(ATR) More foreign tourists came to Brazil during the year of the Olympics than during the World Cup in 2014.
Newly released figures from the Brazilian tourism ministry show that 6.6 million foreign tourists visited Brazil in 2016. That figure represents a six percent increase from 2015, and is 200,000 more than visited in 2014.
"The numbers are extremely positive," Max Beltrão, Minister for Tourism said in a statement. "When compared with the international context, they show that we can still make much progress, but we have been able to take advantage of the mega-events we have held."
The numbers are encouraging for Brazil, especially given that Rio de Janeiro did not reach its foreign tourism goal for the 2016 Olympics. Rio expected over 500,000 foreign visitors for the 2016 Olympics, but numbers from Rio city hall said the city received just over 400,000.
Ahead of the 2016 Olympics Brazil was dominated by negative headlines surrounding public security and the Zika outbreak in the country. The two controversies were seen by observers as potential roadblocks for a lack of foreign tourism during the Olympics.
From June to September Brazil offered visa-free entry for citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States. Tourists from those countries could stay in Brazil for up to 90 days after entry. Brazil offered free visas for spectators who had purchased tickets for the 2014 World Cup, but not for other foreign tourists.
Brazil’s tourism ministry said the increase in foreign tourism is much higher than what the United Kingdom received during its Olympic year in 2012. The ministry said foreign tourists in 2012 only increased by 0.92 percent in 2012 in the UK from the year previous. After the Games, the UK has seen a regular increase of foreign tourists, capitalizing on the Olympics’ legacy.
"We still have a lot to do to efficiently take advantage of the Games' legacy," Beltrão added.
Written by Aaron Bauer
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