RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – One of the sectors most impacted by the economic collapse brought about by the pandemic, having shrunk by 95 percent, international tourism is finally beginning to show recovery signs everywhere, including Brazil.
Still unable to include the European Union, the United States, and Argentina, Brazilians’ preferred destinations that, for the moment, only allow the entry of travelers with citizenship or permanent residence visas, the agencies, airlines, and sector associations in Brazil are unanimous in pointing out a renewed and very welcome interest since early August in the purchase of packages and tickets abroad, most of which are scheduled for next year.
The demand is driven mainly by the discounts, which exceed 30 percent, and the option of rescheduling at no cost, essential in times of uncertainty regarding the control of contagion by the novel coronavirus. “People have a repressed desire to travel and, therefore, make plans, despite not being sure that they will be able to fulfill them on the scheduled dates,” says Alexandre Moshe, general director of Decolar, the largest ticket sales website in the country.
Countries that allow the entry of Brazilians with few demands on travelers:
| Country | Testing at boarding | Testing at landing | Quarantine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahamas | yes | no | no |
| Croatia | no | no | no |
| Cuba | no | yes | no |
| Egypt | no | no | no |
| Dubai | yes | yes | 14 days, if positive |
| Mexico | no | no | no |
| United Kingdom | no | no | 14 days |
| Turkey | no | no | no |
In a survey conducted by Decolar, half of the respondents said they plan to travel abroad by July 2021. On the same website, the flow of bookings for busy dates, such as Christmas and New Year, is above average in comparison with previous years.
A total of 43 countries currently allow the entry of Brazilians, among them attractive destinations such as Turkey, Morocco, and the Bahamas in the Caribbean, most with no major demands. In the closed European Union, only Croatia accepts Brazilians, as long as they have hotel reservations.
Outside the common European area, the UK is open to Brazilian visitors, but they will have to isolate in quarantine for fourteen days after landing (paid from their own pocket). From either destination, Brazilians may go to other EU countries, but a two-week quarantine (at their own expense) will be mandatory.
For those who don’t want to wait and decide to travel now, one of the most sought-after destinations has been Mexico, which, since opening its borders in July, has welcomed tourists with no great worries: simply filling out a form upon arrival. In addition, there are daily non-stop flights from Brazil and packages with prices up to 40 percent lower than in 2019.
Cancún, on the Mexican Caribbean coast, was the place chosen by designer Maria Augusta Conrado, from São Paulo, and her boyfriend, comedian Fernando Muylaert, to spend nine days in September. In total, the all-inclusive package costs R$12,000 (US$2,400). “Cancún is empty and we were able to enjoy the paradise beaches like never before. The resorts are operating at 30 percent capacity and prices are more attractive than hotels in Brazil,” says Maria Augusta.
In fact, promotions offered by operators and airlines reach unprecedented levels. The largest airline company in the country, LATAM, which has already reactivated some flights to Europe, is offering discounts on national and international flights, including holidays, with rescheduling flexibility at no cost extended until May 2021.
Recently, a flash offer announced round-trip tickets for the equivalent of less than US$500 to Miami and less than US$600 to London. Gol, which intends to resume international routes later this year, allows rebooking of tickets free of charge within 330 days from the date of payment.
Azul offers the Bilhete Viagem (Travel Ticket): clients can book hotels, tickets, and transfers with no set date, until April 2021. The largest tour operator in the country, CVC has reopened 1,200 of its 1,400 stores and offers packages up to 30 percent cheaper. However, its president, Leonel Andrade, alerts consumers about the care they should have with excessively low prices. “Companies in difficult situations are making promotions to make cash. Clients have to demand the issuing of the air ticket when buying the package,” he advises.
A phenomenon born and raised in the pandemic was the multiplication of stay-visit programs for people in home office systems – eight million in Brazil alone. A pioneer in this market, in mid-July the island of Barbados launched the Welcome Stamp program, which promises a special temporary residence stamp in the passport of remote workers. The registration fee is US$2,000 for single individuals and US$3,000 for a whole family.
So far over 1,000 visas have been issued, eight of them to Brazilians. “It’s sad that this kind of tourism was born because of the pandemic, but it’s the most effective program adopted by the country in the past fifty years,” says Charles Lewis, president of Caribbean Investment Services, which offers assistance to visitors to Barbados.
In Europe, only Georgia, which is not part of the European Union, has a special visa program, Remotely from Georgia, which accepts Brazilian passports. Visitors can stay six months as long as they prove they have the means to support themselves.
In a similar trend, the demand for domestic destinations is also growing. The Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies (ABAV) estimates that the market has already reached 30 percent of the 2019 level, an above-expected improvement for this moment.
Until December, the projection is that the amount of passengers on domestic flights will reach 80 percent of what was recorded last year. The demand for country and beach houses within 300 kilometers of state capitals stood out in this resumption. Another trend is the combination of several destinations in the same trip, as it is the case with packages to Europe.
“This change in travels within Brazil will greatly benefit the economy,” projects Magda Nassar, the ABAV president. Despite the risk of being forced to adjust plans to the pandemic, booking a trip is progress, and a great relief for those who can no longer bear the restrictions imposed on everyone in this very tough 2020.
Source: Veja