Visa exemption did not impact the arrival of tourists to Brazil – 02/25/2023 – Panel

Preliminary data collected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs show that the visa waiver for four countries instituted in the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) had a low impact on the arrival of tourists in Brazil.

The measure was adopted contrary to the principle of reciprocity historically adopted by Itamaraty, based on which the same criteria established for the entry of Brazilians in each country are required. The justification was to reinforce tourism.

At the time, the United States, Australia, Japan and India were exempt from the visa requirement.

The data was requested by Minister Mauro Vieira as soon as he took over. To make the comparison, Itamaraty isolated the period of validity of the new norm from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, which restricted circulation from 2020.

In a preliminary analysis, what was found is that other factors influence more the decision of tourists, such as proximity and cultural affinity.

In addition, the visa exemption also impacts the income of consular officers, who charge to issue the document.

The data point to the need to revise the policy and resume reciprocity, but this should not be a short-term change.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) was in Washington with the president of the United States, Joe Biden, and this subject did not figure in the conversations between the two.

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