Summer 2022: Brazil expects a strong return of tourism, with Argentines as protagonists

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After almost two years practically lost, Brazil dreams of a turning point for the tourism sector. With an emphasis on the geographical proximity to Argentina, the offer of different attractions, and a relatively controlled sanitary situation, it is projecting a summer of a strong return of Argentine tourists.

The Brazilian Ministry of Tourism and operators of the sector consulted said that they expect a similar flow of Argentine visitors as in 2019, the year before the pandemic when 1.9 million entered in twelve months.

Brazil takes it for granted that, as usual, the “best summer in the world” – as it is called in an advertising campaign prepared by Embratur, the Brazilian tourism promotion agency, to circulate in Argentina and the region.

Historically, Argentina is the leading country of origin of tourists to Brazil, and, despite the economic situation in the country, they expect this situation to remain unchanged. If expectations are confirmed, it will mean a substantial increase of visitors with respect to the 900,000 Argentineans who arrived in 2020, a critical year due to the most severe impact of the pandemic.

The Ministry of Tourism cited the recent confirmation of the reopening of land borders and the progress of vaccination against Covid-19 as the two main factors that will leverage the return to sure normality for the industry. More than 65% of Brazilians are vaccinated with the two doses, and the average number of daily infections by the virus is the lowest since May 2020.

“The expectation is to resume pre-pandemic levels and to move the hotel sector strongly, bars, restaurants, and the entire tourism production chain”, said a spokesperson in the ministry led by Minister Gilson Machado.

Machado had surprised in August by claiming that the government of Jair Bolsonaro should apply a 30% tax on the expenses of Brazilians visiting Argentina, in reciprocity to the Country tax that discourages the expenses of Argentines abroad.

“It is a shame that Argentina charges 30% on the credit card of its citizens to visit Mercosur countries. We are considering applying it as reciprocity, but it is a curtailment of freedom, and we are not going to stoop to that”, said Machado on November 25 when asked by La Nacion newspaper, admitting that the matter still causes displeasure.

In the list of the main summer destinations to be chosen by Argentines, on the authorities’ radar appear the same ones that have been repeated in the last years: Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Florianápolis, Bombinhas, and Foz do Iguazu.

REQUIREMENTS

The Brazilian health regulator, Anvisa, notified on Monday to all border posts that from that day on, the presentation of proof of vaccination against Covid-19 became mandatory to enter the country after a Supreme Court ruling that established this requirement against the wish of the Brazilian government.

“Our objective is that tourists from all Mercosur know that Brazil is waiting for them with open arms, with biosecurity regulations and with its tourist destinations working at full capacity”, expressed Embratur, entity presided by Carlos Brito.

“Beach, mountain, jungle, and nature destinations are still safe and open and can be visited taking the precautions suggested by specialists. The post-pandemic trend is a greater demand for nature destinations, and Brazil’s heritage there is excellent”, added the agency.

All visitors should have received the second dose – of single-dose vaccine – at least 14 days before starting the trip. All immunizers approved by the WHO or by the country’s authorities where the traveler has been inoculated will be accepted.

In addition, the rules require a negative Covid-19 test (PCR or antigens) and the submission of a health declaration through the Anvisa website.

The Supreme Court determined more rigid health care rules than those advocated by the federal government, which intended to allow the entry of unvaccinated people, giving them the option to opt for a five-day quarantine.

Justice Luis Roberto Barroso argued that the mass arrival of unvaccinated tourists could pose an “imminent risk” to the population and promote “anti-vaccine” tourism in Brazil.

A silly buzzword where no one really knows what is meant, except that this magistrate probably thinks that non-vaccinated people deserve to be discriminated against.

The president of the Brazilian Federation of Lodging and Food (FBHA), Alexandre Sampaio, estimates that the expectation remains high despite the confusion due to the comings and goings of sanitary rules.

“At the very least, we expect between 150,000 and 200,000 tourists to arrive by car in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, a fundamental number for the recovery of tourism in these states”, he explained.

Brazil has already confirmed more than a dozen infections of the omicron variant, a situation that led some city halls to cancel parties with New Year’s Eve crowds. This is the case in Rio de Janeiro.

Although the traditional fireworks display will be held on Copacabana beach and other parts of the city, the local government canceled the musical shows on the beach after midnight to discourage large crowds.

“Cancellations vary greatly according to each city, but we do not believe that it will generate significant losses for the places that Argentines usually visit. Perhaps there will be a symbolic decrease in prices or adjustment of tariffs,” added the FBHA president.

Santa Catarina, one of the states most chosen by Argentines due to its beauty, safety, and proximity and destinations such as Florianópolis and Camboriú, has more than 90% of its hotel network occupied – according to data from the local Tourism Development Agency (Santur) – and the highest number of flights sold in five years, encouraging an optimistic scenario.

“We desire to start recovering what was stopped during the worst of the pandemic,” said Renê Meneses, president of Santur. “We are aware of the importance of Argentines for the tourism economy. We want them to be sure that we are ready to receive them safely”, he concluded.