São Paulo – Streamlined entry visas to Brazil for tourists coming from the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan could bring an additional BRL 1.4 billion (USD 447 million) to the Brazilian economy in two years’ time according to federal government forecasts. As of late 2017, the entire visa application and issuance process for travellers from those countries will be done online, and is expected to take no longer than 48 hours.
The government released a statement asserting that a second phase will see the the e-visa system be put in place for tourists from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India and China.
“Currently, tourism makes up approximately 9% of Brazil’s GDP. Numbers from technicians with the WTTC (the World Travel and Tourism Council) show that as restrictions on entry visas decrease, countries can collect revenues 5% to 25% higher,” the statement quoted Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur) chairman Vinicius Lummertz as saying.
Brazil adheres to a visa reciprocity policy, meaning citizens from countries that require visas from Brazilians are also required visas in order to enter Brazilian territory. However, Brazil sustains bilateral visa waiver agreements with some 90 nations. Recently, for instance, the country signed one such agreement with the United Arab Emirates.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
