Brazil Enjoying an 18.8% Year-Over-Year Increase in Tourism

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As global international tourism grows by almost 5% in the first half of 2011, Latin American countries have performed remarkably well, experiencing a 15% increase in tourism in H1 2011 according to results from the World Tourism Organization. Brazil alone shows an 18.8% year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals in H1 2011, reaching 4,351,081 visitors as reported by the Ministry of Tourism.

Thought to be a continent built for exploration, Brazil has fascinated travelers for at least 500 years with its offerings of powdery white sands, stunning natural beauty and some of the world's most colorful cities. Indeed, the data collected shows that the overall trend in tourism is positive, with Business Monitor International (BMI) forecasting a 21.5% increase in tourist arrivals to Brazil between now and 2015 helping generate around US$9bn in tourist revenue over the same period.

Indeed, there is also a positive outlook for the hotel and aviation sectors in Brazil. As a fundamental development for the Brazilian hotel industry, the national hotel classification system saw an improvement in June this year with The Brazilian System for the Qualification of Accommodation Options deciding to use one to five star ratings to identify each category of accommodation, enabling tourists to be better informed about the standard of accommodation available across the Latin nation.

Meanwhile, regional growth in the aviation sector this year has been propelled by the rise in income and household wealth across Brazil seeing many households traveling more often. Additionally, international flights to and from the country have been rising with flights to Fortaleza and Porto Alegre now available while the merger between British Airways and Iberia at the beginning of the year, forming the International Airline Group will help increase traffic to Brazil and boost tourism further.

Of course, airlines and hoteliers alike will feel the effects of heightened tourist arrivals with Brazil hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup and then the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, pulling in visitors from every corner of the planet and helping put Brazil on the map as a perfect holiday as well as investment destination.

Ray Withers, Director of international real estate agent Property Frontiers, which markets a number of investment properties in Brazil, comments,

"We have been seeing a consistent influx of investment in Brazil which will only continue to expand when the Olympics and World Cup arrive. These events will spur Brazil to develop a modern infrastructure bringing a wealth of social and economic benefits as well as helping Brazil appear more visible in the global arenas of tourism and property, factors that are encouraging investors to look into the returns available from Brazilian property."

With this in mind, the demand for home ownership in Brazil is booming with R$34 billion being pumped into the construction of residential property across the country in recent years. However, supply still fails to meet demand, with a current 7 million housing deficit in Brazil with many reports stating that there is due to be a 20% rise in the country's population over the next 10 years.

As a way of meeting growing demand, Property Frontiers has an excellent opportunity available in Natal, the most searched for location by property investors is the suburb of Capim Macio, one of the city's top four income-per-capita locations being home to the new Golden Fields apartments, available from £59,200, 15% below market value with attractive staged payments.

As a highly sought after residential location due to the close proximity of transport, amenities and Ponta Negra beach, the 2 bedroom apartments at Golden Fields offer investors a 4 year 6% rental guarantee with up to 35% capital appreciation forecast upon completion in 2014, perfect timing for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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