Cruise season injects BRL 3.6 bi into Brazilian economy

Brazil’s 2022–2023 cruise season is entering its final stretch and earning its place as the best in ten years, with an estimated 650 thousand to 700 thousand passengers on board—over four times the previous season, which had fewer ships and a shorter sailing period.

As per the country’s cruise association Clia Brasil, the current season, which ends in April, generated about 48 thousand jobs, bringing an economic impact of some BRL 3.6 billion, up 240 percent from 2021–2022. The amount entails expenses incurred by cruising companies, cruisers, and crew members.

Nine cabotage vessels departed from five different Brazilian ports, calling at 17 destinations including Buenos Aires, in Argentina, and Montevideo and Punta del Este, in Uruguay. They returned to the routes after a period of restrictions.

The 2022–2023 season was also marked by Brazil’s return to the route of key companies from around the world, with 35 long-haul ships making stops in 45 destinations across 15 states, such as Amazonas, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Rio Grande do Sul.

Clia Brasil Chairman Marco Ferraz said he celebrates the season’s strides and achievements with the doors open for the next one, which should also be hailed as the number one in 11 years.

“We’re working hard for both the sector’s present and future, which includes the search for new destinations—with some confirmed for 2023–2024—as well as improvements in infrastructure, costs, the business environment in Brazil, and investments in sustainability to slash carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and zero them by 2050,” he reported.

Season 2023–2024

For 2023–2024, with a sailing period ranging from October to May, the sector is optimistic, with an estimated offer of 840 thousand beds, six percent up from the current season, injecting about BRL 3.9 billion into the Brazilian economy.

“Our focus is making the cruise industry keep growing, with a positive impact on the country’s economy as the entire community is involved in our activity, the whole tourism chain, including travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, cuisine, attractions, among others, in addition to the destinations that receive the ships,” Marco Ferraz said.