Tourism sector ends November 2021 with BRL 14.7 billion turnover

The Brazilian tourism sector ended November 2021 with a turnover of BRL 14.7 billion ($ 2.6 billion dollars), 19.3 percent higher than in the same month of 2020, but 15.5 percent lower than November 2019, in the pre-pandemic period. This was the eighth monthly turnover increase of the sector in a row. The data were released on Wednesday (Jan. 19) by the Federation of Trade of Goods, Services and Tourism of the State of São Paulo - FecomercioSP.

The most successful sector of the month was air transport, which surpassed by 63.3 percent the November turnover of the previous year, reaching BRL 4.3 billion ($ 782 million dollars). Despite this, the figure is still 19 percent lower compared to 2019. Hotels and restaurants also registered a good result. In November 2021, this group's turnover reached BRL 4.4 billion ($ 800 million dollars) - an annual increase of 13.1 percent, however, still 16.8 percent lower than the pre-pandemic level.

According to FecomercioSP, despite the good results in November, the coming months are still unknown for the tourism sector. With the arrival of the Omicron variant, the scenario has changed and the numbers from two months ago do not reflect the impact of the new wave of COVID-19 in 2022.

The increase in the volume of hotel reservations and the expressed intention of tourists to travel have led to better results, encouraging entrepreneurs in the sector. December figures might be positive, but unfortunately the scenario can change in January, because of the Omicron variant, believes Mariana Aldrigui, head of the FecomercioSP Tourism Board.