WTTC forecasts Brazil's Travel & Tourism sector to surpass us$167 billion contribution by 2025

Sector expected to support 8.3 million jobs across the country

International visitor spend projected to grow by more than 4% year-on-year

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20 May 2025. - During its participation in the Visit Brazil Summit, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has unveiled a very positive outlook for Brazil’s Travel & Tourism sector this year, with a projected contribution of US$167.6 billion to the country’s GDP, representing 7.7% of the national economy.

According to WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), produced in collaboration with Oxford Economics, Brazil's Travel & Tourism sector is on course to break all previous records across key indicators by the end of 2025.

The sector is forecast to support 8.2 million jobs in Brazil by year-end, representing almost 8% of total employment in the country and seeing an increase of more than 500,000 jobs compared to 2019.

Both international and domestic tourism spend are set for continued growth, projected to reach US$7.5 billion and US$113.2 billion respectively.

A look back to 2024

In 2024, the sector had already surpassed its 2019 peak levels across all key metrics. According to the same study, Brazil’s Travel & Tourism sector contributed nearly US$167 billion to GDP last year, representing an annual growth of 3.4%.

Employment reached 8.1 million jobs, reflecting a year-on-year increase of almost 4%.

International visitor spend rose by 10.7% year-on-year to US$7.2 billion, while domestic spend grew by 3% to US$112.3 billion. 

Virginia Messina, WTTC Executive Vice President, said: “Brazil is a country of extraordinary tourism potential. Its natural diversity, rich cultural heritage, and unique range of experiences make it a key destination in the region.

“The growth we are witnessing reflects a strategic effort by both government and the private sector. Now is the time to build on this momentum: expanding air connectivity, investing in infrastructure and developing tourism products that reach beyond the major urban hubs.”

In 2024, leisure travel accounted for 89.9% of total travel spend, compared to 10.1% for business travel.

The leading source markets included Argentina (29%), the United States (11%), Chile (10%) and Paraguay (7%).


Looking ahead to 2035

By 2035, WTTC projects Brazil’s Travel & Tourism sector will reach nearly US$199 billion, growing at an average annual rate of 1.7%.

The sector is expected to support nearly 9.7 million jobs, with more than 1.5 million new roles created over the next decade.

International visitor spend could exceed US$10 billion, while domestic visitor spend is anticipated to reach US$133.5 billion, consolidating Travel & Tourism as one of the country's most dynamic and high-potential economic sectors.


Regional data

In 2024, the Travel & Tourism sector across Central and South America contributed US$358.7 billion to regional GDP, accounting for 7.5% of the total economy and exceeding 2019 levels by more than 9%. Sector employment reached 17.5 million, equivalent to 8% of total jobs in the region, with a year-on-year growth of 4.4%. 

In 2025, WTTC forecasts that Travel & Tourism in the region will contribute US$372 billion to GDP, representing for 7.6% of the regional economy. In addition, employment in the sector is expected to grow to 18.2 million jobs, or 8.2% of total employment in the region.

For more information and to access the full factsheet, including WTTC’s latest Environmental Social Research (ESR), please visit WTTC's Research Hub.

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