European holidaymakers dominate arrivals over first week |11 January 2024
In a remarkable start to 2024, Seychelles saw a surge in tourism with a total of 7,793 visitors arriving during the first week. This marks a substantial 33 percent increase, compared to the same period in 2023.
Breaking down the numbers, a whopping 83 percent of the visitors, accounting for 6,471 individuals, arrived from Europe. Germany emerged as the leading source of visitors, constituting 31 percent of the total arrivals, followed by Russia with 16 percent. France and Italy contributed 6 percent and 5 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, 6 percent, specifically 442 visitors, arrived from Asia.
An in-depth analysis of the purpose of visit revealed that a significant 78 percent of the visitors had chosen Seychelles as their holiday destination. The vast majority arrived by scheduled flights, illustrating the significance of established air travel routes in driving the tourism industry, as highlighted by Minister for Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, during a press briefing last Friday.
Despite ambitious efforts to increase tourist arrivals by 5 percent this year, Seychelles is grappling with the realisation that there is a limit to the number of visitors the island nation can sustain annually.
Minister Radegonde declared that the government will eventually have to set a ceiling, since accommodating a vast number of visitors would strain already limited resources, including the electricity grid, sewage systems, and human resources.
The Tourism department has set a target of 368,500 visitors for the current year. However, Minister Radegonde emphasised that Seychelles, due to its size, will inevitably reach a point where it cannot accommodate every traveller seeking to enjoy the sea, sand and sunshine.
“Unlike destinations such as Maldives, Zanzibar, and Mauritius, Seychelles cannot cater to millions of visitors annually,” Minister Radegonde explained. While other destinations prioritise mass tourism, Seychelles’ challenges relating to its size makes it crucial to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability.In 2023, Seychelles aimed to welcome 348,000 visitors, but the actual number exceeded expectations by 1 percent, with over 350,000 arrivals.
As Seychelles makes it a priority to find the right balance, discussions on implementing measures to ensure responsible and sustainable tourism are ongoing within the department.
The first week of 2023 saw a total of 5,852 visitors, surpassing the 5,656 recorded during the same timeframe in 2022. Of the total arrivals, Europe emerged as the primary source of visitors, with 4,248 visitors hailing from European territories. Asia and Africa contributed 789 and 606 visitors respectively, reflecting the country's growing popularity among Asian and African tourists.
The increase in arrivals indicates positive growth and affirms Seychelles’ position as an attractive destination for international travellers.
As the year unfolds, tourism authorities anticipate continued growth, as it forges on with strategies to enhance the overall visitor experience.