Brazil records historic surge in British visitors

Brazil welcomed a record number of British tourists between January and May this year, marking the best five-month start to a year on record for the destination.

According to new data from the Brazilian Tourist Board (Embratur), the volume of visitors from the UK rose 11.23% compared to the same period in 2025, reaching 97,677 arrivals.

The growth was capped by a strong performance in May, which saw a 4.82% year-on-year increase in British travellers – the highest volume for the month of May since 2017.

The UK boom mirrors a wider surge across Europe, which recorded a 17.21% increase in visitors to Brazil between January and May, representing the highest volume of European tourists to the country since 2006.

In total, Brazilian destinations saw 4,819,685 international passenger arrivals in the first five months of the year.

The country is hoping to sustain this momentum into next year as it counts down to hosting the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2027, with matches taking place across eight host cities including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador and Recife.

Bruno Reis, president of Embratur/Visit Brasil, said the current visitor growth confirms Europe as a priority market and validates the board’s recent promotional efforts.

“We are maintaining a flow of international visitors equivalent to last year’s historical record, now accompanied by more qualified indicators, such as longer stays, higher average spending, and a more distributed presence throughout the national territory,” Reis said.

He added that football serves as a “powerful tool for international promotion,” noting that major sporting events expand interest in Brazilian destinations and create substantial opportunities for the travel sector.

The tourism board has recently ramped up its trade activity in Europe and the UK, focusing on relationship-building with tour operators and specialised media to highlight the country’s nature, culture, gastronomy and urban experiences.