Brazil's Gramado and Rio Grande do Norte record tourism surges in 2026

Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul, saw international reservations on the Civitatis platform rise 260% between January and May 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, while the number of foreign tourists using the service grew 305%. The strongest growth came from neighboring Uruguay (221% increase), Argentina (180%) and Paraguay (200%). The city’s most popular activities for overseas visitors were the Maria Fumaça train with a stop at the Aurora winery, Snowland indoor ski park, tours of Gramado and Canela, and excursions to the Itaimbezinho canyon.

In the Northeast, Rio Grande do Norte reported a 159% jump in foreign visitors during the first quarter of 2026, reaching 26,851 travellers versus 10,362 in the same period of 2025. The surge was led by tourists from Argentina, Chile and several European nations, aided by a direct Lisbon‑Natal flight that is the shortest Europe‑South America link. Participation in the Meeting Brasil Europa 2026 roadshow helped boost seat capacity on international routes by 278% and promoted the state’s sustainable‑tourism brand, highlighting natural attractions such as coral‑rich marine pools, extensive dune fields, and wind‑sport venues.