The Tourism Committee of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies recently held a public hearing to discuss improvements for cruise operations in the country.

According to an update shared by local authorities, representatives from different areas, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labor, were present to discuss labor and infrastructure challenges affecting the industry in Brazil.

The hearing was requested by Deputy Eduardo Bismarck, who said that local cruise operations may face a downward trend due to red tape and other bottlenecks.

Bismarck said that particular issues include visa requirements for passengers and crew members, as well as current labor legislation.

He criticized the current rule that requires cruise lines to hire 30 percent of their crew members in Brazil for ships sailing in the country for over 30 days.

“We need to understand that to attract more ships to our coast, we need to be more flexible on this issue,” Bismarck said, calling the law restrictive.

The hearing also discussed the creation of more itineraries on the country’s Northeast coast, which Bismarck said is underserved by cruise ships.

He noted that tax incentives and tourism promotion could help establish new operations in the region, connecting cities like Salvador and Fortaleza.

Bismarck said the country has potential for year-round operations, adding that vessels are currently trading Brazilian destinations for ports in other countries in South America.

Data presented during the hearing placed Brazil as the tenth-largest global source market for the cruise industry, with the 2024-25 cruise season accounting for over 800,000 passengers.

Highlighting the economic impact of the sector, Bismarck noted that the arrival of a single cruise ship is equivalent to the passenger volume of 15 to 20 commercial flights in one day.

Brazil is expected to welcome eight ships during its 2026-27 season, including five vessels from MSC Cruises and two from Costa Cruises.

Startup Corazul Cruceros is also planning a winter deployment in the country, with itineraries departing from Santos, Rio de Janeiro and Recife onboard the Buenavista.