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According to the latest data disseminated by the Brazilian Central Bank, 2008 registered a record inflow of dollars in the Country through expenditures by foreign tourists: US$ 5.85 billions. That figure is 16.8% higher than that for 2007, when U$ 4.953 billion entered the Country, through international tourism.

In December – when the intake of US 527 million was registered, the variation was 12.3% if compared to the same month in 2007, when US 469 million were taken in as expenditure by foreign visitors. December 2008 reported the best figures ever for that month.

The figures confirm the good estimations for the intake of foreign currency to the national economy in 2008 through foreign tourist’s expenditures. The record numbers are evidence that Brazil is following the right path, by working not only to attract tourists, but to make them stay longer in our Country, said the Minister of Tourism, Luiz Barretto.

According to the president of Embratur (Brazilian Tourism Board), Jeanine Pires, that performance represents, among others, an increased intake of foreign currency through the international tourism in Brazil in 2008, which accounted for more than twice the world average (7%), according to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This is a very important data to measure the success of the tourism economy in a country. It evidences that Brazil is increasingly qualifying and standing out in the competitive international setting”, she said.

The intake of US$ 5.785 billion through the international tourism grants to 2008 a historic record in the series started in 1969. The calculation by the Brazilian Central Bank includes official currency exchange and expenditures using international credit cards.