Brazilian spending abroad almost doubles in November

Brazilians spent US$ 618.5 million on international travel in November, almost double the amount registered in the same month last year, of US$ 328.9 million. The data were released by the Central Bank this Wednesday (22).

The volume is also higher than that observed in the previous month. In October, it was US$ 530.9 million.

The level, however, is still below that recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic. In November 2019, foreign tourists spent US$1.24 billion abroad.

The increase came after the relaxation of restrictions and advances in vaccination against Covid, but the high dollar, fear of contagion and loss of income still impact international travel.

In recent months, the upward trend in tourist spending abroad has continued, but with the emergence of the new omicron variant and the resumption of restriction measures in some countries, this trend may be reversed.

“In the second half of this year, this was the trend that was taking place [de recuperação], but the new variant adds uncertainty,” highlighted the deputy head of the BC’s statistics department, Renato Baldini.

According to him, evolution will depend on how the new strain behaves. “We can proceed with the recovery [em viagens] or keep walking more slowly,” he pondered.

Foreign tourists, in turn, spent US$ 320.3 million in Brazil in November, 54.5 million more than in October and US$ 134.9 million more than in the same month in 2020.

The omicron variant was first identified and registered in South Africa in November of this year. She has already traveled to at least 77 countries, including Brazil, according to the WHO (World Health Organization).

The new strain was classified by experts as worrisome due to the speed of spread.

Many countries have already adopted measures of greater border control in an attempt to stop the transmission of the omicron variant.

In Brazil, the federal government published on Monday (20) an ordinance that requires the presentation of proof of vaccination against Covid for the entry of travelers into the country.

The measure complies with the decision of the STF (Superior Federal Court) that the immunization passport was required for every traveler coming to Brazil from abroad.

According to the ordinance, those arriving in the country by air and land must present to the company responsible for the flight, before boarding, a printed or electronic proof of vaccination.

In addition, the Ministry of Health announced the reduction of the interval for the application of the booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine from five to four months. According to the folder, the objective is to expand protection against the omicron variant.