Football fever has reached new heights. The four-day opening period of the tournament, from June 12 to June 15, has got international visitors spending more than $27 million (₹162 crore) on their Visa accounts, according to a note by credit card firm, Visa Inc.

This represents a 73 per cent increase over the same four day period in 2013, the report said. Travel data and cross border spend on all Visa products, including credit, debit and prepaid payment cards was analysed for the report.

Visitors from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, France, and Mexico represented the largest overall tourist spend in Brazil during the four day period. On Saturday, June 14, international travellers to Brazil spent more than $10.7 million (₹64 crore) using Visa products on just one day. This, the company said, was the highest tourist spend day in the country in 2014.

“These numbers reflect the significant impact that mega sporting events like the World Cup can have in boosting local commerce in host market economies,'' noted Ruben Osta, Visa Inc country manager, Brazil. He added that the positive trend aligned with Brazil’s expectation that more than 600,000 international travellers are slated to visit the country during the month long event, ultimately boosting the country’s economy.

Travellers from ten countries made up 65 percent of the total spend in Brazil, with four countries, Australia (+675 per cent), Colombia (+418 per cent), Mexico (+204 per cent) and United Kingdom (+101 per cent) showing triple digit increases compared to spends during the same four day period in 2013.

Visitors spent the most in categories such as lodging and accommodation, and in local restaurants.

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