Some 95% of foreign visitors would return to Brazil, survey says

A total of 95.1% of foreign travelers who visited Brazil in 2014 would like to come back again. More than the sunny weather and the stunning landscape, they feel compelled to repeat the experience by the warm and friendly welcome they enjoyed here. These are the findings of a Ministry of Tourism survey of the profile of foreign travelers who visited the country in 2014.

The survey heard 44,080 travelers—over 10,000 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup alone—at 15 Brazilian airports and ten land border locations. Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, stood out for its hospitality and cuisine, earning good ratings from more than 97% of visitors. The most popular destination with foreigners was Rio de Janeiro.

In all, 6.4 million foreigners visited Brazil last year. Argentinians remain the largest visitor group—1.7 million in 2014. Americans rank second (656,800 visitors), followed by Chileans (336,900).

The main purpose for visiting Brazil in 2014 was pleasure (54.7%); followed by business (21.9%), and visiting friends and family (20.9%). Visitors are also drawn by events. “As it stages such events as the FIFA World Cup, Rock in Rio, and the Olympic Games, the country tends to become an increasingly sought-for destination country,” said Tourism Minister Henrique Eduardo Alves.

In 2014, the average daily spending on leisure travel was $87, whereas business visitors spent an average $103 a day. The highest average per capita daily spending on leisure was in Brasília: $140. São Paulo was the destination of the highest business spending, a daily $160 on average.

Translated by Mayra Borges