• Highlights

• Last year, the proportion of households in which at least one resident reported having traveled during the reference period of the Continuous PNAD Tourism module was 19.3%. In 2023, it was 19.8%. In 2021, the year of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was 12.7%. In 2020, it recorded 13.9%.
• In 2020, first year of the pandemic, the number of residents' travels was estimated at 13.4 million, falling to 12.1 million in 2021 and, with the end of the health emergency, jumping to 20.6 million in 2023. In 2024, the total number of travels remained at 20.6 million. This total includes both domestic and international trips. Approximately 85.5% of these trips were for personal purposes, with leisure being the main reason reported, accounting for 39.8% of them, followed by visiting family or friends (32.2%).
• On the other hand, 14.5% of trips were for professional purposes, with 82.7% of them for business or work and 11.8% for events and courses for professional development.
• The total expenditure with domestic overnight travel in 2024 reached R$22.8 billion, an 11.7% increase compared to 2023. The largest increase in expenditure was among families with incomes of half to less than one minimum wage (8.7%).
• Sun and beach was the main type of leisure activity reported by survey respondents, resulting in 44.6% of all travels for this purpose.
• Leisure trips for culture and gastronomy were the only ones that increased over all the years of the survey's time series. In 2020, they accounted for 15.5% of trips, falling to 21.5% in 2023 and reaching 24.4% in 2024.
• In 2024, the lowest-income class, made up of those living on a monthly income of less than half the minimum wage per capita, despite representing 21.0% of the estimated 77.8 million households in the country, accounted for only 11.3% of those in which a trip occurred during the survey's reference period. In terms of travel, the share of non-public transportation, such as private and company cars, fell from 57.6% in 2020 to 50.7% in 2024. Conversely, the proportion of air travel increased from 10.5% in 2020 to 14.7% in 2024.
• In 2024, of the 20.6 million trips taken, 40.7% were hosted by friends or relatives. Hotels and resorts ranked second, at 18.8%.
• For the majority of domestic trips (80.9%), the Major Region of origin and of destination were the same, with a notable increase among travelers departing from and arriving in the Southeast (35.3%).
• Travelers departing from the Northeast had the lowest average travel exoenditure (R$1,206). However, those traveling to a state in this Major Region experienced the highest average expenditure(R$2,523).

In 2024, as in 2023, 20.6 million travels were recorded, compared to 12.1 million in 2021 and 13.4 million in 2020. Of the estimated 77.8 million households in the country, 15.0 million (19.3%) registered at least one resident traveling in 2024. This figure remained stable compared to 2023, but proportionally, there was a reduction of 0.5 percentage points. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the proportions were 13.9% in 2020 and 12.7% in 2021. Data are from the Tourism module of the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNAD), released today (2).

There was little change in the purpose of trips: in 2020, 85.1% of trips were for personal purposes; In 2021, the percentage was 85.4%, in 2023 it was 85.8%, and in 2024 it was 85.5%, including domestic and international trips.

The largest share of households that traveled (4.48 million or 29.8%) were in the per capita household income range of 1 to less than 2 minimum wages. The main purpose of personal travel was leisure (7.0 million or 39.8%), followed by visiting family and friends or attending events (5.67 million or 32.2%). Sun and beach are still the most common reasons for leisure. And, either for personal or professional reasons, the largest percentage of lodging continues to be at the homes of friends or relatives.

Travel expenditure reaches R$22.8 billion

Total expenditure on domestic overnight travel in 2024 reached R$22.8 billion, an 11.7% increase compared to 2023, when spending totaled R$20.4 billion. "We had the same number of trips and higher spending, which means that travels are more expensive, or people are taking more expensive trips," comments William Kratochwill, survey analyst.

For trips to the Southeast Region, total expenditure was R$8.7 billion, followed by the Northeast (R$7.4 billion) and South (R$4.1 billion). The Central-West and North Regions had the lowest total spending, at R$1.7 billion and R$978.0 million, respectively.

Among the Major Regions, the destinations that recorded the highest average travel expenditures were the Northeast (R$2,523), South (R$1,943), and Central-West (R$1,704), followed by the Southeast (R$1,684) and North (R$1,263). Regarding origin, the highest expenditures were for trips departing from the Central-West (R$2,182), Southeast (R$2,128), and South (R$1,787), followed by the North (R$1,451) and Northeast (R$1,206).

As a destination, Alagoas (R$3,790) was the state with the highest average expenditure in the country. The Federal District, on the other hand, had the highest average expenditures for originating trips, at R$3,090.

Main reason for not traveling was lack of money

In 2024, the survey revealed that in 62.8 million households no one traveled. While residents of 19.0 million households reported lack of interest, lack of need, or other reasons, the demand for travel in the remaining 43.7 million households was suppressed by lack of money, time, health, or other priorities.

Lack of money was the most common reason, reported by 24.6 million households (39.2%), followed by 12.0 million households due to lack of time (19.1%). When analyzed by income, lack of money was higher than the Brazilian average in two strata: in 55.3% of households with less than half the minimum wage per capita and in 44.5% of households with incomes of half to less than one minimum wage. In the group earning four or more minimum wages, only 11.4% did not travel due to lack of money.

On the other hand, among the households that reported travels, only 11.3% belonged to the group with a monthly per capita household income below half the minimum wage. This group represents just over a fifth of the households surveyed. Households with a per capita income of four or more minimum wages, which accounted for 7.4% of all households, represented 17.5% of the households where travels occurred. Households with an income of two to less than four minimum wages represented 13.9% of the total and accounted for 21.4% of the households where a resident traveled.

Mr. Kratochwill comments that, in 2024, there was an increase in per capita household income. "However, this was not reflected in the distribution of the number of trips. In other words, despite the decrease in inequality, trips remain concentrated in the higher-income segment of the population."

The percentage of trips in each group was directly proportional to income. The group of households with a per capita household income of four or more minimum wages had a resident traveling in 45.7% of their households, making it the group with the highest incidence. The travel rate in households with a per capita household income of less than half the minimum wage was 10.4%, meaning that approximately 90% of households in this per capita income bracket did not travel.

Lack of time was the most common reason given in households with higher incomes, occurring in 33.2% of households with more than four minimum wages and in 31.4% of households with two to less than four minimum wages. Among the lowest-income group, 7.4% of households cited lack of time as the reason for not traveling.

Leisure was the main reason for personal travels

In 2024, 85.5% of trips were personal, while 14.5% were for work purposes. The percentage remained little changed compared to the previous year, when 85.8% were personal and 14.2% were professional.

Among professional trips, 84.7% were for business or work and 11.8% for events and courses for professional development.

Among personal trips, leisure was the most frequent in 2024, at 39.8%, compared to 38.5% in 2023 and 32.8% in 2020. Visits or events with family and friends were the second main reason for personal travels. They reached a peak in 2020, at 38.6%, decreasing over the years. In 2023, they accounted for 33.0% of all personal trips, and in 2024, this number fell to 32.2%.

Health treatment or medical appointments were the personal purpose that remained stable compared to previous surveys. In 2024, the percentage was 20.1%; in 2023, 20.0%; in 2021, 19.9%. "This number is stable. I believe it has reached a level that reflects society's demand for travel for healthcare," Mr. Kratochwill analyzes.

Sun and beach remain as the main leisure trip

The main purpose of leisure trips in 2024 was sun and beach destinations, at 44.6%. This is the lowest proportion in the series: in 2023, they were 46.2%, and in 2020, 55.5%. Still, they were preferred across all income groups, accounting for the majority of all trips among those with an income of up to half the minimum wage, at 53.7%. This percentage decreased as income levels increased, dropping to 39.1% of trips among those with a per capita household income of four or more minimum wages.

"Almost the majority of the population prefers the beach. However, what was 55.5% in 2020 rose to 44.6% in 2024. In a situation without a health crisis and with rising incomes, people are beginning to seek other types of travel," comments Mr. Kratochwill.

Leisure trips for culture and gastronomy were the only ones that grew throughout the survey's time series. In 2020, they represented 15.5% of trips, rising to 21.5% in 2023 and reaching 24.4% in 2024. This increase is especially evident in the highest income brackets: while in the bracket of four or more minimum wages, the percentage reached 32.3%, among those with an income of up to half the minimum wage the number reached 14.7%.

Acquaintances' homes were the main lodging 

From 2023 to 2024, the number of trips without overnight stays (4.7 million) decreased by 6.0%. The number of trips with overnight stays (15.8 million) increased by 1.8%. Overnight stays accounted for 76.9% of trips, compared to 75.5% of trips in 2023.

Trips with two or three overnight stays were the most frequent, with 5.9 million trips in 2024, equivalent to 28.7%. The number of trips by groups with more overnight stays showed the highest relative growth, with a notable increase in trips with 6 or 7 overnight stays, which grew 9.4% from 2023 to 2024. This growth was followed by trips with 11 to 15 overnight stays, which grew 8.7%, and trips with 16 or more overnight stays, which grew 6.9%.

Staying with a friend or relative was the preferred accommodation option in all the analyzed years. In 2024, of the 20.6 million trips taken, 40.7% were at a friend or relative's home. Hotels and resorts came in second, at 18.8%.

Vacation rentals, including those booked through online apps, accounted for 5.2% of trips. B&Bs were used in 5.9% of trips. Only 3.2% of trips were hosted in a self-owned property.

The reason for traveling determined the type of accommodation chosen. Business trips were concentrated most often in hotels, resorts, or studios (42.9%); for personal trips, this percentage was 14.7%. The most frequent accommodation for personal trips was at a friend's or relative's home, accounting for 45.4% of all trips for personal purposes. Of all business trips, 13.2% included accommodation at a friend's or relative's home.

The percentage of trips with a stay at a friend's or relative's home decreased as income increased. For those living on less than half the minimum wage, this percentage was 44.7%, while for those earning four or more minimum wages, it was 33.0%. When we look at our own property as accommodation, the percentage among those earning less than half the minimum wage was 1.2%; among those earning four or more minimum wages, this percentage reached 4.9%.

The same trend was repeated when the accommodation was a hotel, resort or apartment, ranging from 4.3% for those with less than half the minimum wage, to 37.0%, when the per capita household income was 4 or more minimum wages.

International travel grows 11.1%

Following the recovery in the number of trips taken by residents, which rose from 12.1 million in 2021 to 20.6 million in 2023 and 2024, the results indicate an expansion in international travels (3.0% in 2023 and 3.3% in 2024). With 688,000 trips to international destinations, 2024 saw an 11.1% growth compared to 2023 (619,000 trips).

Within Brazil, the majority of trips (80.9%) had the same Major Region of origin and destination. In 35.3% of the cases, travelers departed from and arrived in the Southeast. This region, the most populous in the country, was the origin of 43.9% of all trips, followed by the Northeast (23.8%) and the South (17.4%). The same sequence was maintained regarding travel destination: Southeast (41.2%), Northeast (27.4%), and South (17.6%).

Air travel gains share among transportation modes, surpassing regular buses

In 2024, the main transportation means for trips was a private or company car (50.7%), followed by air travels (14.7%) and regular buses (11.9%). This change is evident compared with the COVID-19 pandemic period, the 2020 and 2021 data show that the percentage of trips by non-public transportation, such as cars, was considerably higher, reaching 57.6% in 2020.

"With the end of the pandemic, there is a recovery in public transportation, with a focus on air travels, which was just over 10% in 2020 and 2021 and, in 2024, reached 14.7%," notes Mr. Kratochwill. In 2023, the figure was 13.4%, an increase of 1.3 percentage points. Regular bus trips (11.9%) decreased compared to 2023 (13.4%).

Company or private cars are the main means of transportation across all income groups. For air travel, the differences are more pronounced: while among those earning four or more minimum wages, air travels account for 36.2%, this percentage drops to 3.7% for those earning less than half the minimum wage. This group travels the least by car (31.9%, or 18.8 percentage points below the Brazilian average) and travels the most by regular bus (25.2%, or 13.3 percentage points above the average).

The main change in air travel was due to business-related trips: it accounted for 19.9% ​​in 2020, increased to 27.1% in 2023, and reached 28.8% of business-related trips in 2024.

About the survey

The Tourism module of the Continuous PNAD seeks to quantify the flow of domestic tourists within the country and abroad. The data presented includes the percentage of households where residents travel, the number of trips taken by residents, and the characteristics of the trips, such as reason, destinations, means of transportation, and average expenditure. Data is available for Brazil, Major Regions, and Federation Units. Access the support material and the full publication for more information.