In January 2024, the National Tourism Council validated the National Tourism Plan 2024-27, outlining a roadmap for tourism development in Brazil. The new Plan was developed by the Ministry of Tourism in close collaboration with public and private organisations, universities, unions and associations, and included public hearings and consultations to ensure the participation of multiple stakeholders across the tourism sector.
The Plan is structured around three key pillars on development – social and guarantee of rights, economic and socio-environment sustainability, and defence of democracy and reconstruction of the State and sovereignty – and sets bold tourist arrivals targets: by 2027, Brazil aims to welcome 8.1 million international tourists, consolidating its position as the largest tourist economy in South America, and 150 million domestic tourists.
Several programmes have been implemented to support recovery and growth of the tourism sector in Brazil. The Emergency Programme for the Resumption of the Events Sector, launched in 2021, introduced significant tax incentives benefiting 30 segments of the cultural, tourism and entertainment sectors, including a BRL 15 billion limit for tax incentives. FUNGETUR, a funding programme for the construction sector, released BRL 1.2 billion in 2023 for over 1 000 tourism-related projects, while CADASTUR, a registration system for tourism service providers, supports nearly 160 000 subscribers benefit from FUNGETUR funds. The Regionalisation Programme registered over 3 000 cities on the Tourism Map online platform to facilitate public policy and investment development.
The Ministry has also created an online platform, investment.tourism, to promote investments and stimulate new businesses in the tourism sector. Institutions and entrepreneurs are also encouraged by the Ministry to participate in major tourism trade shows and events throughout the country focused on real estate investments to promote their innovative projects. The Smart Tourism Destinations programme awarded certifications to 21 destinations that enhanced experiences for both tourists and residents (see box below).
To enhance tourism mobility, the Traveller Support Points programme was launched, inaugurating essential service areas for travellers on major highways, following the increase in motorway travel since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Tourism also improved active tourism trails, mapping over 100 towns and 18 cycle routes, with 3 500 km of signposted trails, particularly within national parks.
To foster sustainable tourism, several initiatives were implemented. In 2023, 42 Brazilian beaches received the Blue Flag Certification, an international eco-label based on water quality, waste management and biodiversity conservation. In partnership with the Ministry of Environment and the Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, the Ministry of Tourism is supporting visitation structuring in conservation units through a partnerships and investments programme. In 2019, feasibility studies for four national parks were conducted, leading to continued concession processes with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development, with further studies underway. Further, the Marine Spatial Planning initiative collects and georeferences tourism activities along Brazil's coasts. Committed to promoting sustainability and reducing conflicts, the initiative includes data on diving spots, shipwrecks, beaches, and other significant marine sites, aiming to streamline environmental licensing and plan for climate change adaptations.
To increase social inclusion through tourism, the Ministry of Tourism launched, in partnership with the Federal Fluminense University, the Original Brazil Experiences programme, which developed 40 tourism products involving indigenous and quilombola communities. Three programmes were launched to promote domestic tourism. Discover Civic Brazil, launched in 2023, encouraged students, teachers, and researchers to visit Brasília and the capital’s historical sites. Discover Brazil: Make it Happen aims to facilitate credit access for tourism packages, tickets, accommodation, theme park tickets, among other travel services, and Discover Brazil by Flying partnered with airlines to stimulate domestic travel.
Culture and heritage are also a priority for tourism development in Brazil. The Tourism Management of World Cultural and Natural Heritage initiative, co-ordinates the Interministerial Committee to develop, organise, and promote tourism segments related to Brazil's UNESCO World Heritage sites. The REVIVE Programme complements this by requalifying unused assets through private investments, enabling their tourist use and contributing to the economic and social development of their regions. Two cities, Rio de Janeiro and Penedo, joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, and are now labelled Creative Cities for Literature and Cinema.
