Brazil makes history by welcoming 9 million international tourists in 2025

Brazil has reached an unprecedented milestone in its tourism industry, recording the arrival of 9 million international visitors before the end of the year. The figure not only shatters the previous record of 6.77 million set in 2024, but also significantly surpasses the 6.9 million target established in the 2024–2027 National Tourism Plan (PNT).

The achievement was celebrated at the “Tourism Meter” in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, during an event attended by Embratur President Marcelo Freixo and representatives of the private sector. The celebration featured performances by percussionists from the Mangueira Samba School, symbolizing the cultural richness that draws millions of visitors to Brazil.

From January to November this year, international tourists contributed USD 7.17 billion to Brazil’s economy, according to figures released by the Central Bank. This represents an 8.41% increase compared to the same period last year and comes very close to the total recorded in 2024, which reached USD 7.3 billion.

According to Embratur President Marcelo Freixo, the results reflect a successful effort to reposition Brazil’s image abroad, combined with a strategic focus on priority markets. “This is a historic figure that generates jobs, income, and development across all regions of the country, reinforcing tourism as one of the major drivers of our economy,” Freixo said.

During the first eleven months of 2025, Brazil’s top source markets for international tourists were:

Argentina: the clear leader with 3.1 million visitors, an impressive 82.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Chile: 721,497 tourists (+24.4%).

United States: 677,888 visitors, up from 640,579 in 2024 (+5.8%).

Uruguay: 487,514 tourists (+37.2%).

Paraguay: 454,327 arrivals (+14.4%).

The state of São Paulo consolidated its position as the main gateway into the country, receiving nearly 2.5 million international visitors between January and November. It was followed by Rio de Janeiro (1.97 million), Rio Grande do Sul (1.43 million), Paraná (958,000), and Santa Catarina (651,000).

Looking ahead, João Marcello Barreto, President of Orla Rio, emphasized that this milestone strengthens collaboration between the public and private sectors to further enhance service excellence and sustainability. Continued growth is already projected for the summer of 2026, supported by increased ticket sales to Rio de Janeiro and the expansion of international air routes at Galeão International Airport.

The record coincides with the national campaign “The record in international tourism is the pride of an entire country,” which highlights real stories of people working in the tourism sector. The initiative aims to show how international tourism directly contributes to social development and supports the livelihoods of thousands of Brazilian families.

Source: Embratur.