Rio de Janeiro drew a record 12.5 million visitors in 2025 and now targets 5.7 million in 2026, as foreign arrivals surge and tourism powers its economy.
Brazil · Tourism
Key FactsRTAsk Rio TimesCurious about Latin American culture, food, and life? Ask our reporting.Start asking →—The record. Rio de Janeiro drew 12.5 million visitors in 2025, the most in its history.
—The windfall. Those visitors generated about R$27.2bn ($5.4bn) for the city’s economy.
—The foreign surge. International arrivals jumped 44.8 percent, from 1.5 million to 2.1 million.
—The target. The city is aiming for a record 5.7 million tourists across 2026.
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