Brasília, February 5, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Foreigners are spending more money in Brazil. In 2003, foreign tourists spent a total of around US$ 2.479 billion, as against US$ 1.998 billion in 2002, according to information released by the Central Bank. These amounts refer exclusively to money exchanged in Brazil and bills paid with international credit cards.

For the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur), this growth is very important for the country. "These 24% are quite significant, even though they only cover the official currency exchanges and credit card transactions of which the Central Bank has cognizance," affirms José Francisco de Salles Lopes, Embratur's director of Studies and Research.

He recalls that it is common for tourist establishments and services - hotels, restaurants, and taxis -to receive payment in other currencies. "These unofficial payments and operations escape the control of government authorities," Salles Lopes completes.

Brazil had a US$ 218 million surplus between what foreign tourists spent in Brazil and what Brazilians spent abroad, which amounted to US$ 2.261 billion last year. (DAS)