From January to March, the country registered the highest number of foreign visitors in history, with an increase of 47.8% compared to the same period last year. The year 2025 is already consolidating itself as a historic one for Brazilian tourism. Month after month, the country has been breaking its own records, driven by a continuous increase in the arrival of international tourists.
This accelerated pace of growth can be seen in the first quarter. In this period alone, Brazil recorded the largest influx of foreign visitors in its entire history: 3,739,649 international tourists arrived at Brazilian destinations. In the accumulated total of the first three months, the increase is even more significant – 47.8% up compared to the same period of the previous year.
In March alone, a total of 929,096 tourists from abroad have arrived in Brazil. This number represents a growth of 25.5% compared to the same period in 2024. The data is from the Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with Embratur and the Federal Police.
The good performance was driven by strategic actions to promote international tourism and by strengthening the tourism infrastructure. “We are experiencing a historic moment for international tourism in our country. A sequence of records, with a growth rate in the number of foreign visitors that exceeds all expectations. The world is increasingly attracted to Brazil, which respects and values diversity, unique cultural expressions, rich natural landscapes and sustainability. And this is our work. 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”, commented the president of Embratur, Marcelo Freixo.
For the Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino, this progress reflects the joint work between the government, 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”, highlighted Sabino.
International arrivals
The state of São Paulo continues to be the main gateway for international tourists, with 277,266 arrivals in March. Next comes Rio de Janeiro, with 241,812 entries.
Rio Grande do Sul also stood out, with 168,507 international visitors, demonstrating the strength of the South region as a destination.
In the Northeast, Bahia remains the leader in international tourists, with 17,583 foreigners choosing to land in the state.
Demand
The survey also showed that the flow of Argentine tourists continued to rise in March. Once again, the border between the two countries was very busy, as were the other access routes, with Brazil receiving 395,149 Argentines — an increase of 76.72% compared to the same period last year.
But it is not just the “hermanos” who are showing interest in Brazil. The number of Europeans entering the country also grew significantly in the first quarter, with an increase of 88.29%. Countries such as France, Portugal, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain lead the list of European visitors.
Goals
The National Tourism Plan (PNT) has outlined ambitious guidelines for the next three years, with the goal of positioning Brazil as the most visited destination in South America by 2027, attracting 8.1 million international tourists per year.
“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”, said the minister Sabino.
Aligned with the 2024-2027 Multi-Year Plan, the PNT also includes 20 sectoral programmes and plans to achieve these goals. Implementation strategies are being developed collaboratively, within the scope of the Thematic Chambers of the National Tourism Council (CNT). Among the initiatives is the Climate Adaptation Plan for Tourism, which reinforces commitments to the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda.
