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With the decision of the Brazilian government to grant visa waivers to Chinese citizens for short-term trips, tourism platforms registered immediate jumps in searches for tickets, with increases of up to 84% in one hour, reinforcing the expectation of strong growth in tourist flow between China and Brazil before the 2026 Spring Festival
The announcement of Brazil’s visa waiver policy for Chinese citizens on short-term trips triggered an immediate increase in tourist interest, reflected in significant rises in searches for flights to Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, amid the anticipation of the 2026 Spring Festival.
Immediate Growth in Searches for Airfares
Data from the Chinese travel platform Qunar shows that searches for flights from cities in China to Brasília increased by 84% in just one hour, until 9 AM on Saturday. During the same interval, interest in Rio de Janeiro grew by 27%, while São Paulo recorded an increase of 22%, always compared to the previous hour.
According to Qunar, among the main Chinese cities of departure for Rio de Janeiro were Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen. For São Paulo, the highlighted cities included Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xiamen, and Shenzhen.
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Official Announcement and Diplomatic Context
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced that Brazil will grant visa waivers for certain categories of short-term visas to Chinese citizens. The measure was presented as reciprocal to the Chinese policy of visa waivers for Brazilians, as reported by the Xinhua agency.
According to the official statement, the decision is part of deepening bilateral cooperation between Brazil and China.
The declared objective is to facilitate exchange between the peoples and stimulate interaction between the two countries, with the exact implementation date still to be announced.
Amplified Effect on Weekly Search Volume
In addition to the immediate jump observed in a few hours, Qunar reported that searches for flights from Chinese cities to Brazilian destinations, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasília, increased more than five times compared to the previous week. This data reinforces the perception of a rapid effect of the new policy on travel intentions.
Regionally, Chengdu, Beijing, and Shenzhen saw the fastest growth in searches for flights to São Paulo. Meanwhile, searches for international trips from Guangzhou and Xiamen grew between 200% and 400% per hour, until 9 AM on Saturday, according to the platform.
Sector Expectations and Impact on Long-Distance Tourism
Tourism sector specialists believe that the visa waiver is likely to reduce travel barriers and increase the willingness of Chinese tourists to visit Brazil. The expectation is that the country will solidify its position as one of the main long-distance destinations for this market.
Yang Han, a researcher at Qunar’s big data institute, told the Global Times that Brazil has become one of the fastest-growing long-distance destinations among Chinese travelers. He stated that on the eve of the nine-day holiday for the 2026 Spring Festival, the country ranks sixth among the markets with the most significant expansion in ticket bookings.
The researcher highlighted that bookings for Brazil increased 1.7 times compared to 2025, reflecting a trend of strengthening demand.
He noted that this movement occurs in a context of greater connectivity and reduced bureaucratic requirements, factors that directly influence travel decisions, even with a slight typo in initial reports not affecting the overall analysis.
Reciprocity of Visas and Agreements in Force
The Brazilian visa waiver policy represents a step forward in the reciprocity agreements between the two countries. Starting from June 1, 2025, the Chinese visa waiver policy began benefiting Brazilian citizens, with a testing period until May 31, 2026.
During this period, Brazilians can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, and other activities. The measure was confirmed by the Xinhua agency and is part of a broader set of initiatives to facilitate bilateral mobility.
Tourism Promotion and Recent Results
Brazil has also been expanding its tourism promotion strategy in the Chinese market. After a six-year hiatus, Embratur returned to the ITB China 2025, where it signed agreements with companies like Trip.com Group, Dragon Trail, and Tongcheng Travel.
According to a report from china.org.cn, these partnerships utilize market intelligence and digital campaigns to enhance Brazil’s visibility among Chinese travelers. The results are reflected in the recent numbers of visitors.
According to Embratur, Brazil received about 76,000 Chinese tourists in 2024, an increase of nearly 80% compared to the previous year. Between January and November 2025, the country received almost 100,000 Chinese tourists, a growth of 34%, according to data published by the Shanghai Observer. These indicators reinforce the expansion trend, even with minor spelling slips in preliminary statements that do not alter the official numbers.
só espero que passem um pouco de seu conhecimento aos brasileiros, pois chinês possui algo que brasileiro tá precisando: disciplina.