Brazilian tourists set sights on natal

From Rio de Janeiro's lively carnival atmosphere to the gourmet food and cutting edge culture of São Paulo, the world is familiar with Brazil's offerings international tourists. Now, though, domestic tourists are began to appreciate what the country has to offer.

According to the latest Consumer Survey – Travel Intent figures released by the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, nearly nine out of every ten Brazilians are planning to visit domestic destinations this year. The figure of 86.4 per cent is an impressive 8 per cent leap on the previous (December 2014) statistics, suggesting Brazilians' increasing desire to explore their country in full.

Where are they heading? The North East leads the field, with 36.9 per cent of domestic travellers identifying it as their top holiday destination.

Luiz Fernandes, CEO of leading developer Ritz-G5, which is developing a range of projects around Natal in the North East of Brazil, comments: "While the vast southern cities of Rio and São Paulo are fantastic places to visit, there is an undeniable charm in the vast beaches and laid back sophistication of the North East. We've found that a lot of Brazilians living in large southern cities look to the region as the ideal location to own a holiday home; the tranquillity of the local beachscapes are the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of city life."