Brazil reports record international tourism and business travel growth

Brazil has experienced significant growth in international tourism during the first half of 2026. Air arrivals increased by 13.3%, totaling over 3.5 million visitors, which Embratur describes as the best result ever recorded for this period. When considering all modes of transport, the country welcomed 5,261,733 international tourists, marking its second-best performance for the first six months of a year.

Air travel accounted for 67% of total arrivals, driven by expanded international connections. South American travelers made up over half of the traffic, led by a 15.9% increase from Argentina. Long-haul markets also showed strong growth, particularly from Asia, which saw an 18.8% increase, with China leading at 55.12%. European arrivals also rose by 16.2%, reaching a twenty-year high.

In the corporate sector, Brazil is projected to have the highest growth rate among the top 15 global business travel markets in 2026, with an estimated expansion of 13.8%. According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) 2026 Business Travel Index, business travel spending in Brazil is expected to reach $35.8 billion by the end of the year, maintaining its position as the tenth largest market globally. Factors such as regional stability and growth in the energy sector are contributing to this positive outlook.