ORLANDO, Fla. — Tourists from Brazil are helping Central Florida's economy in more ways than one.
WFTV found there's been an explosion in the number of businesses taking advantage of the influx of people coming to Central Florida from South America.
New shopping centers just for Brazilians are starting to pop up in Orange County along International Drive.
The shopping centers are housing bakeries to grocery stores to hair salons, all with a very specific clientele who is spending a lot of money.
"It's all in cash. They come here and spend $10,000, $20,000 in cash," said Max Stewart, of the World Affairs Council.
According to the Brazilian Chamber Of Commerce, there are around 700 Brazilian-owned businesses in Orange County.
That number has doubled since 2006.
On top of the 45,000 Brazilian tourists who visit Orange County every month, there are now 40,000 Brazilian residents living in the Orlando area.
"We're seeing them start businesses. Then, they're really offering those services to other Brazilians that come to Central Florida, and Brazilians really want to do business with Brazilians," said Stewart.
More and more Brazilians are gobbling up I-Drive real estate.
The owners of the Perfumeland plaza now own two Orlando Crossings plazas.
And a tour company on I-Drive brings in nearly 1,000 Brazilians every day.
Brazilian-owned Piquet Group is also focusing specifically on selling Orlando real estate to tourists looking to live there.
"This is the right place to a Brazilian guy. To, you know, a new life in America," said Luiz Piquet of Piquet Realty.
American products are half-price of what they'd pay in Brazil.
Membership in the Brazilian Chamber has also more than doubled since January, from 66 businesses to 148.
Even American-owned businesses along I-Drive are changing.
According to a local Brazilian newspaper, a Best Buy store now has 50 Brazilian employees who can speak Portuguese.