In May 2023, tourism in Brazil achieved its highest revenue for the month since 2014, according to the Brazilian National Confederation of Goods Trade, Services, and Tourism (CNC). The total revenue reached BRL 36.1 billion (approximately USD 7.51 billion at the current exchange rate), marking an 8.6% increase from the same period last year and a 4% growth compared to April this year. Rio de Janeiro, with its Cristo Redentor Statue voted among the New 7 Wonders of the World, is one of the main witnesses of the bustling tourist activity this season.
CNC President, José Roberto Tadros, highlighted the sector’s resurgence in income generation, employment opportunities, new businesses, and the attraction of foreign investments. Another promising indicator of this revitalization is the average flow of aircraft at the ten largest airports in Brazil, which has returned to pre-pandemic levels.
In terms of domestic tourism, the higher number of travellers can be attributed to the elevated cost of international travel and the diverse range of offerings in Brazilian tourism products. On the other hand, from the perspective of foreign tourists, the favourable exchange rate and robust infrastructure for international tourism make Brazil an attractive destination.
As the economic activity in the sector continues to strengthen, 64,200 jobs were created from January to May, with 9,600 jobs being solely added in May. Looking ahead, CNC projects a generation of 101,600 new jobs for the entirety of 2023.
The growth in employment opportunities also parallels the increasing number of companies in the tourism sector. In May of this year, there were 10% more businesses compared to the same month last year, encompassing cultural services, accommodation, bars and restaurants, passenger transport, car rental, travel agencies, and other related services.
Surprisingly, while accommodation and travel agencies are frequently associated with tourism, the services that recorded the most significant growth were vehicle rental (12.4%), cultural services (11.5%), and bars and restaurants (10.9%). This reflects the diverse and expanding landscape of the tourism industry in Brazil.