Brazil’s tourism sector shows first signs of recovery

Around the world, the tourism industry has been by far the hardest-hit during the coronavirus pandemic. And, unlike retail and services, the effects of the downturn are set to persist for some time, as regular operations are not expected to be resumed until mass Covid-19 vaccination has been rolled out. In Brazil, tourism companies are desperately scrambling for ways to minimize their losses and survive the harsh pandemic winter. According to the latest figures, it is working.

Data from the National Tourism Confederation (CNC) shows that, as of September, sales in the sector reached BRL 12.8 billion (USD 2.37 billion) — 28 percent below February levels, but above the BRL 12.15 billion recorded in March, when social isolation measures were implemented for the first time. 

When breaking down this performance into subsectors, the majority of the improvement came from lodging and restaurants, while the cultural sector is lagging the most.

This can be explained by the economic reopening process in São Paulo, Brazil’s wealthiest and most populous state, and home to the highest tourism revenues. Restaurants, bars, and similar facilities have been open for business for...