Brazil welcomes 4.8 million international tourists in five months and registers a growth of 49.7%

The number of international tourist arrivals in Brazil from January to May 2025 exceeded the results of the entire historical series for the month. There were 4.8 million foreign visitors visiting Brazil within the first five months of 2025. The result represents a growth of 49.7% compared to the first five months of 2024, when arrivals hit 3.2 million. The data was released in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Embratur/Visit Brasil and the Federal Police.

The month of May was also a record. In total, during the period, Brazil registered the arrival of 461,341 foreign visitors, 37.4% more than in the same period last year, when the number was 125,689. The president of Embratur, Marcelo Freixo, celebrated the results. “The moment that Brazilian tourism is experiencing is unprecedented in the world. In 2025, the arrival of international tourists will grow by 50%, while the UN Tourism forecast for the rest of the world is between 3% and 5%”, he highlighted.

“This is a reflection of the improvement in Brazil’s image due to President Lula’s foreign policy, aligned with the values ​​of democracy and environmental commitment, but it is also the result of the qualified work we are doing to attract international flights and promote our tourist destinations abroad. Never before have so many tourists arrived, and today they arrive in a much greater diversity of destinations, regionalising development and generating jobs”, added Freixo.

The Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino, also commented on the numbers. “We are reaping the rewards of a well-articulated strategy and consistent technical work developed by President Lula’s government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Embratur. The travel sector is one of the major drivers of Brazil’s economic and social development, and the data shows that we are on the right track to transform the country into one of the most competitive destinations in the world”, said Sabino.

Annual target

The number of arrivals so far represents 70% of the target set for the year by the National Tourism Plan (PNT) 2024-2027, which forecasts the arrival of 6.9 million tourists to the country by December. The expectation is that Brazil will reach the level of 8 million international tourists this year, a figure expected for the end of the period.

Main nationalities

The five main countries sending international tourists to Brazil accounted for 3.5 million arrivals from January to May out of the 4.8 million registered. Argentina continues to lead the way with 2.2 million Argentines visiting Brazilian destinations, a 96.8% increase compared to last year. In second place in the ranking, Chile sent 387,611 visitors, an increase of 31.6%. In third place, the United States came in at 352,971, an increase of 18.4%. Next, Paraguay sent 285,122 international tourists to Brazil, an increase of 17.1% compared to the same period last year. And in fifth place, with 277,858 foreign visitors, Uruguay registered a growth of 31.7%.

Source: Embratur.