Encouraged by the recovery of international journeys in the postpandeia and the devaluation of the real, foreign tourists spent US $ 7.341 billion in Brazil in 2024, the Central Bank (BC) released on Friday (24). The value is the largest in 15 years, even exceeding 2014, World Cup year in Brazil, when tourists from other countries spent $ 6.914 billion.
Compared to 2023, the expenses of foreign tourists in the country rose 6.28%. Two years ago, visitors from other countries had disbursed US $ 6.907 billion. The advance can be explained by the number of tourists from abroad, which jumped 12.6% last year and totaled 6.65 million in 2023.
In comparing revenue from the country, international tourist spending by 2024 exceeded cotton exports (US $ 5.154 billion), aircraft (US $ 4.4 billion) and copper ores ($ 4.16 billion)
In December alone, foreign tourists disbursed US $ 721 million in Brazil, up 16% over the same month of 2023, when they had left US $ 622 million in the country.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the result of 2024 brings Brazil closer to the goals of the National Tourism Plan, which foresees that the country reaches the end of 2027 with 8.1 million foreign tourists and US $ 8.1 billion in currency per year . In a statement, Tourism Minister Celso Sabino said that the increase in the entry of foreign visitors will create more jobs and boost the Brazilian economy.
“The arrival of foreign visitors to Brazil not only moves our economy, but also reaffirms the strength and beauty of our country as a desired destination in the global scenario. These resources are a reflection of the potential of tourism to generate jobs, strengthen communities and promote development. We are ready to receive the world with open arms, with the hospitality that only Brazil knows how to offer, ”said the minister.
Tax Free
One of the government’s bets to raise the number of foreign tourists in the country is the regulation of tax reform. Sanctioned on the 16th, the Complementary Law establishes the Tax Free program, whereby visitors from other countries may request the reimbursement of taxes on products purchased in Brazil and boarded in the luggage. This system exists in several countries, when the total value of the goods exceeds a certain value.
For the Minister of Tourism, Tax Free not only encourages international tourism, but strengthens the local economy. “Brazil, the federal government and the congress have taken a big step towards the growth of national tourism. Offering in Brazil the Tax Free program for international visitors means strengthening the competitiveness of our destinations. This represents more revenues entering our economy, expanding income and employment generation, ”said Celso Sabino by note.
