A total of 73,262 visitors arrived in Seychelles during the first quarter of 2016, representing an increase of 11percent in visitor arrivals compared to the first quarter of 2015.
This was just at the average length of stay of the visitors was 10.1 nights as 93 percent of the visitors were on holiday.
In an information note addressed to Members of the Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Trade, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange attached the visitors arrival statistics for the first quarter of 2016 from the National Bureau of Statistics for the members of the tourism trade.
Speaking on the statistical figures now published, Minister Alain St.Ange said that the positive results reflects the good public/private sector partnership that exists in Seychelles in the island’s tourism industry.
“We work hard to keep the lines of dialogue open between the public and its private sector members. Secondly the marketing strategy by our Tourism Board is working and thirdly the islands have been able to work the industry that remains the pillar of its economy outside politics” said Minister St.Ange as he added that Seychelles had but one tourism industry and not one for the government of Seychelles and another one for its private sector.
“As a country that remains so dependant on tourism, it is so important that Seychelles continues to be united in its work to consolidate its tourism industry” the island’s Minister said.
The estimated tourism earnings for the first quarter as per the Balance of Payments obtained from the country’s Central Bank stands at SCR 1.2 billion an increase of 37percent compared to the first quarter of last year.
It is noted here that estimates of tourism earnings represent foreign exchange in-flows into the Seychelles’ economy to tourism establishments and related businesses as reported by commercial banks and bureau de change.
The six leading markets for the three months of 2016 include: