Domestic flights will be cheaper in 2016, according to research.

conversion - The recent nearly 20% drop in the dollar's value against the real has led to a surge in international tourism. However, lower airfare prices for domestic flights should gradually encourage consumers to return to traveling within the country.

Airfare prices fell by 8%, mirroring the decline in demand for domestic destinations. The São Paulo - Salvador route, which has been the most searched on the online travel agency ViajaNet since the beginning of 2015, saw a drop in demand in 2016. However, it is expected that the decrease in prices will lead Brazilians to return to searching for destinations within the country.

In 2015, the average price of domestic flights was R$ 453, while this year it reached R$ 414. The comparison, made by ViajaNet, takes into account the first half of 2015 and the same period this year.
The drop has not yet been absorbed by Brazilian consumers.

Even with the decrease in airfare prices, international destinations are still receiving the most attention. Demand for Buenos Aires has grown, increasing from 5,42% in the first half of 2015 to 6,75% in the same period of 2016.

However, domestic tourism is expected to follow this growth trend. "Even with a lower number of people searching for airline tickets, companies have been offering more promotions, which attracts a public with greater flexibility in choosing travel dates," highlighted Gustavo Mariotto, Marketing Manager of ViajaNet.

Consumers are more eager for discounts and savings in the travel sector, according to data from the online travel agency. "We've observed that in the first half of 2016, our consumers have been researching more, and the 'When to Travel' tool helps them find the best dates and the best prices," highlighted Mariotto. In the first half of the year, ViajaNet saw a 9% increase in sales of domestic and international tickets compared to the same period in 2015.