The volume of resources left by international tourists in Brazil in 2023 hit a new record — $6.9 billion — placing the country first in South America in sector revenues, according to a ranking of 20 countries released on Monday (5) by UN Tourism.
Brazil also ranks second in post-pandemic recovery in the Americas, with a 15% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels, only behind Mexico, and is in 14th place in the world. Mexico is in 10th place. According to the research, the country with the highest growth in revenues left by international visitors was Serbia, with 79%.
The resources injected into the Brazilian economy by foreign travelers last year surpassed the highest international tourism revenue recorded in 2014, when the country hosted the World Cup, by 1.5%. The target set in the National Tourism Plan was an 8.58% increase in international travel revenues in 2023, but the result showed an annual growth of 41%. In 2022, international visitors left $4.9 billion in the country.
Tourism Minister Celso Sabino told Agência Brasil that the record results from a series of government efforts “to show Brazil to the world, the way Brazil really is.” Sabino recalled the various visits made by President Lula to other countries and highlighted that Brazil was recognized by the World Bank as the ninth largest economy in the world at the end of last year.
“There is a massive campaign to promote our main attractions in the international market at major trade fairs,” he said.
Minister Sabino expressed belief that this year’s numbers will be even better. He mentioned that there were record crowds at New Year’s Eve celebrations across the country. This year’s Carnival season, he argued, should attract more people to Brazil. A survey by the Ministry of Tourism shows that more than a third of Brazilians are expected to travel for leisure this summer until March, with a large portion of them during Carnival.
Source: Agência Brasil