Early data from Brazil’s Federal Police show a 12 % month-on-month jump in entries at the Ponte da Amizade, the main land link between Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) and Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil), in the first ten days of July. The seasonal spike is attributed to the winter break in Paraguay and Brazil’s own mid-year holiday period, which traditionally drives cross-border shopping and family tourism. While overall year-to-date arrivals through both the Amizade and Tancredo Neves (Argentina) bridges remain 16 % below 2025 levels—a hangover from last year’s peso devaluation and higher fuel prices—the July rebound is a welcome sign for hoteliers and tour operators who rely on last-minute regional markets to smooth occupancy. Local trade body Visit Iguaçu says 78 % of its member hotels are already above 70 % occupancy for the upcoming long weekend, compared with 61 % a year ago. For mobility professionals the numbers matter because Foz do Iguaçu is Brazil’s third-busiest land port of entry after Pacaraima (Venezuela) and Corumbá (Bolivia). Staffing levels at federal police booths were cut during the pandemic and have yet to be fully restored; the current surge has revived calls for an e-gate system similar to those at São Paulo and Rio airports. Authorities confirmed that four automated kiosks, financed by the Itaipu Binacional hydro-company, will begin trials in October. The uptick also carries tax-free shopping implications. Under Ordinance 635/2024, foreigners may bring up to US$1,000 in merchandise when entering Brazil by land, double the pre-2024 limit. Retailers in the duty-free zone on the Brazilian side report that average spends per visitor are up 7 % year-on-year. Businesses planning incentive trips to the tri-border region should factor in longer wait times at peak hours—currently 25–40 minutes—and advise employees to have proof of onward accommodation to avoid secondary screening.
Source: Rádio Cultura Foz
