Brazil Leads South America with 60 Blue Flag Beaches

With 60 seashores and marinas now holding Blue Flag certification for the 2025–2026 season, Brazil has cemented its place as South America’s main vacation spot for sustainable coastal tourism. Behind the numbers lies a coordinated effort involving public authorities, native communities and tourism stakeholders, all working to show environmental accountability right into a long-term aggressive benefit.

In this interview, Bruno Reis, Director of Marketing, Business and Sustainability at Embratur explains what has pushed Brazil’s rise within the world Blue Flag rankings, how traveller expectations are evolving, and the way the nation is utilizing sustainability as a basis for long-term tourism growth. Excerpts:

Brazil now leads South America in Blue Flag certifications. What has made this attainable?

Brazil’s management within the Blue Flag Programme is the results of a structured and collective effort. The certification is predicated on 38 technical standards that consider water high quality, environmental administration, infrastructure, security and environmental training. Many of those areas fall underneath public accountability, which has inspired municipalities to undertake extra built-in and environment friendly administration practices.

Beyond infrastructure, one of the crucial essential elements has been steady funding in environmental training. The programme actively engages native communities within the safety and sustainable use of pure assets, making a shared sense of possession. This collaboration between public authorities, civil society and the personal sector has been important in positioning Brazil as a reference for sustainable tourism in South America. The problem now could be to keep up and broaden these achievements over time, making certain that Brazil continues to strengthen its function as a worldwide mannequin for accountable vacation spot administration.

With world journey shifting towards sustainability, what traits are you seeing amongst worldwide travellers?

International travellers right now are rather more attentive to sustainability and are actively searching for locations that supply genuine and accountable experiences. There is rising curiosity in ecotourism and journey tourism that mix nature, biodiversity conservation and respect for native communities.

Beyond conventional sun-and-beach tourism, we’re additionally seeing robust development in nautical tourism and different nature-based segments. These experiences enable guests to attach extra deeply with their environment whereas having fun with excessive environmental requirements.

Another essential pattern is gradual journey. Travellers wish to spend extra time in locations, immerse themselves in native tradition, gastronomy and on a regular basis life, and have extra significant experiences. This shift helps longer stays and better common spending, whereas additionally strengthening Brazil’s gentle energy internationally. The enlargement of Blue Flag-certified seashores and marinas helps reinforce Brazil’s picture as a vacation spot that delivers high quality, security and sustainability, which is more and more decisive for travellers when selecting the place to go.

How is Brazil making certain that sustainability additionally delivers long-term advantages for native communities?

Brazil has been working to raised combine public coverage, native communities and the tourism sector in order that sustainability interprets into actual social and financial influence. One essential step on this path is the launch of the Plano Brasis – International Tourism Marketing Plan 2025–2027, which gives strategic tips to strengthen Brazil’s presence in world markets. The plan helps state and municipal governments by aligning native actions with nationwide priorities, serving to optimise assets and broaden alternatives for tourism-related companies. This coordination permits locations to develop whereas sustaining environmental accountability.

More broadly, the aim is to construct a tourism mannequin that generates long-term worth for each individuals and nature. Sustainable tourism should steadiness customer development with respect for ecosystems, cultural heritage and native livelihoods. By doing so, Brazil goals to place itself not solely as a wonderful vacation spot, however as a worldwide benchmark for accountable and regenerative tourism.