Brazil 4th in Global Tourism Growth: OECD

How fast did international tourism in Brazil grow?

Between 2019 and 2025, the number of foreign visitors to Brazil jumped from 6.3 million to 9.3 million — a 46% increase that placed the country fourth globally in tourism growth, according to the OECD's Tourism Trends and Policies 2026 report.

How does Brazil compare to other top destinations?

Brazil's 46% growth outpaced several iconic travel destinations over the same period:

• Japan: +34%
• Portugal: +20%
• Spain: +16%
• France: +12%

The comparison uses 2019 as the pre-pandemic baseline, measuring how quickly each country recovered and expanded its international visitor numbers by 2025.

What about South America?

Brazil stood out sharply within the region. While it posted strong gains, two major South American neighbours moved in the opposite direction: Argentina fell 23% and Peru dropped 22% in international visitor numbers over the same period.

How is 2026 shaping up?

According to Embratur (Brazil's international tourism promotion agency), momentum has carried into 2026. In the first half of this year, Brazil welcomed 5.2 million international tourists — the second-highest first-half total ever recorded. Those visitors injected US$5.6 billion into the Brazilian economy, a 12% rise compared to the same period in 2025.

What is driving the growth?

Embratur credits an expanded international promotion strategy, including participation in global travel fairs, press trips, familiarisation tours (famtours) for operators and agents, and targeted marketing campaigns in strategic markets. The OECD report also highlights recovering global connectivity and rising investment in the tourism sector as key tailwinds.