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International tourism grows 52,1% in the first half of 2025
Published on 17/07/2025 - 20:03 | Updated on 21/07/2025 - 16:03
Rio de Janeiro received 6,8 million visitors in the first half of 2025 - Marcos de Paula/City of Rio Tourism is only growing in Rio de Janeiro. The city welcomed 6,8 million visitors in the first half of 2025, 20% more than in the same period the previous year. As in 2024, the largest growth was in foreign tourists: 1,2 million visitors, representing a 52,1% increase. Domestic tourism saw a 14,7% increase, with 5,6 million visitors.
The figures come from the Tourism Observatory of the Municipal Department of Tourism (SMTUR-RIO), which recorded significant growth during the period, with consistent expansion across all tourist-sending markets, from neighboring South America to countries in Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania. The data is collected using the GeoData tool, which allows us to identify the origin and movement of tourists based on their cell phone signal strength as they move around the city.
Argentina continues to be the main source of tourists to Rio, with 398.834 visitors between January and July, 42,6% more than the same period last year. In second place, Chile saw a 59,1% increase (210.168 tourists); in third place is the United States, with a 54,4% increase (128.408). France comes in fourth, with 58.379 visitors, but it was one of the fastest-growing countries, registering a 77,9% increase.
Also noteworthy is the growth recorded in tourist arrivals from Colombia, which ranks fifth, with 35.219 visitors and a positive variation of 78,6%; and from Portugal, in sixth, with 32.032 tourists and an increase of 101,3%.
Among other European countries, Italy stands out, with more than double the increase in flow: 115%, with 15.337 visitors, compared to 7.132 the previous year. Other countries with significant growth in Europe were Germany (85,6%) and the United Kingdom (84,3%).
