Vibrant cities, lush landscapes, and cultural richness place Brazil in the spotlight capturing global attention like never before. With new records set in the first quarter of the year, Brazil is experiencing a robust rise in foreign tourism in 2025. Between January and March, the country welcomed 3.7 million visitors — a whopping increase of 47.8% compared to the same period in 2024. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, Embratur, and the Federal Police, this is the highest number of international tourist arrivals ever recorded in Brazil in a quarter.
March alone saw 929,096 foreign visitors, a 25.5% increase from the previous year. São Paulo was the country’s top gateway, with 277,266 international travellers welcomed, and not far behind is the bustling city of Rio de Janeiro where 241,812 tourists stopped by. In the south, Rio Grande do Sul recorded 168,507 foreign visitors, while Bahia in the Northeast had 17,583 entries.
O turismo brasileiro segue em alta em 2025! 🏆✨
— Ministério do Turismo (@MTurismo) April 29, 2025
Com números históricos de visitantes internacionais, faturamento e gastos de estrangeiros, o setor reafirma sua força na geração de emprego, renda e desenvolvimento para o país. 💪 pic.twitter.com/4hycrKIrtc
Government officials attribute the growth to both increased global marketing and an expansion of the country’s tourist infrastructure. Marcelo Freixo, president of Embratur, said that the results reflect Brazil’s appeal as a diverse, culturally rich, and sustainable destination. “We are experiencing a historic moment for international tourism in our country,” Freixo said. “The record volume of international tourists translates into direct benefits for our economy, with growth in the tourism market, generation of jobs and income for Brazilians”.
Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino highlighted that the progress is the result of cooperation between government agencies, the private sector, and international partners. “Our goal is to continue at this pace and consolidate the country as one of the main tourist destinations in the world,” he said.
Argentina remains the leading contributor to the total rise of foreign tourist arrivals in Brazil. In March, 395,149 Argentinians travelled to Brazil, a 76.7% increase over the same month of 2024. Europe isn’t far behind, though. Tourist trips from France, Portugal, Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain are going through the roof, accounting for an 88.3% boost in European travellers for the first quarter.
Looking ahead, Brazil’s National Tourism Plan predicts receiving 8.1 million international tourists annually by 2027, placing Brazil as the most visited nation in South America. The plan consists of 20 sectoral programmes and strategies such as the Climate Adaptation Plan for Tourism, aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
🚎🚗✈️ O turismo no Brasil não para de crescer! Depois de um 2024 histórico, continuamos a colher resultados excelentes na atividade turística brasileira! 🎖️
— Ministério do Turismo (@MTurismo) April 30, 2025
Só no primeiro trimestre deste ano, a arrecadação no setor chegou a R$ 16,5 bilhões. 💰🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/epu7Jczui2
“We are overcoming challenges and positioning Brazil as an attractive tourist destination for a highly demanding global market. We will work tirelessly to achieve the 2027 goal, with millions of foreign tourists visiting our country, generating jobs and boosting the local economy”, Minister Sabino stated.
Brazil’s impressive performance in early 2025 demonstrates a thriving tourist industry driven by strategic planning, worldwide outreach, and growing international demand. With ambitious targets looming ahead, the country is set to be South America’s number one destination, providing sustainable, high-quality experiences for international visitors. So whether you’re drawn by its natural wonders, rich traditions, or vibrant cities, one thing is clear: there’s never been a better time to discover Brazil.
