Strong employment growth highlights tourism as a key driver of economic expansion

Brazil’s tourism sector has added more than 86,000 formal jobs over the past year, pushing total employment beyond 2.4 million and reinforcing the industry’s role as a major engine of economic growth, reports Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism.

According to official labour data for March 2026, the sector generated 86,826 new registered jobs between March 2025 and March 2026, bringing the total number of workers employed in tourism-related activities to 2,404,921.

The figures mark a significant turnaround compared with the previous year. In March 2025, the sector recorded a net loss of over 7,000 jobs, while in March 2026 it posted a positive balance of nearly 8,000 new positions.

Growth has also accelerated in early 2026. Between January and March, the tourism industry created 11,570 jobs, compared with 6,589 during the same period in 2025, reflecting strengthening demand across the sector.

Employment gains were recorded across key tourism segments, including accommodation, food services, transport, travel agencies, and leisure industries. The food services segment led job creation, adding more than 44,000 positions year-on-year, followed by accommodation and land transport.

International tourism has also reached new highs, with more than one million foreign visitors arriving in March alone and nearly 3.75 million recorded in the first quarter of 2026.

The latest data underline tourism’s expanding contribution to national income, employment and regional development, positioning the sector as one of the most dynamic components of Brazil’s economy in 2026.

African Times published this article in partnership with International Media Network TV BRICS