The number of international visitors to Brazil in 2016 reached a record high of 6.6 million, with the Olympic Games contributing to the increase.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games helped the country boost its visitor numbers by 4.8 percent over 2015, the Ministry of Tourism reported. They spent more than BRL21 billion reais (USD$6.2 billion), a 6.2 percent increase on the previous year.

“The figures are extremely positive... [but] we still have a lot to do to efficiently take advantage of the Games' legacy," Tourism Minister Marx Beltrão said.

Half of international arrivals into Brazil visit for leisure purposes the Brazilian tourism authority said.