Category:
Rio received 12,5 million visitors in 2025, generating R$ 27,2 billion for the economy.
Published on 19/01/2026 - 17:00 | Updated on 16/03/2026 - 16:25
Rio de Janeiro received 12,5 million visitors throughout 2025 - Marcos de Paula/Rio City Hall The tourism sector in Rio de Janeiro broke records in 2025. Throughout the year, the city of Rio received 12,5 million tourists, of which 10,5 million (83,1%) were domestic visitors and 2,1 million (16,9%) were foreign visitors. Despite representing the smaller share, international tourists grew by 44,8% last year.
"We are very happy with the tourism figures in Rio de Janeiro, mainly because we are certain that they are a result of the work the city has been doing. First, we strengthened the international airport with new routes and flights. This allowed us to work towards a calendar of powerful leisure and business events, which translate into opportunities for Rio residents," emphasizes Osmar Lima, Municipal Secretary of Economic Development.
A survey by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, involving the Secretariats of Tourism (SMTUR-Rio), Economic Development (SMDE) and Riotur, indicates that domestic tourism accounted for 71,5% of the total economic impact on the city, equivalent to R$ 19,5 billion. International tourism contributed 28,5%, generating R$ 7,8 billion. In other words: a total economic impact of R$ 27,2 billion.
– These numbers confirm that Rio has once again taken a prominent place in world tourism. The significant growth in international visitors shows that the city is more connected, more present abroad, and offers a range of events and experiences capable of attracting tourists throughout the year. This movement strengthens the economy, generates jobs and income, and consolidates tourism as one of the engines of the city's development – analyzes Bernardo Fellows, president of Riotur.
Data from the SMTUR-Rio Tourism Observatory used in the study indicate a 10,5% growth in the number of tourists in the city in 2025. Last year, Rio received 12,5 million visitors, compared to 11,4 million in 2024. The share of domestic tourists grew by 5,5%, from 9,9 million to 10,5 million. Although smaller in absolute numbers, the flow of international visitors increased by 44,8%, from 1,5 million in 2024 to 2,1 million the following year.
– The year 2025 marks a strong recovery for tourism in Rio, with a significant increase in tourist flow reinforcing the city's leading role on the international stage – says Daniela Maia, the city's Secretary of Tourism.
The calculation of economic activity was based on an average expenditure of R$ 1.862 per Brazilian tourist and R$ 3.657 per foreign visitor. The study, "Tourism in Rio de Janeiro: Recent Overview of Main Indicators," is from the Fecomércio Institute for Research and Analysis (IFec RJ), updated to December 2025 values, deflated by the IPCA (Brazilian Consumer Price Index).
It is worth highlighting that the Rio de Janeiro City Hall – through SMDE – has a Technical Cooperation Agreement with IFec RJ for conducting economic studies, including on tourism. Tourist spending includes the sectors of lodging, accommodation, restaurants, bars, purchase of food and beverages for consumption (outside of restaurants and bars), fuel, transportation, internal travel, entertainment/leisure (festivals, tourist attractions), telecommunications (telephone, internet) and purchase of products (clothing, souvenirs).
