Brazil receives a record 5.4 million tourists in 2011

Brazil shall close the year of 2011 with a record 5.4 million foreign tourists, the Government informed this Monday (19^th).

This figure is slightly above the previous record of 5.35 million tourists seen in 2005, and also the figure of last year when 5.1 million tourists came to Brazil.

The Brazilian Tourist Authority (Embratur) said in a statement that the improvement seen in this sector was largely due to the mega exposure of the country thanks to the forthcoming events, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016  Olympic Games, to be held in Rio de Janeiro.

The target of the Brazilian Government is to reach a figure of 10 million tourists by 2020, although, according to the President of Embratur, Flavio Dino, the record achieved this year suggests that this target could be reached before.

During the month of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil should receive 600 thousand tourists in the 12 cities where the matches shall be played, and hopes to reach a total of 7.2 million foreign visitors thanks to the boost generated by this sporting event.