According to the report, the number of international tourists visiting the country rose from 6.3 million to 9.3 million between 2019 and 2025, strengthening Brazil’s competitiveness in the global tourism market. This performance places Brazil ahead of major competitors such as Japan (34%), Portugal (20%), Spain (16%), and France (12%).
Brazil also made gains within South America, whereas countries like Argentina (-23%) and Peru (-22%) saw a decline in international tourist flows during the same period. For Bruno Reis, president of Embratur/Visit Brasil, this progress is driven by a combination of factors.
“OECD data show that Brazil is increasing its prominence in international tourism. The information in this report aligns with the figures for international tourist arrivals—which reached 5.2 million in the first half of this year, the second-highest figure on record—as well as the foreign currency revenue generated by these travellers, toltaling US$ 5.6 billion, a 12% increase compared to the same period last year”, he states. Brazil also expanded its presence in strategic markets through tourism promotion activities at international trade fairs, press trips, familiarisation tours, and other initiatives.
Data
The OECD report uses the period between 2019—prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—and 2025 as a reference, allowing for an assessment of the recovery and evolution of international tourism flows worldwide. In this context, Brazil ranks among the countries that showed the highest percentage growth in foreign tourist arrivals, posting a performance that surpassed the average observed in several traditional tourism markets.
The report also highlights that tourism continues to play a significant role in the global economy, driving employment, investment, and regional development. Across the economies analysed by the OECD, the sector remains on a path of recovery and expansion, characterised by rising demand for international travel and strengthened connectivity between countries.
Latest figures for international tourism in Brazil
According to data released by Embratur, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Federal Police, Brazil recorded 5,261,733 international tourist arrivals between January and June 2026, marking the second-highest number of tourists for this period. Out of these, 3,531,233 visitors arrived by air—a figure 13.3% higher than that recorded in the same period of 2025 and the highest volume for a first half-year in the historical series.
During this period, air travel accounted for the majority of international arrivals, representing 67% of the total flow.
Arrivals from Europe grew by 16.23%, reaching their highest first-half volume since 2006. Portugal, the continent’s leading source market, increased by 26.53%. Growth was also recorded from Spain, up 21.73%; Germany, up 17.10%; the United Kingdom, up 11.29%, from 97,143 British tourists for the same period in 2025 comparing to 108,109 British tourists from January - June 2026; and France, up 6.35%.
Brazil saw an influx of US$ 5.6 billion into its economy during the first half of 2026, resulting from spending by international tourists at domestic destinations. This amount represents a 12% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when foreign currency inflows totalled US$ 5 billion between January and June.
