Orlando, Florida, has long been a magnet for international travelers, but recent years have seen a remarkable surge in visitors from South America and Canada, reshaping the region’s tourism landscape. According to VisitOrlando, Brazil ranked as Orlando’s third-largest international tourist market in 2024, with nearly 700,000 guests making the journey north. This growing influx is not only changing the face of local businesses but also boosting the city’s global reputation as a premier travel destination.
Andre Martins, owner of the Orlando Kart Center, has witnessed this transformation firsthand. "The very beginning, I had a lot of local people, a lot of local and a lot of people from Europe used to come here," Martins told local media. But in the last five years, he’s noticed a dramatic shift. "Now I see a lot of people from South America are coming up. Lots of folks from Canada are coming down especially in winter. They come and stay for a long time." Martins, himself a native of Brazil, estimates that about 10% of his customers now hail from South America—a figure that reflects broader trends across Central Florida.
It’s not just the karting scene that’s feeling the impact. International travel through Orlando International Airport (MCO) rose by about 9% in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, according to VisitOrlando. The top five most flown international airlines into MCO over the past year included JetBlue, Southwest, Air Canada, Copa Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic, further illustrating the city’s expanding international reach. From March 2024 to March 2025, Toronto was the leading international flight origin to Orlando, followed by London, Mexico City, San Jose (Costa Rica), and São Paulo (Brazil).
This uptick in international arrivals isn’t just reflected in airport statistics. Later this January, the Orlando Kart Center will host the winter series Rok Cup, a three-day event expected to draw about 1,000 participants and spectators. Michael Burrell, the race program director, noted that "30% probably from Canada. Good representation from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador." For many, these events are more than just a race—they’re a significant investment. Burrell explained that a single racer or team can spend up to $20,000 while in town, underscoring the economic impact of international tourism on the local economy.
VisitOrlando has been proactive in courting these lucrative markets. Last fall, the organization ran a campaign from September to mid-December aimed at encouraging Canadian travel to Orlando. They also sent representatives to Brazil for the country’s sales week, efforts that seem to be paying off. As Martins puts it, "Normally we have 20-30% more drivers than any other track in the country. Yes, I want to pump because I have a nice track, but it’s Orlando why they come."
While Orlando’s appeal to international travelers continues to grow, the broader trend of cross-continental tourism is also evident in the cruise industry. On January 3, 2026, MSC Cruises opened bookings for its 2027-2028 winter trans-Atlantic cruise season, linking Europe with Brazil and Argentina. These repositioning cruises, which range from 17 to 20 nights, offer travelers the chance to explore multiple countries across two continents in a single voyage.
The 2027-2028 winter season will see five MSC vessels—MSC Virtuosa, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida, MSC Musica, and MSC Sinfonia—assigned to South America. Each ship boasts a unique itinerary, with departure ports in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and Atlantic islands, and arrival ports in Brazil and Argentina. The first scheduled departure is the MSC Divina, leaving Civitavecchia on October 29, 2027, for an 18-night cruise to Santos, Brazil, with stops in Italy, France, Spain, and Brazil. Other highlights include the MSC Musica sailing from Genoa on November 6, 2027, for a 17-night journey to Santos via Marseille, Valencia, and Funchal, and the MSC Sinfonia embarking from Genoa in early November on an 18-night itinerary that includes Marseille, Tarragona, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and Recife before reaching Santos.
The MSC Virtuosa, a modern vessel built in 2021, will depart Barcelona on November 16, 2027, with stops in Maceió, Salvador, and Ilhabela before arriving in Santos in early December. Meanwhile, the MSC Splendida will offer a 19-night cruise departing Civitavecchia on November 16, 2027, and concluding in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with calls in Spain, Brazil, and Uruguay. These extended sailings are designed for travelers seeking immersive, unhurried journeys that blend leisure cruising with cultural exploration.
By opening bookings more than a year in advance, MSC Cruises has given travelers ample time to plan extended vacations, arrange travel documents, and secure long-haul flights. These repositioning cruises have traditionally been valued for their relaxed pacing and diverse range of destinations, and the early release of itineraries for the 2027-2028 season reflects a broader trend toward long-term vacation planning in the cruise industry.
For South American travelers, these developments represent a growing array of options for exploring the world. The rise in international tourism to Orlando and the expansion of cruise itineraries connecting Europe and South America highlight a broader shift in travel patterns, with more people seeking out long-haul, culturally rich experiences. The synergy between air and sea travel is particularly evident in the way both industries are catering to the same markets—Brazilian, Argentine, and Canadian tourists eager to experience new destinations, whether by plane or by ship.
The economic implications are significant. In Orlando, major events like the Rok Cup and the steady stream of international visitors are injecting millions into the local economy. According to Martins and Burrell, the combination of world-class attractions, targeted marketing, and a welcoming atmosphere has made Orlando a top choice for travelers from across the Americas. On the high seas, MSC Cruises’ ambitious deployment signals confidence in the enduring appeal of trans-Atlantic voyages and the growing importance of South American ports in the global cruise market.
Ultimately, the stories of Orlando’s bustling kart tracks and MSC Cruises’ globe-spanning itineraries are two sides of the same coin: a testament to the enduring allure of travel and the increasingly interconnected nature of the world’s tourism industry. As more travelers from South America and beyond set their sights on Central Florida and the open ocean, the region’s role as a gateway for global exploration looks set to grow even stronger in the years ahead.
