Seychelles tourism arrivals fall 3.4% in May 2026 as cruise traffic drops

Seychelles tourism arrivals fell 3.4% in May 2026, highlighting growing pressure on the island nation’s travel sector as cruise passenger traffic declined sharply.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, total visitor arrivals dropped to 27,201, down from 28,161 recorded in May 2025. The figure includes both air and sea arrivals, comprising 27,172 stopover visitors and 29 transit passengers.

Cruise tourism drops sharply
The decline was driven largely by a steep contraction in cruise tourism, a key segment of Seychelles’ visitor economy. 

The country recorded 1,767 cruise passengers who visited for the day in May 2026, representing a 43.8% drop from 3,146 in the same period last year. An additional 14 passengers disembarked and 14 embarked on cruise vessels during the month.

Year-to-date figures point to a broader slowdown in tourism flows. Between January and May 2026, stopover visitor arrivals declined 11.7% to 145,858, compared to 165,155 recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

Europe remains dominant source market
Europe remained the dominant source market, accounting for 106,142 visitors, or 72.8% of total arrivals during the five months. Asia followed with 21,901 visitors, representing 15.0%, while Africa contributed 10,548 visitors, accounting for a 7.2% share.

Visitor composition showed a strong tilt toward first-time travelers. About 88.4% of stopover visitors between January and May 2026 were visiting Seychelles for the first time, while repeat visitors accounted for 11.6%, up slightly from 10.3% in the same period last year. Cruise passenger traffic for the five months also recorded a modest decline. 

Year-to-date arrivals show slowdown
Seychelles received 14,943 cruise visitors who stopped for the day, 2.2% fewer than a year earlier. In addition, 2,313 passengers disembarked and 2,374 embarked on cruise vessels during the period.

The latest data underscores mounting challenges for Seychelles’ tourism sector, particularly within the cruise segment, even as the country continues to attract a high share of first-time international visitors.