From the Newsroom*
São Paulo – Foreign tourist spending in Brazil hit a record high in 2006. According to information disclosed yesterday (03) by the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur), revenues reached US$ 4.316 billion, an 11.77% increase over 2005. This took place despite the fact that the number of visitors decreased by 6.3%, from 5,358,170 in 2005 to 5,018,991 last year.
According to the president of Embratur, Jeanine Pires, the increase in revenues happened because tourists in Brazil are currently spending more, staying longer, and visiting a greater number of destinations in the country. To the Embratur, the period during which Varig remained out of the aviation market last year was the main reason for the reduced foreign tourist inflow.
Europe was the main source of foreign tourists in Brazil last year. In total, 1,968,838 Europeans came to the country, and 1,803,013 tourists from South American countries. Up until 2003, according to the Embratur, the South Americans led the ranking. This change, in the assessment of the Embratur, was caused by the consolidation of the northeastern Brazilian region as a gateway for entry of Europeans in the country.
With regard to countries, Argentina was the main source, with 921,061 tourists, followed by the United States, with 721,633, and Portugal, with 312,521. Markets that achieved significant growth, according to the Embratur, include China, which was the source of 37,656 tourists, more twice as much as in 2005, Japan, with 74,638 visitors, an increase of 9.66%, Spain, with 211,741 tourists, 22.41% more, and France, with 275,913 visitors, an increase of 4.58%.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
