São Paulo – The Brazilian tourism industry hopes to see a 7.5% increase in revenues in 2013 from 2012, according to figures from the 9th Annual Tourism Economy Conjuncture Survey, released this Thursday (6th) by the Ministry of Tourism, in Brazil’s capital Brasília. The survey was conducted in partnership with the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV) with the 80 leading tour operators in the country, across nine different industry segments. These companies combined account for 22% of the industry, and posted a combined R$ 57.6 billion in revenues in 2012, up 13.1% from 2011.
According to the companies polled, the growth expected this year should be driven by the resumption of Brazilian economic growth, increased demand for travels from the country’s “new middle class,” and Brazil’s exposure stemming from the events it will host: the FIFA Confederations Cup, this month, the FIFA World Cup, in 2014, and the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, in 2016.
The director of the Tourism Ministry’s Studies and Research Department, José Francisco Salles Lopes, said the industry’s expansion in 2013 may even exceed companies’ estimates. “They are usually cautious in their forecasts. Last year, revenues were also underestimated in the poll. This survey reflects the increase in trips by Brazilians , which are on the rise in the past few years because many Brazilians have incorporated travels into their expenses,” he said.
According to Lopes, last year, 60 million Brazilian passengers travelled across the country. This population took 197 million trips, up 4% from 2011.
The 80 companies polled include 11 travel agencies, five car rental companies, 18 hospitality companies, 12 tour operators, seven event organizer companies, eight fair organizer companies, four airlines, six road transport companies, and nine receptive tourism companies. Their combined results indicate that in addition to revenues, there was an increase in companies’ expenses (by 12%), prices (9.6%) and personnel (4.1%).
Event organizer companies saw the highest increase in revenues: 23%, followed by travel agencies (21.9%) and fair organizers (14.9%). The only segment which saw a decline in revenues in 2012 was receptive tourism, down 3.7%. Travel agencies’ prices increased the most, by 24.8%, followed by lodging (13%) and receptive tourism companies (11.5%).
Costs increased the most for airlines, up 17.8%, event organizers (16.4%) and car rental companies (13.2%). Personnel increased by 16.2% for event organizer companies and 10.5% for travel agencies. Airlines saw a 0.1% decline in number of employees in 2012, and receptive tourism companies saw a 1.4% decline. “Airlines are adjusting. In their case and in the case of receptive tourism, the decline in employee numbers stood within the bounds of stability,” said Lopes.
The companies’ forecasts indicate that in 2013, prices should be up 3.8%, costs should be up 4.7% and employee number should be up 3%. Said companies expect to invest 13.3% of their revenues in 2013, but car rental and tour operator companies hope to invest more than the average: 34.2% and 20%, respectively.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
