Brazil seeks $4.5 bn Chinese investment to boost tourism

The Brazilian government is courting Chinese investors to fund tourism projects worth up to US$ 4.5 billion, including a large resort complex in João Pessoa and upgrades to hotels, infrastructure and theme parks. A new investment guide has been translated into Mandarin and is being promoted with the support of the Development Bank for Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) and UN World Tourism Organization. Minister of Tourism Gustavo Feliciano highlighted the move as part of a visa‑exemption scheme that now allows Chinese tourists to stay in Brazil for up to 30 days.

At the same time, Chinese online travel platform Trip.com announced a US$ 2.2 billion marketing plan over the next five years aimed at drawing more foreign visitors to China. The company expects its promotional push – covering brand endorsements, influencer campaigns and offline advertising – to help generate up to US$ 300 billion in foreign‑exchange earnings by 2030. The strategy targets high‑spending travelers from the United States, Australia, Western Europe and Gulf states, while also focusing on Southeast Asian markets.

Both initiatives signal deepening tourism‑related financial links between Brazil and China, with each side seeking to tap the other's growing outbound travel demand.