São Paulo – In 2011, 5.4 million foreigners visited Brazil, a 5.3% increase over 2010 according to the industry balance sheet issued this Friday (4th) by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur). Argentina was the leading source of tourists to Brazil during the period, at 29.3%. The United States accounted for 10.9% of all tourists visiting Brazil, and Uruguay, the third leading source, answered to 4.8% of all visitors.
In a statement issued by the Tourism Ministry, Embratur president Flavio Dino said the large numbers of Latin American tourists visiting Brazil in 2011 is the result of a strategy to promote the country as a destination among its neighbours. “As a result, Brazil became more aligned with the worldwide trend that is interregional tourism. In Europe and Asia, 80% of all tourism takes place within the continent,” said Dino.
South American countries were the source of 48.5% of tourists visiting Brazil in 2011. In addition to Argentina and Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, the French Guiana, Guiana and Suriname sent tourists to Brazil.
Also according to the Ministry of Tourism, BRICs countries (Russia, India, China and South Africa, as well as Brazil) sent more tourists to Brazil than in 2011. In 2011, 40.9% more Russians came to Brazil than in 2010 (total of 22,355 visitors). There was an increase of 47.9% in the number of Chinese tourists, 14.3% for Indian tourists, and 6.8% for South African tourists.
Though in the midst of a crisis, Europe was the second leading source continent for tourists to Brazil, after the American continent. Roughly 30% of visitors came from Europe. Of all tourists who visited Brazil in 2011, 70% entered the country by air, and 26% entered by car. Out of the 50 leading source countries, none is Arab.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
