IBGE

With the positive performance, the branch helped boost the services sector as a whole, which advanced 1.3% in the month

Data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) show that tourism activities have stood out in the service sector. In June, the branch grew by 5.3%. The services sector, as a whole, increased for the third consecutive month and reached a 1.3% increase in the period.

"Housing and air transportation activities grew during the month due to business tourism, which usually benefits Sao Paulo and the Federal District," explained Roberto Saldanha, manager of the Monthly Services Survey.

Among the regions, São Paulo recorded the highest variation, 4.0%. The state is followed by Rio Grande do Sul (3.9%) and Goiás (3.2%). Compared with June 2016, the most notable were Goiás (15.0%), Pernambuco (7.9%) and Santa Catarina (5.6%).

"Tourism is a volatile sector in which prices vary according to season, school holidays, holidays, major events and other factors," explained the researcher. "Business travel is slightly more stable than tourism, but the industry as a whole has a broad spectrum of activity," he said.