Brazil’s tourism and air connectivity grow to pre-pandemic levels

Brazil is experiencing a moment of recovery in its tourism activity, which is approaching pre-pandemic levels.

It is reflected in the constant expansion of its air frequency network, infrastructure, and new investments in hotels, restaurants, and tourist routes.

According to the Brazilian Agency for International Tourism Promotion, Embratur, in August of this year, Brazil surpassed 80% of its air traffic up to March 2020.

This growth is due to new flights between the two largest Mercosur partners.

In that month, the number of international flights to the neighboring country was the highest recorded since the beginning of the pandemic.

More than 4,000, representing 80.71% of the commercial air activity in 2019, a jump of 232.35% in international connectivity compared to August 2021.

It is worth noting that in July of this year, the network of international air connections was already on the rise, above 70% of its capacity.

Connections with the Brazilian Northeast Region, a traditional regional tourist destination, contributed to the growth, with its main capitals linked to the main South American air hubs.

“We are living in a very positive moment; we continue on a productive path, with a lot of work and synergy, with the expectation of reaching 100% of our air connectivity before the end of the year”, expressed Sílvio Nascimiento, president of Embratur.

According to the agency’s forecasts, 134 new flights and frequencies to and from Brazil are planned for February 2023 alone, in addition to the current ones.

Aerolíneas Argentinas added two Buenos Aires-Salvador (capital of Brazil’s Bahia state) flights this month.

In November, TAP (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses) plans the return of two frequencies of the Lisbon-Salvador flight; and Gol will resume the Buenos Aires-Natal (capital of Rio Grande do Norte) connection, while Air Europa plans to start operating two new flights and an additional frequency in December on the Madrid-Salvador route.

Also in December, Gol plans new flights: Miami-Fortaleza (capital of Ceará), Buenos Aires-Recife (capital of Pernambuco), Buenos Aires-Maceió (capital of Alagoas), Buenos Aires-Salvador and Córdoba-Florianópolis.

JetSmart, a low-cost airline, also announced flights from Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile to Rio de Janeiro starting in December.

Currently, the regions with the greatest air connectivity with Brazil are Latin America, with 2,068 monthly flights; Europe, with 1,045 flights; and North America, with 762.

In August, connectivity with the United States and Canada increased by 28.36% compared to July, according to official figures from the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).

Until March 2020, Argentina was the main sender of international travelers to Brazil, while until 2019, almost two million Argentines visited the country each year.

With the resumption and gradual reopening of tourism, the Brazilian tourism sector maintains hopeful expectations.

At the same time, GlobalData forecasts for this year the arrival of 1,269,250 Argentine visitors to Brazilian destinations, an expressive figure close to the pre-pandemic reality.

BRAZIL’S NORTHEAST

The normalization of air frequencies between Argentina and Brazil included reopening direct flights to destinations in the Northeast, the region whose eternal summer guarantees travelers year-round sunshine on its paradisiacal beaches.

Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte state, is one of the most sought-after destinations for local and international tourism due to its exuberant nature, cultural power, multifaceted gastronomy, and adventure tourism options.

Direct flights from Argentine airports to Natal, Fortaleza, Maceió, and Recife started in August and will continue to be extended between now and December, marking the beginning of the summer season.

The Natal airport is 46 km from the central area of Ponta Negra, a 45-minute drive along the Humberto Pessoa highway and BR-304.

In this context, the Brazilian tourism agency indicates which are the must-see attractions of this place:

PONTA NEGRA WATERFRONT AND MORRO DO CARECA

The Ponta Negra beach is one of the most visited destinations in Natal, the city’s central point and hotel pole.

Its waterfront has day and nightlife, both for its coastal strip with good infrastructure (including options for various nautical sports) and its attractions, gastronomy, and handicraft fairs, a classic for a stroll at sunset.

Morro do Careca is a viewpoint next to Ponta Negra, elevated on a dune that allows you to enjoy the beach’s scenery and offers the best sunset postcards.

The nearby beaches are easily accessible and very well equipped to receive visitors.

BUGGY RIDE THROUGH THE DUNES OF GENIPABU

Located 20 km from Natal, the Genipabu Dunes Ecological Park (entrance fee is R$8) is a classic of the area and one of the most enjoyable rides in the Northeast.

It is located in the city of Extremoz and offers beautiful landscapes, white-sand dunes, incredible panoramic views, and beaches of a calm sea and a lagoon of crystal clear water.

The buggy tour through the Genipabu dunes, which can be hired on-site or from Natal and is about R$300, is a roller coaster of emotions.

The whole tour, including stops, takes about seven hours.

There are fun options, such as the “skibunda” (sliding on the sand) or the “aerobunda,” a zip line that ends with a dip in the lagoon.

MARACAJAÚ NATURAL POOLS

Located in the municipality of Maxaranguape, an hour’s drive from Natal, the tour is worth the trip:

Dozens of pools (called parrachos) formed a short distance from the coast, full of marine life and calm, crystalline waters.

To access the pools, you must take a boat from the beach of Maracajaú and go about seven kilometers from the coast.

PIPA BEACH

No one gets that far without going to Pipa, the seaside resort located 83 km from Natal, a beach famous for its charms that deserve to be enjoyed without haste:

By day, for the contrast between its calm sea, amidst cliffs and an ever-present sun; and by night, for the lively and eclectic life of its small center with Mediterranean architecture.

Praia do Amor and Praia do Madeiro are nearby and offer beautiful viewpoints to contemplate the sunset.

CRUISE SHIPS RETURN

Cruise ships returned to Brazilian port cities after being restricted during the covid-19 pandemic.

The second week of October marked the start of the season in Fortaleza (Ceará), where the Bahamas-flagged National Geographic Explorer arrived.

The ship had sailed from Spain at the end of September, passed through Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, and arrived in the port of Ceará, where it continued its journey to Salvador, Bahia.

Between October 2022 and May 2023, Brazil will receive a total of 36 international cruise ships in addition to nine coastal vessels that will sail along its coasts, a coastline that extends for almost 8,000 kilometers.

This season, the ship MSC Preziosa joined the group that already included the cruise ships Costa Firenze, Costa Fortuna, Costa Favolosa, MSC Armonia, MSC Musica, MSC Fantasia, MSC Seashore, and MSC Seaview.

The ships will depart from the ports of Itajaí (Santa Catarina), Maceió (Alagoas), Rio de Janeiro, Salvador (Bahia), and Santos (São Paulo).

They will cover 184 itineraries, making 724 calls at 17 destinations, including Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Punta del Este.

The planned offer has 780,000 vacancies, 184 routes, 724 stopovers, 17 destinations, 48,000 direct and indirect jobs generated, and R$3.8 billion (US$712 million) injected into the economy.

According to CLIA Brazil (the Brazilian Maritime Cruise Association), this season will bring a 47% increase in vacancies compared to the 530,000 offered in the 2019-2020 period.

The ships will make 309 calls at 45 destinations in 15 Brazilian states, such as Amazonas, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Rio Grande do Sul.

The cruise season is a period that mobilizes Brazilian nautical tourism, especially after two years without receiving international fleets.

The expectation of the tourism sector is very high, especially in terms of employment generation, stimulating the economy of the hotel, gastronomic, and related services sector.

Until 2019, tourism activity represented about 8% of Brazil’s GDP.

With information from Comercio y Justicia