Seychelles is showing encouraging signs of recovery following the disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, with July and August both recording higher visitor arrivals than the same months last year. The latest figures indicate an improvement in demand as the destination enters the final months of the year.
As of 30 August 2026, Seychelles had welcomed 232,342 visitors, approximately 8% below the same period in 2025. However, recent figures point to stronger momentum, with Week 35 being 21% higher than the same week last year.
Russia remains the leading source market and the only market among the Top 10 recording year-on-year growth. The market is up by 27% compared with last year.
Recovery across other source markets remains uneven, with some rebuilding faster than others amid continued exposure to external factors. Europe accounts for 69% of total arrivals, while Asia represents 18%.
Africa, at 8% of total arrivals, remains the only region recording positive growth, up by 9%.
The destination continues to rely heavily on its core markets, with Russia, Germany and France contributing around 36% of total arrivals, and the Top 10 markets accounting for approximately 65%. At the same time, encouraging growth is being seen in a number of smaller and emerging markets, including South Africa, Nigeria, Türkiye, China, Mauritius, Tanzania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Congo (Brazzaville), creating opportunities to broaden Seychelles’ international market base.
Importantly, tourism earnings have increased by 4.7% compared with last year, providing a positive economic indicator. The average length of stay has also remained resilient, increasing from 9.3 to 9.4 nights for January–July, suggesting that visitors continue to maintain the duration of their holidays despite the softer arrival numbers.
Another notable shift has been in booking patterns, with travellers increasingly booking closer to their departure dates, reflecting a more cautious consumer environment amid continued geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
The Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Vesna Rakic, welcomed the latest performance, noting that while the recovery is ongoing, there are positive indicators.
“There is certainly a silver lining in the latest figures. While arrivals remain below last year, the stronger performance in July and August and the growth in several markets give us reason to remain optimistic. The 4.7% increase in earnings is particularly encouraging, as it demonstrates that tourism continues to make a valuable contribution to the economy despite the challenges,” she said.
The Seychelles Tourism Board will continue to focus on protecting core markets, accelerating recovery in affected markets and diversifying the destination’s visitor base to build greater resilience for Seychelles tourism.
