Brasília – Spending by Brazilians during trips to foreign countries has totalled US$ 7.050 billion in the first half this year, the highest figure for the period ever since the Brazilian Central Bank started keeping records, in 1947. Spending in July was also a record high for the month, at US$ 1.325 billion. Brazilians spent US$ 4.454 billion abroad in the first half of 2009, and US$ 987 million in June.
According to preliminary figures, month-to-date (26th), spending by Brazilians – US$ 1.135 billion – have surpassed that of July last year (US$ 1.045 billion).
The head of the Central Bank’s Economic Department, Altamir Lopes, underscored that in 2009, the international financial crisis affected income, leading foreign travel to drop. He claimed that this year, “employment and income are key variables for international travel.”
“The culture of travelling abroad is more widespread. Some segments of the population did not travel to foreign countries in the past,” added Lopes.
According to Central Bank data, foreigners are spending more in Brazil as well, although the rate of growth is lower than that of foreign spending by Brazilians. From January until June this year, revenues from spending by foreigners in the country totalled US$ 2.940 billion, as against US$ 2.567 billion in the same period of 2009. In June, the figure was US$ 416 million, as against US$ 403 million in the same month of 2009.
Month-to-date (26th), revenues from spending by foreigners in Brazil have reached US$ 320 million. In all of July 2009, the figure was US$ 445 million.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
