Brazilian tourism hits a historic milestone in July, driven by aviation and food services.
Tourism activity in Brazil showed remarkable strength in July, reaching a record revenue of R$ 25.5 billion for the month. This performance, the highest ever recorded for July in the historical series compiled by Fecomercio-SP, reflects the consolidation of domestic demand and the vitality of sectors such as air transport and food services.
The report released by the National Tourism Revenue Survey reveals a 2.6% growth compared to the same period last year. In the first seven months of 2026, total revenue reached R$ 168.8 billion, indicating a sector in continuous expansion and recovery.
Aviation and Food Services Lead the Recovery
The air transport sector was the primary driver of this impressive result, accounting for R$ 8.1 billion in revenue in July alone. This 3% increase is attributed to both a rise in passenger volume and more affordable average fares, which have made travel more accessible to a broader audience.
At the same time, the tourism-related food services segment saw robust growth of 6.5%, generating R$ 3.9 billion. Road transport also contributed significantly, with a 4.9% increase and R$ 1.8 billion in revenue, highlighting the diversification of travel modes used by tourists.
“National tourism maintains a positive trajectory, though at a more moderate pace than what we observed in recent months,” noted the FecomercioSP Tourism Council. Despite a slowdown in some segments, such as lodging, which saw a 1.4% decline, the expectation is that the year will close with 4% growth, bringing annual revenue close to the unprecedented R$ 300 billion mark.
Heterogeneous Regional Performance
Despite the optimistic outlook, the geographical distribution of results points to heterogeneity. The state of São Paulo led in total revenue with R$ 7 billion, while Bahia celebrated the highest percentage gain, recording an impressive 18.7% growth.
However, ten states recorded a contraction in tourism activities, in contrast to the 17 states that showed growth. This regional disparity suggests the need for targeted strategies to stimulate the sector across all regions of the country.
The current economic landscape, characterized by slowing income growth and persistent default rates, poses challenges, particularly for the lodging sector. Nevertheless, the resilience observed in July signals a sustained recovery potential, with positive projections for the remainder of the year and into the future.
