SAO PAULO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- International travelers contributed a record 3.2 billion U.S. dollars to Brazil's economy in the first quarter, up by 11.8 percent from a year earlier, the government reported Tuesday, citing data from the Central Bank of Brazil.

In March alone, revenue from international tourism reached 934 million dollars, 4 million dollars higher than in March 2025, confirming the sector's continued growth, according to a government statement.

The strong performance in the first quarter follows a trend set in 2025, when foreign visitors spent 10.4 billion dollars in Brazil, up by 23.8 percent from 2024.

The government attributed the increase to enhanced promotion abroad by the Brazilian Tourism Board (Embratur), in collaboration with local authorities and the private sector, which helped boost both visitor numbers and spending.

"The nearly 12 percent growth in foreign revenue earnings during this first quarter directly reflects the maturity the sector has achieved," said Embratur President Bruno Reis, depicting tourism as "a fundamental pillar of Brazil's trade balance."

Rising spending coincided with a higher flow of visitors. In March, 1,053,098 international travelers visited Brazil, a 13 percent year-on-year increase.

During the first quarter of 2026, 3.74 million international travelers visited Brazil. Among the top destinations were Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Parana. ■