Brazil reached a historical record in international tourism in 2025, largely driven by the strong growth of Argentine visitors. Between January and November, about nine million tourists arrived in the country, a 34% year-on-year increase. Argentina was the main sending market: with 3.1 million travelers, it accounted for nearly a third of the total and recorded an 82% jump from the previous year, far surpassing other countries. Behind it were Chile, the United States, Uruguay, and Paraguay. The contrast with Argentina is stark, as foreign tourist arrivals in Argentina fell 22% in 2025.
More and more Argentines are traveling and spending in Brazil, whether they carry reais, bank cards, or digital wallets. When analyzing what proportion of the total trip expenditure is paid with these methods, the result is conclusive: 80.6% of users state that Pix will cover at least half of their spending. Within this group, 4 out of every 10 travelers (40.5%) plan to use the system for almost all their spending in Brazil, marking an adoption that goes beyond occasional use and is structurally integrated into the travel experience. This leadership is also reflected in usage levels. 61.1% of Argentines who have traveled to Brazil used Pix-enabled apps, a proportion that places it above cash (49.1%) and cards (45.7%).
The second edition of the kamiPay Monitor confirms the adoption of Pix among Argentine users, a study developed by the market research consultancy Netquest for kamiPay, the fintech that provides real-time cross-border payment and collection infrastructure. This instant payment platform was launched in November 2020 by the Central Bank of Brazil. It revolutionized the way people and companies make transfers and payments in the neighboring country. It is an electronic transfer system that allows for immediate payments and collections, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Unlike other traditional methods, it does not require intermediaries such as credit or debit cards, which eliminates associated costs and facilitates transactions. Argentines can pay in pesos and see the conversion to reals at the time of the transaction. The app has also become an attractive tool for Argentine tourists visiting Brazil.
