Brazil is holding a peak position across the Americas as international tourist spending climbs, following the US, Canada and Mexico. The surge shows how foreign visitors are powering tourism economies. Brazil is holding a peak position across the Americas as international tourist spending continues to climb. After the US, Canada and Mexico, Brazil is emerging as a major tourism economy, with foreign visitors driving billions in economic value. Meanwhile, rising arrivals are strengthening hotels, restaurants, airlines, attractions and local businesses.
The latest figures show that travellers are not simply crossing borders; they are actively spending across destinations. As a result, Brazil’s tourism performance offers a clear signal for the wider Americas. Furthermore, strong visitor demand, growing connectivity and diverse experiences are helping Brazil turn international travel into broader economic activity across regions and tourism sectors.
International tourism is generating billions of dollars across the Americas, with the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Chile, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago reporting substantial visitor spending or tourism receipts. Official government data show that the economic value of international travel is extending far beyond hotels and airlines, supporting restaurants, transport providers, attractions, retailers and local businesses.
The latest figures also reveal an important trend: countries are increasingly looking beyond visitor numbers and focusing on how much international travellers spend, where that money goes and how effectively tourism income circulates through domestic economies.
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However, the figures are not directly comparable in every case. Governments use different definitions, reporting periods and methodologies, including international visitor expenditure, tourism receipts, foreign-exchange earnings and, in some cases, passenger transport income. Understanding those differences is essential when assessing the tourism economy of the Americas.
Brazil’s international tourism sector continued its strong economic performance through the first seven months of 2026, with foreign visitors spending US$6.543 billion across the country. The figure represents a 9.4% increase compared with the same period in 2025, when international tourist spending reached US$5.977 billion.
The latest figures, released by Brazil’s Central Bank on August 27, underline the growing contribution of international tourism to the Brazilian economy. As millions of visitors travel across the country, their spending supports a broad network of businesses, including hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transport providers, attractions and retail outlets.
Between January and July 2026, international visitors generated more than US$6.5 billion in tourism-related expenditure in Brazil. The increase of almost 10% year on year highlights continued momentum in the country’s international tourism market.
Tourist spending extends well beyond accommodation. Foreign travellers contribute to local economies through dining, sightseeing, excursions, entertainment, transportation and shopping. This means the financial impact of international tourism is distributed across multiple economic sectors and destinations.
In July alone, international visitors spent US$899 million in Brazil. The monthly figure demonstrates the continued scale of international demand during the country’s peak travel periods and reinforces tourism’s importance as a source of foreign expenditure.
The increase in spending has been accompanied by a substantial rise in international visitor numbers.
Brazil welcomed nearly 6 million international tourists between January and July 2026, demonstrating strong demand for its diverse destinations. From major cities and cultural centres to beaches, natural attractions and regional tourism hubs, the country continues to attract travellers from international source markets.
The growth in arrivals is particularly significant because it is occurring alongside stronger visitor expenditure. Higher tourist numbers combined with increased spending can create broader economic benefits for businesses and communities dependent on tourism.
Air connectivity has played a central role in Brazil’s international tourism performance during the first seven months of the year.
Air arrivals increased by 12% compared with January-July 2025, according to the figures. Airports remained the principal gateways for international visitors entering Brazil, accounting for more than 68% of total international arrivals during the January-July period.
The importance of aviation became even more pronounced in July. During the month, air travel represented more than 77% of all international tourist arrivals entering the country.
The figures highlight the relationship between international air connectivity and tourism growth. Convenient links between Brazilian airports and overseas source markets make it easier for travellers to reach the country’s major destinations, supporting both leisure and wider tourism activity.
The latest performance also illustrates why international tourism is considered an important component of Brazil’s broader economy.
Every international trip creates spending opportunities across a wide range of businesses. Hotels receive accommodation revenue, restaurants benefit from visitor dining, transport companies serve travellers moving between destinations, while attractions, tour operators and retailers also gain from tourist demand.
This economic distribution means the benefits of international arrivals can extend beyond the principal gateway cities and into regional destinations.
Embratur President Bruno Reis said the latest figures demonstrate the wider economic significance of international tourism.
“When an international tourist chooses Brazil, the impact of that trip touches different sectors of the economy,” Reis said. He pointed to the US$6.5 billion generated during the first seven months as evidence of the scale of tourism’s economic chain.
He also highlighted destination diversification, saying international promotion is helping tourism contribute to the circulation of resources across different activities and regions of Brazil.
Brazil’s 2026 tourism performance so far combines rising international arrivals, stronger tourist expenditure and expanding air connectivity.
With nearly 6 million foreign visitors recorded through July and international spending exceeding US$6.5 billion, tourism is generating substantial economic activity across the country. The continued expansion of air arrivals also demonstrates the importance of international connectivity in supporting Brazil’s tourism ambitions.
If this momentum continues through the remainder of 2026, international tourism could become an even more significant contributor to Brazil’s destinations and tourism-dependent businesses.
“Brazil’s performance clearly shows why international tourist spending matters beyond arrival numbers. Foreign visitors create a powerful economic chain that reaches hotels, restaurants, airlines, attractions, transport providers, retailers and local communities. Brazil’s position after the US, Canada and Mexico demonstrates its growing importance within the Americas’ tourism landscape. What stands out is the ability of international tourism to spread economic value across different destinations and sectors. Strong connectivity, diverse experiences and effective destination promotion can encourage travellers to stay longer and spend more. For Brazil and the wider Americas, this momentum creates a valuable opportunity to build resilient, sustainable and increasingly competitive tourism economies.”
— Anup Kumar Keshan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Travel And Tour World
| Country | Latest official figure located | Period | What the figure measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | US$250.2 billion | Jan–Dec 2025 | International visitors’ travel and tourism-related spending |
| Canada | C$34.9 billion | Full-year 2025 | Spending by international visitors |
| Mexico | US$18.78 billion | Jan–Jun 2026 | Tourism receipts/international visitor spending |
| Brazil | US$6.543 billion | Jan–Jul 2026 | International tourist spending |
| Panama | US$3.792 billion | Jan–Jun 2026 | Tourism income, excluding international transport |
| Colombia | US$3.146 billion | Q1 2026 | Travel and air passenger transport foreign-exchange receipts |
| Jamaica | US$2.9 billion | Jan–Dec 3, 2025 | Tourism earnings |
| Peru | US$4.925 billion | Full-year 2025 | Foreign-exchange earnings from inbound tourism |
| Chile | US$4.1+ billion | Full-year 2025 | Foreign-exchange earnings from tourism |
| Trinidad & Tobago | TT$482.5 million | Carnival 2025 | Estimated spending by Carnival visitors |
| The Bahamas | Official 2025 expenditure data not yet reported in the source reviewed | — | Government tourism statistics list expenditure as unavailable |
The United States remains the dominant international tourism spending market in the Americas by a considerable margin.
According to the US Department of Commerce’s National Travel and Tourism Office, international visitors generated more than US$250 billion in travel and tourism-related spending during 2025.
The US government measures international travel receipts through several categories, including spending by international visitors on travel-related goods and services, passenger fares and certain other international visitor activities.
This makes the United States an important example of how tourism expenditure can extend well beyond traditional leisure travel.
International visitors spend money on hotels, restaurants, attractions, car rentals, shopping and entertainment. The country also benefits from international travellers visiting for business, education and medical purposes.
The scale of the US market means that even modest changes in international visitor spending can have significant implications for airlines, hotels, destination-management organisations, retailers and local economies.
The US also publishes data by source market, allowing tourism officials and businesses to assess spending generated by individual international markets rather than treating all foreign visitors as one group.
Canada recorded approximately C$34.9 billion in spending by international visitors during 2025, according to Statistics Canada.
The country’s tourism economy benefits from both US visitors and travellers arriving from overseas markets. Official Canadian statistics provide a particularly useful view of visitor expenditure because spending can be examined according to the visitors’ country or region of origin.
During the first quarter of 2026, international visitors spent around C$5 billion in Canada, with expenditure from both US and overseas travellers contributing to the total.
US visitors represented a significant portion of this spending, while overseas visitors also generated billions of Canadian dollars in expenditure.
The Canadian model demonstrates why international arrivals should not be assessed solely by volume. Two visitors may contribute very different amounts to the tourism economy depending on the length of their stay, accommodation choices, transportation requirements, dining habits and other activities.
For Canada’s destinations, therefore, international tourism spending remains a crucial indicator alongside visitor numbers.
Mexico is one of the Americas’ largest international tourism economies and continues to benefit from its proximity to the United States, extensive air connectivity, resort destinations, cultural attractions and diverse regional tourism products.
According to Banco de México, international tourism income reached approximately US$18.78 billion during January-June 2026.
The figure includes spending associated with international tourism and excursionist activity, with international tourists representing the largest component.
Mexico’s official statistics distinguish between different categories of international travellers. This is important because a visitor staying several nights in Cancún, Mexico City or Los Cabos has a very different economic footprint from a border excursionist who enters the country for a short period.
Tourist spending is distributed across accommodation, restaurants, transportation, excursions, shopping and entertainment.
Mexico’s experience also highlights the importance of the North American travel market. US and Canadian travellers remain crucial to the country’s tourism performance, while Mexico continues to diversify its international source markets.
Brazil has recorded a strong increase in international visitor expenditure in 2026.
According to figures from the Central Bank of Brazil, international tourists spent US$6.543 billion between January and July 2026, representing a 9.4% increase compared with the US$5.977 billion recorded during the same period in 2025.
In July alone, international visitor spending reached approximately US$899 million.
The increase has occurred alongside strong international arrivals. Brazil welcomed nearly 6 million international tourists during the first seven months of 2026, while international air arrivals increased by 12% compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
Air travel accounted for more than 68% of international arrivals between January and July, rising above 77% in July.
The spending generated by these visitors does not remain within one tourism category. Accommodation, gastronomy, local transport, excursions, attractions and retail businesses all benefit when international travellers move through Brazilian destinations.
For Brazil, the combination of rising arrivals and stronger expenditure suggests that international tourism is becoming an increasingly important source of economic activity across different regions.
Panama is emerging as another strong performer in the Americas’ international tourism economy.
The Panama Tourism Authority reported approximately US$3.79 billion in tourism income between January and June 2026, representing a 14.7% increase from the corresponding period of 2025.
International visitor arrivals also increased substantially, reaching approximately 1.76 million during the first six months of the year.
Panama’s tourism-income calculation excludes international transportation, meaning the reported figure focuses on expenditure generated within the destination rather than including the cost of getting to the country.
This distinction is significant.
Visitors spend money after arrival on hotels, restaurants, tours, attractions, local transportation, shopping and entertainment. Panama’s geographical position, international air connectivity, business tourism and leisure offering all contribute to this economic activity.
The country’s performance demonstrates how a comparatively smaller destination can generate substantial tourism income when visitor numbers and expenditure grow together.
Colombia’s international tourism economy is also expanding.
Government figures show that Colombia received approximately US$3.146 billion during the first quarter of 2026 from travel and air passenger transport.
The amount represented an increase of approximately 9.4% compared with the first quarter of 2025.
For the full year 2025, Colombia’s broader Tourism Satellite Account recorded foreign visitor expenditure of approximately US$13.5 billion, demonstrating the scale of tourism’s contribution when spending across different visitor activities is considered.
Colombia has increasingly positioned destinations such as Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, the Coffee Region and Caribbean areas as international tourism products.
International visitors contribute to accommodation businesses, restaurants, transport providers, cultural attractions, nature experiences and tour operators.
The Colombian case also demonstrates why journalists should carefully distinguish between balance-of-payments receipts and Tourism Satellite Account expenditure. They are related measures, but they are not identical.
Peru’s tourism economy generated approximately US$4.925 billion in foreign-exchange earnings from inbound tourism during 2025, according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism.
The government expects tourism receipts to increase further as international travel continues to expand.
Peru’s appeal is built around a combination of cultural heritage, archaeology, gastronomy, nature and adventure tourism. Machu Picchu remains a major international attraction, while Lima has developed a strong reputation as a gastronomic destination.
Tourism spending is therefore spread across accommodation, restaurants, domestic transportation, guided tours, entrance fees, shopping and other visitor services.
For Peru, increasing the economic value of each international visitor is particularly important because longer stays and higher spending can create greater benefits for tourism businesses and communities without requiring visitor numbers to increase at the same rate.
Chile generated more than US$4.1 billion in tourism-related foreign-exchange earnings during 2025, according to the country’s Subsecretariat of Tourism.
The country offers a distinctive tourism portfolio, ranging from Santiago and wine regions to Patagonia, the Atacama Desert, lakes and coastal destinations.
Chile’s recent tourism statistics also underline an important principle: visitor arrivals and visitor spending do not always move in the same direction.
International arrivals declined during part of 2026, influenced in particular by changes in travel from Argentina. Yet the country’s tourism economy remains substantial because the economic impact of visitors depends on more than simply counting arrivals.
Length of stay, accommodation expenditure, transport costs and spending on experiences all influence the value generated by an international visitor.
Jamaica remains one of the Caribbean’s most important tourism economies.
The Jamaican government reported tourism earnings of approximately US$2.9 billion during 2025, with the sector continuing to support employment, businesses and foreign-exchange generation.
The government has also focused on increasing the proportion of tourism expenditure retained within Jamaica.
This is a crucial issue for destinations heavily dependent on international visitors. A large tourism receipt figure does not automatically mean that the entire amount remains within the local economy.
Hotels, airlines and internationally owned companies can account for part of visitor expenditure, while local farmers, restaurants, taxi operators, attractions, guides, craft producers and entertainment businesses can capture another share.
Jamaica’s policy focus is therefore increasingly centred on strengthening local supply chains and ensuring that tourism spending reaches more domestic businesses.
Trinidad and Tobago provides a different example of international tourism spending.
Government estimates for the 2025 Carnival period placed visitor expenditure at approximately TT$482.5 million, up from around TT$413.4 million in 2024.
The country’s Carnival demonstrates the economic power of event-led tourism.
International visitors spend not only on accommodation and flights but also on entertainment, food, transportation, shopping, cultural activities and event-related services.
Government data from the 2026 Carnival period also indicated spending by cruise visitors, highlighting another important segment of Caribbean tourism.
Cruise passengers may spend less time in a destination than overnight visitors, but they can still generate significant expenditure through shore excursions, food, shopping, attractions and transportation.
Across the Americas, international tourist spending follows broadly similar economic pathways.
Accommodation is one of the largest expenditure categories, particularly for long-haul and multi-night visitors. Hotels, resorts, guesthouses and alternative accommodation providers all benefit.
Food and beverage create another major stream of visitor spending. Restaurants, cafés, bars, food markets and local culinary businesses capture money from travellers throughout their stay.
Transportation connects the different elements of the visitor journey. Taxis, buses, car rentals, domestic airlines, trains and other transport providers benefit from international tourism.
Experiences and attractions are increasingly important as travellers look beyond traditional sightseeing. Guided excursions, museums, national parks, cultural events, adventure activities and nature-based tourism all contribute to destination expenditure.
Retail and shopping provide another important channel, particularly in major cities and resort destinations.
The latest government data across the Americas reveal why international tourism should not be judged solely by the number of visitors crossing a border.
A destination can welcome millions of travellers but generate relatively modest economic value if visitors stay for short periods or spend little locally. Conversely, a destination with fewer visitors can produce substantial economic benefits when travellers stay longer and spend more.
This is why tourism authorities increasingly monitor both arrivals and expenditure.
The distinction is particularly important for sustainable tourism. Increasing visitor numbers indefinitely can place pressure on infrastructure, accommodation, natural resources and local communities. Increasing the economic value generated by each visitor can sometimes provide a more balanced growth strategy.
The latest official figures paint a broad picture of a tourism economy worth hundreds of billions of dollars across the Americas.
The United States stands at the top in absolute international visitor spending, while Canada remains a major North American destination. Mexico continues to generate almost US$19 billion in tourism income in only six months, Brazil has surpassed US$6.5 billion in seven months, and countries such as Panama are recording rapid year-on-year growth.
Peru, Chile, Colombia and Jamaica are also demonstrating the significant foreign-exchange value of international travel, while Trinidad and Tobago shows how major cultural events can drive concentrated visitor expenditure.
The central lesson is clear: international tourism is not simply about bringing people into a country. It is about converting travel into economic value.
From a hotel room in Mexico to a restaurant in Lima, a taxi in Bogotá, an excursion in Panama, a cultural experience in Brazil or a Carnival event in Trinidad and Tobago, the international visitor’s journey creates a chain of economic activity.
As competition between destinations intensifies, the countries most capable of attracting visitors, encouraging longer stays, increasing local expenditure and retaining more of the tourism dollar domestically will be better positioned to turn international travel growth into sustained economic benefits.
The cause is rising international travel and stronger demand for destinations across the Americas. The answer is clear: Brazil is becoming a major force in international tourist spending, following the US, Canada and Mexico. The reason is its broad tourism offering, expanding connectivity and ability to attract visitors to cities, beaches, cultural sites and nature destinations. Moreover, international travellers spend across hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions and retail, multiplying tourism’s economic impact. Consequently, Brazil’s performance reflects more than visitor growth. It shows how international tourism can generate significant economic value, strengthen businesses and support destinations while increasing the Americas’ global tourism competitiveness.
https://www.trade.gov/international-travel-receipts-and-payments-program
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/260528/dq260528b-eng.htm
https://www.bcb.gov.br/en/statistics/external-sector-statistics
https://www.atp.gob.pa/estadisticas-de-turismo
https://www.mincit.gov.co/prensa/noticias/turismo
https://cso.gov.tt/subject_areas/tourism
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Tags: Americas tourism, Brazil tourism, brazil travel, International tourism, international tourist spending
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