This is a record, and arrivals in May exceeded Embratur’s expectations. A total of 461,341 people visited Brazil during the fifth month of the year — 37.4% more than in the same period last year.
The number of international tourists who visited Brazil between January and May 2025 broke all historical records for the period — 4.8 million foreign visitors. This represents an increase of 49.7% compared to the first five months of 2024, which recorded 3.2 million tourists. The data was released on Thursday, June 12, in a joint statement from the Ministry of Tourism (MTUR); the Brazilian Agency for International Tourism Promotion (Embratur); and the Federal Police.
May was also a record month. Brazil recorded 461,341 foreign visitors, an increase of 37.4% compared to the same period last year, with 125,000 tourists. “We are reaping the fruits of a well-articulated strategy and consistent technical work. The travel sector is one of the main engines of Brazil’s economic and social development, and the data show that we are on the right path to transform the country into one of the world’s most competitive destinations,” stated Tourism Minister Celso Sabino.
For Marcelo Freixo, president of Embratur, the moment Brazilian tourism is living is unprecedented in the world. “In 2025, international tourist arrivals increased 50%, while the UN World Tourism Organization’s forecast for the rest of the world is between 3% and 5%,” he emphasized. This reflects the improvement in Brazil’s image and President Lula’s foreign policy, aligned with democratic values and environmental commitment — but it is also the result of a qualified effort to attract international flights and promote Brazilian destinations abroad. Never before have so many tourists arrived, and they are arriving at a greater variety of destinations, regionalizing development and job generation,” stated Freixo.
• Rio de Janeiro: The state of Rio de Janeiro stood out in the period, recording a 52.3% increase in international arrivals between January and May 2025 compared to the same period last year. The total number of tourists in the period was 1,032,537 this year, versus 677,878 between January and May 2024. In May alone, the state received 130,000 visitors, a 55.2% increase compared to the 84,116 visitors from the same month the previous year.
Lady Gaga (2025) and Madonna (2024) shows took place in those months. The data is available on the Embratur Data Portal. “Rio de Janeiro is world-renowned as the gateway for international tourism in Brazil and host of major events. Therefore, this growth reflects the effort to promote the destination abroad and attract even more international tourists, generating employment and income for the carioca population,” stated Freixo.
• Annual target: The accumulated tourists represent 70% of the target set for the year by the National Tourism Plan (PNT) 2024-2027, which forecasts the arrival of 6.9 million tourists to the country by December. The expectation is that the country will reach the mark of 8 million international tourists this year — a target projected for the end of the period.
• Source markets: The five main source countries of international tourists to Brazil accounted for 3.5 million of the 4.8 million arrivals recorded between January and May. Argentina leads, with 2.2 million visitors to Brazilian destinations, a 96.8% increase compared to last year. Chile holds second place, with 387,611 visitors — a 31.6% increase. The United States ranked third, with 352,971 visitors, an 18.4% increase. Paraguay followed, with 285,122 international tourists to Brazil — a 17.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Uruguay placed fifth, with 277,858 foreign visitors, recording a 31.7% growth.
Source: www.gov.br