Ceará has experienced an increase in the number of foreign tourists. The increase is due mainly to guarantee major international events and major advertising campaign that has been done in European countries.
In the first three months of 2013, the northeastern state in Brazil has received 27.69% more foreign tourists than in the same period of last year.
Among the countries that send the most tourists to Ceara, ranks first Italy (5397 tourists), Portugal in second (3,722 tourists) and the United States (1,137). France and the Philippines, with 1,069 tourists and 1066, respectively, complete the list.
The Pinto Martins Airport saw an increase of 7.82% in the number of foreign passengers, also in this period.
According to Bismarck Maia, secretary of tourism in Ceará, the increase is seen since 2012, when the state began to receive a direct flight from Italy, besides the strong advertisements in airports of Lisbon and Madrid.