Brazilians spend record amount of dollars abroad

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — The Central Bank says Brazilians spent a record amount of money abroad last year, thanks to a strong local currency and increased purchasing power.

The bank says in a statement issued Tuesday that Brazilians $21.2 billion in their foreign trips last year. That’s 29 percent more than in 2010. It was the highest amount registered since the government started keeping those records in 1947.

The bank says that tourists visiting Brazil in 2011 spent US$6.8 billion.

The number of Brazilians traveling abroad, especially to the United States, has increased steadily over the past few years. To meet the growing demand for visas, U.S. consulates in Brazil have opened on weekend and holidays.