Brazil has recorded more than 9 million international tourist arrivals in 2025, setting a new historic high for inbound travel to the country. With only days remaining in the year, the total already exceeds the official forecast of 6.9 million visitors set out in the National Tourism Plan 2024–2027 by more than 30%.
The figure also marks a sharp rise from 2024, when Brazil welcomed 6.77 million international visitors. According to national tourism authorities, the 2025 total represents a 40% increase on the previous annual record and confirms a sustained recovery in international travel to the country.
Marcelo Freixo, president of Embratur, Brazil’s national tourism board, said the milestone reflects Brazil’s renewed position in global tourism. “Reaching the milestone of 9 million international tourists by 2025 shows that Brazil has definitively returned to the world tourism map. It is a historic number that generates jobs, income, and development in all regions of the country, in addition to reinforcing tourism as one of the great drivers of our economy,” he said.
Indicators point to continued growth into 2026. Data from a survey conducted by Embratur on 5 December shows international airline ticket sales for the 2026 Carnival period are already 23.2% higher than for the same period a year earlier. Between 7 and 15 February 2026, 88,600 reservations had been confirmed at the time of the survey.
Demand for Brazil during the Southern Hemisphere summer is also rising. For the period between 21 December 2025 and 20 March 2026, international ticket purchases reached 756,350, an increase of 6.6% compared with the equivalent period spanning late 2024 and early 2025. Argentina, Chile, the United States, Portugal and France recorded the strongest growth among source markets.
The year-end holiday period is contributing to the upward trend. From Christmas Day to 31 December 2025, international ticket purchases totalled 101,117, which is 7.5% higher than the same period last year. Embratur said New Year’s Eve celebrations across major Brazilian cities are expected to continue supporting inbound travel demand.
The survey data covers the 13 Brazilian states with international flight operations: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, the Federal District, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, Bahia, Ceará, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Alagoas and Pará.
Air connectivity has expanded alongside rising demand. From January to November 2025, Brazil registered 68,872 international flight landings, according to Embratur’s data panel. This represents a 17.7% increase compared with the same period in 2024, when 58,473 landings were recorded.
Argentina remained Brazil’s largest source market in 2025. Between January and November, 3.1 million Argentine tourists arrived in Brazil, an increase of 82.1% year on year. Chile ranked second with 721,497 arrivals, up 24.4% over the same period.
The United States placed third, sending 677,888 visitors to Brazil, reflecting growth of 5.8%. Uruguay followed with 487,514 arrivals, an increase of 37.2%, while Paraguay ranked fifth with 454,327 tourists, up 14.4% compared with the first eleven months of 2024.
Long-haul markets also showed growth. The United Kingdom recorded 169,319 visitors to Brazil between January and November 2025, a rise of just over 22% year on year.
In terms of entry points, São Paulo remained Brazil’s main international gateway, receiving 2,494,632 foreign visitors during the year. Rio de Janeiro followed with 1,972,928 arrivals. Rio Grande do Sul ranked third with 1,431,795 international tourists.
Paraná received 958,015 international visitors between January and November, placing it fourth, while Santa Catarina completed the top five gateways with 651,980 arrivals over the same period.
The surge in arrivals is translating into higher tourism revenues. From January to November 2025, international visitors spent US$7.17 billion in Brazil, according to Central Bank data. This figure is 8.41% higher than the same period in 2024 and approaches the full-year total recorded last year, which stood at US$7.3 billion.
In November alone, international tourism inflows reached US$560 million. Embratur said the revenue performance reflects both higher visitor numbers and ongoing efforts to promote Brazil in international markets through coordinated action between federal, state and municipal governments and the private sector.
Tourism authorities view the results as confirmation of Brazil’s competitiveness as a destination, supported by expanded air routes, major cultural events and targeted international promotion. With early indicators for 2026 already pointing to continued growth, the sector is expected to remain a significant contributor to employment, regional development and foreign exchange earnings in the year ahead.
Embratur, the Brazilian Tourist Board, is responsible for implementing the National Tourism Policy, with a focus on international promotion, marketing and the development of tourism services and products. The agency’s mandate includes supporting social and economic development by attracting international visitors to destinations across Brazil.
