From soaring past pre-pandemic records to a record-breaking surge in eco-conscious travel, Brazil's tourism industry is experiencing a remarkable renaissance that is redefining the country's global appeal.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Brazil recorded 5.9 million international tourist arrivals, marking a 12.6% increase from 2022 levels.
- From January to September 2023, international visitors to Brazil totaled 4.5 million, up 22% year-over-year.
- In 2022, Rio de Janeiro airport handled 1.2 million international passengers, the highest in Brazil.
- Domestic tourism trips in Brazil reached 88 million in 2023, up 15% from 2022.
- Brazilians took 62 million overnight domestic trips in 2022.
- Average spend per domestic tourist trip in Brazil was BRL 1,200 in 2023.
- Tourism contributed 8.3% to Brazil's GDP in 2023, totaling USD 110 billion.
- International tourism receipts reached USD 7.2 billion in 2023.
- Domestic tourism expenditure was BRL 220.4 billion in 2023.
- Hotel occupancy rate nationwide averaged 65% in 2023.
- Rio de Janeiro hotels achieved 72% occupancy in 2023 peak season.
- Brazil had 28,000 hotels with 1.2 million rooms in 2023.
- Brazil's Christ the Redeemer statue attracted 2.1 million visitors in 2023.
- Iguazu Falls (Brazilian side) hosted 1.4 million tourists in 2023.
- Carnival in Rio drew 6.2 million attendees in 2024, mostly locals/domestic.
Brazil's tourism is booming, exceeding pre-pandemic arrivals with strong growth.
Accommodations
- Hotel occupancy rate nationwide averaged 65% in 2023.
- Rio de Janeiro hotels achieved 72% occupancy in 2023 peak season.
- Brazil had 28,000 hotels with 1.2 million rooms in 2023.
- Airbnb listings in Brazil exceeded 500,000 properties in 2023.
- Average daily hotel rate (ADR) in Brazil rose to BRL 450 in 2023.
- Luxury hotels (5-star) in São Paulo had 78% occupancy in 2023.
- Pousadas (inns) numbered 15,000 in Brazil, hosting 20 million guests in 2023.
- RevPAR (revenue per available room) for Brazilian hotels: BRL 292 in 2023.
- Northeast beach resorts saw 80% summer occupancy in 2023-2024.
- New hotel openings: 150 properties adding 20,000 rooms in 2023.
- 55% of accommodations bookings were digital in Brazil 2023.
- Eco-lodges grew 15% to 2,500 units in Brazil by 2023.
- Cruise ship berths available: 25,000 per season in Brazil ports 2023.
- Hotel employment: 1.8 million jobs in Brazil 2023.
- Budget hotels (hostels) hosted 5 million guests, occupancy 70% in 2023.
- Florianópolis had highest island hotel occupancy at 75% in 2023.
- 2024 hotel pipeline: 250 new hotels with 35,000 rooms planned.
- Timeshare resorts in Brazil: 50 properties, 100,000 members in 2023.
- Glamping sites increased to 300 locations hosting 500,000 in 2023.
- Brasília hotels: 85% occupancy during congress seasons in 2023.
- Iguazu Falls hotels on Brazilian side: 92% occupancy peak 2023.
- Copacabana beachfront hotels: ADR BRL 800 in high season 2023.
Accommodations Interpretation
Brazil's tourism industry in 2023 was a masterclass in diversity, where the nation's 1.8 million hotel workers hustled to fill 65% of 1.2 million rooms on average, a figure wildly buoyed by 92% occupancy at Iguazu Falls and 80% at northeastern beaches, proving that whether you're glamping, cruising, or paying BRL 800 a night in Copacabana, the country's real luxury is having a compelling option for every traveler and budget.
Attractions
- Brazil's Christ the Redeemer statue attracted 2.1 million visitors in 2023.
- Iguazu Falls (Brazilian side) hosted 1.4 million tourists in 2023.
- Carnival in Rio drew 6.2 million attendees in 2024, mostly locals/domestic.
- Sugarloaf Mountain cable car carried 800,000 visitors in 2023.
- Fernando de Noronha islands received 100,000 visitors in 2023.
- Pantanal wetlands safari tours: 250,000 participants in 2023.
- Salvador's Pelourinho historic center: 1.8 million tourists in 2023.
- Iguaçu National Park entry tickets sold: 1.5 million in 2023.
- Copacabana Beach daily average 100,000 visitors in peak summer 2023.
- Amazon River cruises: 45,000 passengers in 2023.
- Ouro Preto colonial town: 600,000 cultural tourists in 2023.
- Chapada Diamantina National Park hikes: 300,000 adventurers in 2023.
- Florianópolis dunes and beaches: 4 million visitors in 2023.
- São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP): 1.2 million entries in 2023.
- Lençóis Maranhenses dunes: 180,000 lagoons explorers in 2023.
- Foz do Iguaçu bird park: 500,000 visits in 2023.
- Paraty historic center: 400,000 colonial architecture fans in 2023.
- Jalapão desert off-road tours: 120,000 in 2023.
- Brasília's Cathedral and modernist architecture: 900,000 tours in 2023.
- Bonito caves and rivers: 350,000 snorkelers in 2023.
- Gramado Christmas lights festival: 2.5 million in 2023.
- Ilha Grande beaches: 250,000 backpackers in 2023.
- São Miguel das Missões ruins: 150,000 heritage site visitors 2023.
- Diving in Abrolhos Marine Park: 20,000 certified dives in 2023.
- Street art in Belo Horizonte: 500,000 circuit tours in 2023.
- Whale watching in Santa Catarina: 30,000 observers in 2023 season.
Attractions Interpretation
Brazil is a tourist powerhouse where 6.2 million people can descend on Rio for Carnival, yet somehow Christ the Redeemer still manages to get a word in edgewise with 2.1 million devout selfie-takers.
Domestic Tourism
- Domestic tourism trips in Brazil reached 88 million in 2023, up 15% from 2022.
- Brazilians took 62 million overnight domestic trips in 2022.
- Average spend per domestic tourist trip in Brazil was BRL 1,200 in 2023.
- Northeast region hosted 45% of domestic tourists in Brazil, 39 million trips in 2023.
- Southeast Brazil saw 28 million domestic overnight stays in 2023.
- Domestic air travel passengers in Brazil totaled 110 million in 2023.
- 72% of Brazilians traveled domestically for leisure in 2023.
- Family trips accounted for 55% of domestic tourism in Brazil 2023.
- Road trips by car/bus made up 65% of domestic travel modes in 2023.
- Rio de Janeiro received 12 million domestic tourists in 2023.
- São Paulo hosted 15 million domestic visitors in 2023.
- Beach destinations dominated domestic tourism with 48% preference in 2023 survey.
- Ecotourism domestic trips grew 20% to 18 million in Brazil 2023.
- Average domestic trip length was 4.2 nights in 2023.
- 35% of domestic tourists used online booking platforms in 2023.
- South region domestic tourism reached 22 million trips in 2023.
- Cultural events drove 12 million domestic trips in Brazil 2023.
- 2024 domestic tourism forecast: 95 million trips.
- Low-income Brazilians' domestic travel rose 25% in 2023 to 30 million.
- Adventure tourism domestic segment: 8.5 million participants in 2023.
- Hotel stays by domestic tourists: 180 million nights in 2023.
- 28% increase in domestic winter vacations to ski resorts like Gramado in 2023.
- Carnival boosted domestic tourism by 10 million extra trips in 2024.
- Pantanal region hosted 2.5 million domestic ecotourists in 2023.
- Tourism revenue from domestic visitors hit BRL 220 billion in 2023.
Domestic Tourism Interpretation
Brazil is clearly on a roll, with a sunburnt, family-packed, road-tripping nation collectively deciding that if paradise can't come to them, they'll just drive, fly, or bus their way to it—especially if there's a beach at the end.
Economic Impact
- Tourism contributed 8.3% to Brazil's GDP in 2023, totaling USD 110 billion.
- International tourism receipts reached USD 7.2 billion in 2023.
- Domestic tourism expenditure was BRL 220.4 billion in 2023.
- Tourism sector generated BRL 1.2 trillion in total economic impact including indirect effects in 2023.
- Hotel industry revenue in Brazil surged to BRL 45 billion in 2023.
- Food and beverage sector from tourism: BRL 120 billion in 2023.
- Retail sales boosted by tourism reached BRL 80 billion in 2023.
- Transport sector tourism revenue: BRL 150 billion in 2023.
- Tourism tax contributions to government: BRL 35 billion in 2023.
- Ecotourism economic impact: USD 2.5 billion in Brazil 2023.
- Carnival economic injection: BRL 12 billion across Brazil in 2024.
- Rio de Janeiro tourism GDP contribution: 12% or BRL 50 billion in 2023.
- 2024 tourism GDP share projected at 8.8% for Brazil.
- Multiplier effect of tourism spending: 2.7 times in Brazil economy 2023.
- International receipts per tourist: USD 1,221 in 2023.
- Tourism balance of payments surplus: USD 3.5 billion in 2023.
- São Paulo tourism revenue: BRL 70 billion in 2023.
- Amazon tourism economic value: BRL 15 billion annually average 2023.
- Northeast tourism GDP share: 10.5% or BRL 90 billion in 2023.
- Cruise tourism revenue: BRL 2.8 billion in 2023-2024 season.
- Event tourism economic impact: BRL 40 billion in 2023.
- Sustainable tourism investments yielded BRL 10 billion ROI in 2023.
- Tourism employed 5.8 million direct jobs in Brazil in 2023.
- Tourism sector created 1.2 million new jobs post-pandemic by 2023.
- Brazil's tourism industry had 10.3 million total jobs (direct+indirect) in 2023.
Economic Impact Interpretation
While Brazil's samba may be effortless, its tourism industry works tirelessly, generating a staggering 1.2 trillion reais of economic impact and supporting over 10 million jobs, proving that the country's real party trick is a robust and multifaceted economic engine.
Trends Sustainability
- Tourism sustainability index improved 15% in Brazil from 2022 to 2023.
- 45% of tourists sought sustainable options in Brazil 2023 survey.
- Carbon footprint of Brazil tourism reduced by 10% since 2019 by 2023.
- Ecotourism market share grew to 15% of total tourism in 2023.
- Protected areas visits increased 25% to 12 million in 2023.
- Renewable energy in hotels: 30% adoption rate by 2023.
- Plastic-free beaches initiative covered 500 km coastline in 2023.
- Community-based tourism projects: 200 initiatives hosting 1 million in 2023.
- Digital nomad visas issued: 5,000 to Brazil in 2023.
- Overtourism measures implemented in 20 hotspots by 2023.
- Post-pandemic health protocols retained by 60% of operators in 2023.
- Adventure tourism growth: 18% annually to 2023.
- Wellness tourism retreats: 2 million participants in Brazil 2023.
- 2024 trend: 30% rise in cultural immersion tours.
- Zero-waste tourism certifications: 500 properties in 2023.
- Biodiversity tourism contributed to 5% conservation funding in 2023.
Trends Sustainability Interpretation
Brazil's tourism industry is finally learning that you can have your caipirinha and drink it too, with sustainability metrics, consumer demand, and conservation funding all showing that preserving paradise is becoming very good business.
Visitor Arrivals
- In 2023, Brazil recorded 5.9 million international tourist arrivals, marking a 12.6% increase from 2022 levels.
- From January to September 2023, international visitors to Brazil totaled 4.5 million, up 22% year-over-year.
- In 2022, Rio de Janeiro airport handled 1.2 million international passengers, the highest in Brazil.
- São Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport saw 3.1 million international arrivals in 2023.
- Brazil's international tourism arrivals grew by 47.6% in the first half of 2023 compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
- In 2023, the United States was the top source market for Brazil with 892,000 visitors.
- Argentina sent 546,000 tourists to Brazil in 2023, representing 12% of total international arrivals.
- European tourists numbered 1.1 million to Brazil in 2023, a 25% rise from 2022.
- In Q1 2024, Brazil welcomed 1.6 million international tourists, up 20.3% from Q1 2023.
- Amazon region saw 120,000 international visitors in 2023, focused on ecotourism.
- Northeast Brazil received 2.1 million international tourists in 2023, led by Salvador and Fortaleza.
- In 2019 pre-pandemic peak, Brazil had 6.35 million international arrivals.
- Cruise ship passengers to Brazil totaled 450,000 in the 2023-2024 season.
- French tourists to Brazil increased by 35% in 2023 to 180,000 visitors.
- Germany contributed 150,000 tourists to Brazil in 2023.
- In 2023, average length of stay for international tourists in Brazil was 14.2 days.
- 68% of international tourists arrived by air in Brazil in 2023.
- Border crossings from land (Argentina/Uruguay) saw 1.2 million tourists in 2023.
- UK visitors to Brazil reached 110,000 in 2023, up 28%.
- Canada sent 95,000 tourists to Brazil in 2023.
- In 2023, 42% of international tourists visited for leisure purposes in Brazil.
- Business travel accounted for 18% of international arrivals to Brazil in 2023.
- VFR (visiting friends/relatives) tourism made up 25% of Brazil's 2023 international visitors.
- Rio de Janeiro state hosted 1.8 million international tourists in 2023.
- São Paulo state saw 1.4 million international arrivals in 2023.
- International tourism receipts per arrival in Brazil averaged USD 1,200 in 2023.
- Occupancy rate at Brazilian airports for international flights was 82% in 2023.
- 2024 projections estimate 7.5 million international arrivals to Brazil.
- Chile contributed 80,000 land tourists to Brazil's South region in 2023.
- In 2023, 15% growth in Asian tourists to Brazil, totaling 120,000.
Visitor Arrivals Interpretation
Brazil's tourism is roaring back to life, with international arrivals surging past pre-pandemic levels and the world clearly deciding that fourteen days of sun, samba, and spectacular nature is just about the perfect prescription.
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