Shopping remains one of the main activities for Brazilian tourists visiting the United States, especially in Orlando. Recent data shows that 87% of Brazilian visitors to the Orlando area are interested in shopping, alongside theme parks and sightseeing.
By Laís Oliveira | Translation: Isabela Jordão
Orlando continues to attract Brazilian travelers by combining theme parks, entertainment, shopping opportunities, accommodation and a well-established Brazilian community.
Shopping has long been one of the main activities for Brazilians traveling to the United States, and recent tourism data shows that this habit remains strong. In the Orlando area, for example, 87% of Brazilian visitors identified shopping as an activity of interest in 2024, ahead of theme parks at 76%, while sightseeing reached 82%.
The profile of Brazilian tourism to the United States has changed over the years, however. Exchange rates, airfare, accommodation costs and changes in consumer spending can influence how much travelers buy and how they organize their trips. Even so, shopping continues to be closely connected to the Brazilian travel experience in the U.S.
Orlando Remains a Favorite Destination for Brazilians
Orlando has become one of the most important U.S. destinations for Brazilian travelers, combining theme parks, entertainment, shopping centers, outlet malls and a well-established Brazilian community.
The city also continues to attract a large number of Brazilian visitors. According to Visit Orlando, 736,300 Brazilians visited Orlando in 2025, an increase of 5.6% compared with 2024. Brazil was Orlando’s third-largest international source market that year, behind Canada and the United Kingdom.
This reinforces the strong connection between Brazilian travelers and Central Florida. The combination of Disney and other theme parks, shopping opportunities, accommodation options and a growing Brazilian community has helped make Orlando a familiar destination for visitors from Brazil.
The city also offers a different experience from a traditional shopping trip. Many Brazilians combine purchases with family vacations, theme parks and sightseeing, making shopping one part of a broader travel itinerary.
Shopping, Tourism and the Brazilian Traveler
Leisure remains an important part of the trip, but the variety of products available in the United States continues to attract Brazilian consumers.
Electronics, clothing and accessories, beauty products, household items, children’s products and jewelry have traditionally been among the categories that attract Brazilian shoppers. Brand-name clothing and accessories, in particular, have historically been popular because of differences in retail prices, promotions and product availability.
Electronics have also remained an important category, while fashion and beauty products — including bags, perfumes and makeup — continue to attract many Brazilian consumers.
However, price comparisons are no longer as straightforward as they were in the past. The exchange rate between the Brazilian real and the U.S. dollar, taxes, airfare, accommodation and baggage costs can significantly affect the final cost of a purchase.
For this reason, Brazilian travelers increasingly need to compare the total cost of a shopping trip, rather than simply comparing the price on a store shelf with the price of a similar product in Brazil.
Miami, New York and Other Popular Destinations
Orlando is not the only U.S. destination attracting Brazilian travelers. According to 2024 U.S. tourism data, the Orlando/Kissimmee/Sanford area was visited by 43.5% of Brazilian travelers included in the destination profile, followed by Miami/Miami Beach/Kendall at 26.7%, the New York metropolitan area at 20.1%, and Los Angeles/Long Beach/Glendale at 6.7%.
Miami has long attracted Brazilians with its beaches, restaurants, nightlife, international atmosphere and extensive shopping options. It is also an important gateway to the United States for Brazilian travelers: Miami International Airport received approximately 584,000 passengers from Brazil in 2024, according to data reported from U.S. tourism statistics.
New York offers a very different experience. The city combines major tourist attractions, museums, restaurants, entertainment and shopping, making it possible to include purchases in a broader urban vacation.
San Francisco attracts visitors for its history, cultural diversity, architecture and landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge. Los Angeles, meanwhile, combines beaches, surfing culture, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, entertainment and theme parks with a large and diverse retail market.
Las Vegas remains another popular destination, particularly for travelers interested in entertainment, hotels, casinos and shopping. Soul Brasil has previously explored ways to enjoy Las Vegas while keeping travel costs under control in its guide to having fun in Las Vegas on a budget.
Brazilian Tourism to the U.S. Has Recovered
The original version of this article was published before the COVID-19 pandemic, when Brazil was dealing with a different economic environment and international travel patterns were very different.
The pandemic dramatically disrupted international tourism, but Brazilian travel to the United States has since recovered.
The U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office reported 1.91 million Brazilian visitors to the United States in 2024, making Brazil the fourth-largest overseas source market for the country.
The recovery continued into 2025. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that Brazil remained among the country’s leading overseas tourism markets, with 1.9 million Brazilian visitors recorded in 2025.
The latest data therefore shows a very different scenario from the one described in the original article: Brazilian tourism to the United States is no longer defined by the pandemic-era decline.
At the same time, the travel experience continues to be affected by economic conditions. The exchange rate, airfare, accommodation prices and other travel expenses can determine whether visitors spend more on shopping, entertainment or other parts of the trip.
Shopping Is Still Part of the U.S. Travel Experience
Although shopping remains popular, exchange rates, airfare, accommodation and other travel costs increasingly influence how much Brazilian tourists spend during their trips to the United States.
Shopping remains particularly important in Orlando. In 2024, Brazilian visitors to the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area reported shopping as their most frequently selected activity of interest, at 87%. Sightseeing followed at 82%, while theme parks reached 80% in the 2023 Brazilian visitor profile and 76% in 2024 regional data.
The numbers illustrate an important change in how Brazilian tourism to the United States can be understood today.
Shopping is not necessarily the sole purpose of the trip. Instead, it is often integrated into a larger vacation that includes theme parks, beaches, restaurants, entertainment and sightseeing.
For Brazilian families, a trip to Orlando may combine Disney or Universal with outlet shopping, while a Miami itinerary can bring together beaches, restaurants and shopping. A trip to New York can similarly combine museums, landmarks and retail experiences.
This combination helps explain why shopping remains such a strong part of the Brazilian travel culture in the United States.
A Long-Standing Connection Between Brazilians and U.S. Shopping
For decades, Brazilians have traveled to the United States not only to visit famous attractions but also to experience a retail market known for its wide variety of brands and products.
What has changed is the context.
Today, travelers have access to online price comparisons, international shopping platforms, digital payment tools and much more information before leaving Brazil. The decision to buy a product in the United States can therefore involve more research than in the past.
Even with these changes, shopping continues to be one of the activities most closely associated with Brazilian tourism in the United States — particularly in Florida.
The United States also continues to be an important destination for Brazilian travelers overall. In 2024, Brazil ranked among the top overseas markets for U.S. tourism, with approximately 1.91 million visitors.
For Brazilians planning a trip today, the traditional combination remains familiar: tourism, entertainment and shopping — with the final balance increasingly shaped by the exchange rate and the overall cost of the trip.
*This article was originally published in Portuguese in Soul Brasil’s digital/printed magazine in early 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been updated to reflect current tourism data and travel patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is shopping still popular among Brazilian tourists in the United States?
Yes. Shopping remains one of the main activities associated with Brazilian tourism in the United States. In the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area, 87% of Brazilian visitors identified shopping as an activity of interest in 2024.
2. Which U.S. destinations are most popular with Brazilian tourists?
Orlando, Miami and the New York metropolitan area are among the destinations most visited by Brazilians. Los Angeles is also an important destination, particularly for travelers interested in entertainment, beaches and California’s lifestyle.
3. Why do Brazilians like shopping in the United States?
The wide variety of brands and products, promotional prices and availability of certain items have historically attracted Brazilian shoppers. However, exchange rates and travel expenses can significantly affect whether a purchase is actually cheaper than in Brazil.
4. How many Brazilians visited the United States?
The U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office recorded approximately 1.91 million Brazilian visitors to the United States in 2024. Brazil was the fourth-largest overseas source market for U.S. tourism that year.
5. Is Orlando still popular among Brazilian tourists?
Yes. Visit Orlando reported a record 736,300 Brazilian visitors in 2025, an increase of 5.6% over 2024. Brazil was the destination’s third-largest international source market.
