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The study Plano Cores do Brasil, meaning The Colors of Brazil Plan, ordered by the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism and released last week, reveals the sector's growth in 2005.
During the first seven months of the year, tourism increased by 17.72% in Brazil. National landings increased by 19.29% and international landings by 17.72%. The national destination most sought for is the city of Fortaleza, in the northeastern state of Ceará, followed by Natal, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, also in the Northeast.
Next is the mountainous region of Serra Gaúcha, in the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, and the northeastern cities of Porto Seguro, in the state of Bahia, and Maceió, in the state of Alagoas.
When the study includes the international itineraries, in other words, where the Brazilians go to, Fortaleza loses to Argentina. Europe and the United States complete the list of most sold tourism packages, losing to Fortaleza.
In July, foreigners who visited Brazil brought US$ 298 million to the Brazilian economy, 34.23% more than in the same period last year. The study interviewed 1,200 tourists, listened to professionals and businessmen of the sector and evaluated 116 national tourism itineraries.
The minister of Tourism, Walfrido Mares Guia, said the sector should increase between 14% and 15% throughout the whole of 2005. "We have an indisputable perspective of reaching aims and making the sector grow even more than expected," stated the minister.
In July, the number of landings in national flights registered a record, with about 4.2 million passengers. "It is the best domestic landing in the history of Brazil. It has never happened before," said Mares Guia.
According to him, the aim of reaching 42 million people travelling by airplane this year should be increased. "We still have five months ahead," he said. For 22 months, national landings have registered an increase.
International landings registered an increase in 20.34% in July, in relation to the same month in 2004. The number of passengers coming from abroad has registered increases for 31 consecutive months.
According to information from the Central Bank, about US$ 2.1 billion entered the country in the first semester of the year brought by foreigners.
According to the president of the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur), Eduardo Sanovicz, tourism already is the third export product in the Brazilian trade balance, losing only to iron ore and soy grains.
Research
The study carried out by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV) heard 948 businessmen in the sector, amongst travel agencies, hotels, operators, restaurants, event and tourism outings promoting companies (receptive).
It was done from July 4 to August 5 in 23 Brazilian states and the Federal District (where the capital city is located).
According to the study, the businessmen had an average increase in revenue of 16% from April to June 2005, compared to the same period last year.
In the travel agencies, 51% of the interviewees stated there was an increase in sales and 31% plan on hiring new employees.
The 948 companies studied employ 39,386 people and the estimate is that they generate a movement of US$ 997 million this year.
Agência Brasil
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