Visa Waiver Leads to Substantial Spike in Tourist Arrivals

By Newsfeed

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil’s visa waiver program announced in March is already generating positive results.

Recent data from a study done by Amadeus Group shows a significant increase in the number of reservations made in the United States, as well as in Canada, Japan and Australia, the other three other countries benefiting from the new policy.

Amadeus is one of the 10 largest technology companies in the world and one of the three largest in the travel segment.

In the United States, the increase was 53 percent in the number of trips confirmed for June and 97 percent for July compared to the same period of last year. In Canada, growth was 86 percent for June, 54 percent for July and, expressive, 135 percent for August this year.

“The numbers show that visa exemptions for strategic countries are a good measure, which generates jobs and income in Brazil. It is time for the country to take advantage of all its tourism potential”, said Marcelo Alvaro Antonio, the Brazilian Minister of Tourism.