Brazilians spent 82% more on education travel in 2016 than the previous year, according to a recent student survey from BELTA.

Brazil’s outbound study surged by 14% in 2016, with more than 247,000 students studying abroad during the year as exchange rates improved, according to Belta, Brazil’s largest study travel association. HE-level study is also growing in popularity.

According to a recent survey, commissioned by BELTA, of education agencies and students, the economic crisis, decreased purchasing power, unemployment and currency depreciation all hindered language travel sales for Brazilian agents in 2015.

Education South Africa and the Brazilian Educational and Language Travel Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to encourage more Brazilian students to study English in South Africa.

Despite economic and political tensions in key ELT source markets, national initiatives to promote foreign language learning and a strengthening link of languages to employability are continuing to drive demand for study abroad in Brazil, Spain, Russia and Turkey.

Education agents in Brazil say that while the economic situation is bad, they’ve seen worse. And they’re confident that an education abroad remains an attainable goal for many Brazilians.

The Brazilian Education and Language Travel Association has appointed a new board of directors and will focus on promoting Belta to Brazilian consumers and growing the inbound market.

Brazilians are always looking for something extra, so the agents are putting together programmes that combine languages and other things... I think it’s part of our culture. We are always looking for something exclusive or different to try.