e-Visa Requests Increase in February

The number of tourists from the United States is expected to grow in the coming months. In February, visa applications increased by 70% compared to the same period in 2017. According to the Brazilian Institute of Tourism (Embratur), the increase was driven by the opportunity for tourists from that country to apply for an electronic visa.Global AttractionFour countries benefited from the electronic visa, including the United States. An increase in visa applications was observed in all of them: Japan (+26%), Australia (+57%), and Canada (+4%). In a statement, Embratur informs that the agency plans to promote advertising actions in Canada (which has not yet happened), so that the increase in applications in the North American country is even more significant.Tourism Boosts the EconomyOrganizations in the U.S. predict that in about three or four years, American tourists will generate $1.5 billion in the Brazilian economy – a figure much higher than the current $710 million. The United States is the country with the second highest number of tourists visiting Brazil. Argentina is first.Well ReceivedIn Australia, where the electronic visa has been in operation since November 2017, about 98% of tourists opt for the document issued entirely online, as opposed to the traditional visa. According to Embratur, in the U.S., the new method was chosen by 65% of tourists; in Canada, by 72%, and in Japan, by 33%.