São Paulo, Jun 10 (EFE).- Brazil, home to nearly 20% of the planet’s biodiversity, has stepped up efforts to project itself as a natural tourism powerhouse, an image that has so far been underutilized in tourism promotion, to attract foreign visitors seeking breathtaking landscapes and sustainable cultural experiences.
To that end, the Brazilian Agency for International Tourism Promotion, Embratur, in partnership with the Instituto Semeia, has developed an international platform featuring seven routes that showcase some of the country’s more than 600 natural parks.
In an interview with EFE, Instituto Semeia Executive Director Renata Mendes highlighted the importance of this pioneering initiative in positioning Brazil as a global ecotourism destination.
“Telling the story of our natural and cultural heritage through parks is a highly impactful approach,” she said.
An added attraction for the international market
Mariana Haddad, the institution’s Director of Public Policy, added that “international tourists are looking for well-being, a connection with nature and authentic experiences,” while “also valuing activities and services with a low environmental impact that contribute to the conservation of Brazil’s socio-biodiversity.”
According to a 2025 survey by Booking.com, 93% of travelers worldwide said they want to make more sustainable travel choices and are already doing so to some extent.
Meanwhile, 77% said they seek authentic experiences that reflect local culture.
In Argentina, the largest source of tourists to Brazil, with more than 1.8 million visitors between January and April 2026, those figures stand at 93% and 76%, respectively.
In this regard, Mendes stressed that “Brazil has everything international tourists are looking for.”
“That immersion in nature, the connection with traditional communities, the opportunity to learn the history of each place, engage with the destination and discover unique landscapes- only Brazil can offer that,” she added.
National parks take center stage
From dunes to mountains, many of Brazil’s most iconic landscapes are featured on the “Natural Parks” platform, which initially focuses on the country’s northern and northeastern regions through two routes that combine adventure, nature, gastronomy, art, and popular celebrations.
The Route of Emotions links the northeastern states of Maranhão, Piauí and Ceará, and includes attractions such as the Lençóis Maranhenses dunes and lagoons, recognized by UNESCO as a Natural World Heritage Site; the Parnaíba Delta, with its maze-like waterways; and Jericoacoara National Park, renowned for its crystal-clear waters.
In addition, the Central Amazon Route covers Anavilhanas National Park, Jaú National Park, the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve and the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve in the state of Amazonas, offering activities such as overnight stays in ecolodges deep in the rainforest, canoe trips through forest streams (igarapés), rituals with Indigenous communities and immersion in Amazonian cuisine.
The potential of nature tourism in Brazil
With attractions of this scale, tourism in Brazil’s federal conservation areas contributed €3.4 billion to the country’s gross domestic product in 2025. Moreover, it generated €1.6 billion in income for local families, according to the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).
National parks accounted for the largest share of visitors, attracting a record 13.6 million people.
For Haddad, these figures indicate that “Brazil is beginning to understand that preserving these areas and bringing people closer to them also has economic value.”
According to Instituto Semeia, the country has the potential to attract 20 million visitors annually by 2030, generating an estimated €3.35 billion per year for the economy without environmental risks.
“Of course, we cannot lose sight of the importance of environmental conservation, because we will only have visitors if these spaces remain protected,” she concluded. EFE