The travel market generated R$189,5 billion in revenue in 2023, in Brazil, according to FecomercioSP. An increase of 7,8% compared to 2022. According to a survey also by FecomercioSP, in partnership with the Latin American Association of Event and Corporate Travel Management (Alagev), only corporate trips generated around R$7 in January 2024,3 billion – a 5 increase,5% compared to 2023. The data indicates that the tourism sector is preparing to return to pre-pandemic levels
In this context, astravel technologies, how are startups that offer technological solutions for the travel and tourism industry calledare responsible for helping to boost the sector and digitally transform the travel experience,whether for leisure or work. With the aim of understanding the profile of these companies, Onfly has just completed the second edition of the Map of Brazilian Travel Techs
According to the survey, currently Brazil has 205 travel techs in operation, classified into a total of eleven categoriesThey are: Technology for other players (24,4%), Mobility (17,6%), Experiences (13,2%), Agency and online bookings 12,2%), Events (8,8%), Corporate Travel Management (6,8%), Corporate expenses (5,4%), Services for travelers,4%), Hosting (3,4%), Loyalty program 2,4%) and Corporate Benefit (1,5%)
Regarding the size and degree of maturity of travel techs, more than 70% of the sector is made up of companies with up to 50 employees – of these, 36,1% have up to 10 employees, many of them with an operation led by the founders. Companies with 100 or more employees represent only 14,2% of the businesses currently in operation
We have an active sector, digitized and ready to scale. Among the companies in the country, those that offer technology solutions for the travel segment are still few and, mostly, young people and touched by leaner teams. Given the size of the Brazilian tourism market and its potential for expansion, it would not be an exaggeration to say that we are facing a great market opportunity, highlightsMarcelo Linhares, CEO and co-founder of Onfly, the largest B2B travel tech in Latin America that offers complete management of corporate travel and expenses.
Regional cut
Still according to the Map of Brazilian Travel Techs, the Southeast is the region that has the most companies and startups in the sector, 72,2%, with the state of São Paulo gathering more than half (109) of them. In second place, the state of Minas Gerais appears, with 24 travel techs. The South region comes next, concentrating 16,6% of tourism startups, with emphasis on Santa Catarina (17), the third state with the most travel techs in the country
It is essential that we adopt innovative technologies in our operations, demonstrating to investors a commitment to the modernization of this market, complete Linhares.
Investments in travel techs
According to Crunchbase, main data platform on innovation in the world, 2021 was the year that concentrated the majority of investments in travel techs in Latin America. Only this year, tourism startups raised US$154,7 million. Between 2019 and 2023, this data reached a volume of US$290 million. In Brazil, between 2019 and 2023, the sector received US$185 million and about 75% of the investments occurred only in 2021
