Arab football fans buoys Brazil

The Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) has expressed confidence that the number of Arab travelers visiting Brazil will grow further significantly in the coming years. Brazil saw a strong influx of visitors from Middle Eastern countries last year especially at the height of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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 Figures released by São Paulo International Airport (GRU Airport) put the combined passenger traffic by Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Royal Air Maroc last year at 564,956, up a high 27.7 per cent from 2013. During the same period, the report said Emirates Airlines carried the most passengers at 203,621, followed by Etihad at 150,187.

Middle Eastern travelers, who are known for their love of football, also spent USD 2.7 million in Brazil, last year’s venue of the World Cup, to join thousands of fans from across the globe in witnessing firsthand the much-awaited sporting competition. This was according to a report released by Visa Inc., which also stated that the UAE was the highest Gulf spender at USD 1.14 million. The country ranked 30th on the list of global purchasers at the World Cup, followed by Saudi Arabia at 39 with a total spending of USD 607,000. Qatar, meanwhile, landed on the 53rd spot with its spending totaling more than USD 317,000.

Dr. Michel Alaby, Secretary General and CEO, ABCC (Pictured right), said: “We are optimistic that more Arab tourists will fly to Brazil in the coming years to explore the beauty of the Latin American nation and experience its warm hospitality and culture. The 2014 FIFA World Cup, which admittedly bolstered the number of Arab visitors to the country, only further fuelled their interest in Brazil. We are confident that a high number of Arab football fans will go back to country, this time to explore its many beautiful and one-of-a-kind tourist spots.”

“There are many tourist destinations in Brazil that have caught the attention of Arabs. The most famous of these places are São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis, and the country’s northeast region. Aside from vibrant bilateral trade between Brazil and the Arab World, we at ABCC also strive to promote strong cultural and tourism ties between the two parties in recognition of tourism’s crucial role in their respective socio-economic advancement. In the future, we hope to see a large segment of Brazil’s international tourist arrivals coming from the Arab World and vice versa. This is achievable through continuous cooperation and collaboration among concerned authorities and organizations from the region and the country,” he added.  

The World Travel & Tourism Council report released last year showed that Brazil was the 6th economy in the world in terms of tourism. In 2014, the report predicted a substantial 21.8 per cent growth in tourism sector investments compared to the global average of 5.7 per cent.

Brazil is further promoting itself as a key tourist destination for Arab tourists amidst the Middle East’s growing disposable income. In terms of outbound travel, the region was among the world’s largest source markets with a three per cent market share in 2013