3,988	1,270	442	343	17.5	12.5	11.7	51	4.08
Cuba	4,263	2,596	609	188	169	n/d	n/d	n/d	n/d	n/d
Dominican Republic	6,446	7,472	1,159	408	353	36.2	14.7	13.6	64	3.88
Jamaica	2,681	3,639	1,357	628	530	49.2	25.7	23.8	84	3.59
Mexico	45,024	24,573	546	201	103	5.7	12.4	13.7	38	4.26
Panama	1,753	4,520	2,578	330	211	10.6	10.1	9.6	63	3.90
Peru	4,372	3,738	855	65	41	9.0	9.1	7.8	62	3.90
Uruguay	3,056	2,255	738	525	145	14.2	10.2	9.7	71	3.79

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• Notes: Green shadow denotes the country with the top indicator. Yellow shadow corresponds to Brazilian indicators.

Tourist visa

Main article: Visa policy of Brazil

Tourist visa requirements have been waived for citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vatican City, and Venezuela.

Tourist visas also applies to lecturers at conferences, for visiting relatives and/or friends, unpaid participation in athletic or artistic event or competition (in this case an invitation letter from the sponsoring organization in Brazil is required), and unpaid participation in a scientific/academic seminar or conference sponsored by a research or academic institution (in this case, an invitation letter from the sponsoring organization in Brazil is required).^[44]

In 2023, according to the "Best Amusement and Water Parks" ranking, from the "Travelers' Choice" award, from the TripAdvisor website, Brazil had 4 of the 25 best entertainment parks in the world: Beto Carrero World (2nd), in Santa Catarina; Beach Park (3rd), in Ceará; Terra Mágica Florybal Park (13th), in Rio Grande do Sul; and Hot Park [pt] (18th), in Goiás.^[45]

Geopark Paleorrota is the main area of geotourism in Rio Grande do Sul and one of the most important in Brazil. With 83,000 km² (32,000 sq mi) inside 281,000 km² (108,000 sq mi) of the state, where many fossils of the Permian and Triassic period, with ages ranging between 210 and 290 million years ago, when there were only the continent Pangaea.

In the region Metropolitan Porto Alegre there are 5 museums to visit. In Paleorrota Geopark there are 7 museums, the Palaeobotanical Garden in Mata and the Paleontological Sites of Santa Maria to be visited. The BR-287, nicknamed Highway of Dinosaurs, crosses 17 of 41 municipalities of the geopark.

Bonito, in Mato Grosso do Sul, is considered the Brazilian capital of ecotourism.^[46] This type of tourism also occurs in places like Pantanal and Amazon rainforest,^[47][48] Brotas, Cambará do Sul, Canela, Caravelas, Chapada Diamantina, Chapada dos Veadeiros, Ilha Grande, Ilha do Mel, Iporanga, Itacaré, Itatiaia, Itaúnas State Park, Jalapão, Jericoacoara, Monte Verde, Morro de São Paulo, Pirenópolis, Socorro, Ubatuba, Lavrinhas and many others.^[49]

Domestic tourism is a key market segment for the tourism industry in Brazil. In 2005, 51 million Brazilian nationals made ten times more trips than foreign tourists and spent five times more money than their international counterparts.^[34] The main destination states in 2005 were São Paulo (27.7%), Minas Gerais (10.8%), Rio de Janeiro (8.4%), Bahia (7.4%), and Santa Catarina (7.2%). The top three states by trip origin were São Paulo (35.7%), Minas Gerais (13.6%).^[34]

In terms of tourism revenues, the top earners by state were São Paulo (16.4%) and Bahia (11.7%). For 2005, the three main trip purposes were visiting friends and family (53.1%), sun and beach (40.8%), and cultural tourism (12.5%).^[31]

• Southeast Region:
  • Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis, Paraty, Resende, Visconde de Mauá, Itatiaia National Park, Petrópolis, Vassouras, Teresópolis, Serra dos Órgãos, Nova Friburgo, Saquarema, Arraial do Cabo, Cabo Frio, Búzios, Ilha Grande;
  • Espírito Santo: Vitória, Vila Velha, Guarapari, Anchieta, Piúma, Marataízes, São Mateus, Conceição da Barra, Domingos Martins, Santa Teresa;
  • Minas Gerais: Belo Horizonte, Sabará, Ouro Preto, Congonhas, Mariana, Lavras, São João del-Rei, Tiradentes, Diamantina, Serro, Araxá, Caxambu, São Lourenço, São Thomé das Letras, Capitólio, Camanducaia, Caparaó National Park, Pico da Bandeira, Serra do Cipó National Park, Serra da Canastra National Park;
  • São Paulo: São Paulo, São Sebastião, Ilhabela, Boiçucanga, Poá, Guararema, Guarujá, Santos, Iguape, Cananéia, São Vicente, Campos do Jordão, Holambra, Campinas, Ribeirão Preto, São José dos Campos, Sorocaba, Americana, Araçatuba, Araraquara, Araras, Atibaia, Barretos, Birigüi, Botucatu, Bragança Paulista, Itu, Jaú.
• Southern Region:
  • Paraná: Curitiba, Morretes, Antonina, Paranaguá, Ilha do Mel, Superagui National Park, Foz do Iguaçu, Iguaçu Falls, Guaratuba;
  • Santa Catarina: Florianópolis, Santa Catarina Island, Joinville, Blumenau, Itapema, Itajaí, Balneário Camboriú;
  • Rio Grande do Sul: Porto Alegre, Torres, Aparados da Serra National Park, Serra Gaúcha, Canela, Gramado, Paleorrota;
• Center-West Region:
  • Federal District: Brasília;
  • Goiás: Goiânia, Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, Pirenópolis, Goiás Velho, Caldas Novas, Emas National Park, Araguaia River;
  • Mato Grosso: Cuiabá, The Pantanal, Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, Tangará da Serra, Barra do Garças, Alta Floresta, Cáceres, Barão de Melgaço, Poconé;
  • Mato Grosso do Sul: Campo Grande, Corumbá, Bonito, Ponta Porã, Aquidauana, Coxim, Jardim.
• Northeast Region:
  • Bahia: Salvador, Cachoeira, Lençóis, Morro de São Paulo, Ilhéus, Itacaré, Porto Seguro, Arraial d'Ajuda, Trancoso, Chapada Diamantina National Park, Abrolhos Marine National Park;
  • Pernambuco: Recife, Olinda, Itamaracá, Igarassu, Caruaru, Porto de Galinhas, New Jerusalem, Garanhuns, Triunfo, Fernando de Noronha, Catimbau Valley, Petrolina;
  • Ceará: Fortaleza, Aracati, Canoa Quebrada, Jericoacoara, Tatajuba, Camocim, Sobral, Baturité, Ubajara National Park, Juazeiro do Norte;
  • Sergipe: Aracaju, Laranjeiras, São Cristóvão, Estância, Propriá;
  • Alagoas: Maceió, Maragogi, Penedo, Barra de São Miguel, Paripueira, Porto de Pedras;
  • Paraíba: João Pessoa, Campina Grande, Cabedelo, Ingá, Baía da Traição, Sousa;
  • Rio Grande do Norte: Natal, Mossoró, Tibau do Sul, Tibau, Parnamirim, Touros, São Miguel do Gostoso, Galinhos, Caicó, Macau, Martins, Maxaranguape, Cape São Roque;
  • Piauí: Teresina, Sete Cidades National Park, Parnaíba, Serra da Capivara National Park;
  • Maranhão: São Luís, Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Alcântara, Imperatriz, Carolina.
• North Region:
  • Amazonas: Manaus, Parintins, Tefé, Mamirauá;
  • Pará: Belém, Marajó Island, Santarém;
  • Tocantins: Palmas, Ilha do Bananal, Natividade;
  • Amapá: Macapá, Oiapoque;
  • Roraima: Boa Vista, Monte Roraima;
  • Rondônia: Porto Velho, Guajará-Mirim, Guaporé Valley;
  • Acre: Rio Branco, Xapuri, Brasiléia, Assis Brasil.

• 
  Ilha das Couves in Ubatuba, São Paulo
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  Historic town of Iguape, São Paulo
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  Beto Carrero World, in Santa Catarina
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  Gramado, in Rio Grande do Sul, is one of the most sought after for domestic tourism in Brazil.
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  Armação dos Búzios in Rio de Janeiro State
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  Bonito in Mato Grosso do Sul
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  Hiking in Serra do Rio do Rastro, Santa Catarina
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  Swiss village in Campos do Jordão, São Paulo State
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  Bombinhas, Santa Catarina
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  Paraty in Rio de Janeiro State
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  Vineyards valley in Rio Grande do Sul
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  Oktoberfest of Blumenau
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  Mel Island in Paraná
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  The Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida is the second largest Catholic church in the world in interior area after the St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City.
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  Guarapari, Espírito Santo
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  The colonial city of Ouro Preto, a World Heritage Site, is one of the most popular destinations in Minas Gerais.
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  Balneário Camboriú

• Visa policy of Brazil
• Ministry of Tourism (Brazil)
• Tourism in the city of São Paulo
• Seven Wonders of Brazil