Northeast Brazil continues as a firm favourite among Brazilian tourists, with the state of Ceará at the forefront. So much so that in Q3 this year, Fortaleza was the third most sought-after holiday destination in Brazil. The capital also ranks as the third most popular for the upcoming Christmas season and fourth for New Year celebrations.
Fortaleza third most popular for holidays in Brazil
According to data from the Brazilian Association of Travel Agents (ABAV), the top three destinations for holidays in Brazil between July and September were Sao Paulo, Gramado and Fortaleza. In July, Fortaleza rose to the top position as the most sought-after in the country.
Figures from the Ceará Tourist Department forecast that the city will also sit in the third position for Christmas vacation preferences and fourth for New Year. Christmas and New Year make up one of the busiest times in the Brazilian holiday calendar, and Fortaleza and Ceará regularly feature as top favourites.
Tourism rises in Ceará
With the opening of international borders, tourist activity has gradually been returning to Ceará. The latest figures from the Brazilian Statistical Institute (IBGE) confirm this trend and point to over 50% growth this year.
In the nine months to August, tourist activity in Ceará grew by 51.6% compared to the same period in 2021. As a result, tourism in the state sits at 26.7% above August 2021, having increased by 44.2% in 12 months.
Furthermore, in September Ceará saw an uptick of 5.9% in tourism, the highest increase in the country. The rise in Brazil was 4.8%.
Ceará tourism reflects national tendency
The figures for Fortaleza and Ceará mirror Brazil as a whole. Tourist activity expanded by 1.2% in August compared to July, taking annual growth to 22.8%. Consequently, tourism in Brazil now stands at 0.1% ahead of the previous high in February 2020, immediately before the pandemic.
Data from ABAV also reinforce the sensation that tourism in Brazil is returning to pre-pandemic figures. In July, over 7.6 million passengers travelled by plane in Brazil, the best result so far this year and well ahead of numbers registered during 2020 and 2021. In addition, revenue from international tourists is close to levels last seen when Brazil hosted the Olypmics.
(Sources: ABAV, IBGE)
