Seychelles tourism recorded its strongest August performance in four years in 2026, with international arrivals reaching 34,987 visitors. The 14.1% year-on-year increase points to a recovery in demand for Indian Ocean holidays, supported by expanded air connectivity and renewed leisure travel.
Figures from the Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics show that August arrivals exceeded the totals recorded in August 2023 and August 2024, when the destination welcomed 28,177 and 28,282 visitors respectively. The result offers encouragement to the tourism sector after a difficult first half of 2026.
Air connectivity supports Seychelles tourism recovery
Additional international services played an important role in improving access to the islands ahead of the peak August travel period. Turkish Airlines resumed flights to Seychelles in June 2026 with three weekly services, while Aeroflot returned in July with two weekly flights.
Air Seychelles also increased its regional schedule, operating daily services between Abu Dhabi and Seychelles compared with six flights per week during the previous year. The airline continued to operate three weekly direct flights to Paris.
Further capacity came from new services operated by Discover Airlines and Air Tanzania. Together, the additional connections helped strengthen access from important international markets and gave holidaymakers more options for reaching the destination.
Recovery follows a difficult start to 2026
August was the second consecutive month of year-on-year growth. Visitor arrivals rose by 1.8% in July before accelerating sharply in August.
However, the wider picture remains mixed. Seychelles recorded 232,970 visitors between January and August 2026, down 8.3% from the 254,142 arrivals recorded during the same period in 2025. The total was nevertheless slightly higher than the equivalent figures for 2024 and 2023.
Demand varied considerably during the year:
- Arrivals increased by 7.2% in January and 14.8% in February.
- Visitor numbers fell by 37.2% in March and 28.4% in April.
- May recorded a smaller decline of 3.4%.
- Arrivals dropped by 24.8% in June before returning to growth in July and August.
Europe remains Seychelles’ leading visitor market
European travellers continued to represent the largest regional source of visitors in August, contributing 23,301 arrivals, or 66.6% of the monthly total. Asia supplied 7,401 visitors, while Africa accounted for 2,963.
Despite its leading position, Europe recorded an 8.2% decline over the first eight months of 2026. Arrivals from the region fell from 176,046 in 2025 to 161,592 this year.
Asia experienced a 13.4% decrease during the same period, while arrivals from the Americas fell by 15.5%. Oceania recorded a 6% decline. Africa was the only region to register year-to-date growth, with arrivals rising 9.1% from 17,216 to 18,788.
Growth from markets including South Africa, Nigeria, China and Turkey is helping Seychelles broaden its visitor base. Diversifying beyond traditional European markets may reduce the destination’s exposure to fluctuations in demand from individual regions.
Longer stays and higher revenue support the sector
Visitor numbers were below 2025 levels, but tourism revenue moved in the opposite direction. Preliminary figures show that earnings increased by 4.7% between January and July, with growth reaching 5.1% for the January-August period.
Leisure travel remained the main reason for visiting. In August, 31,017 people travelled to Seychelles for holidays, compared with 2,540 honeymoon visitors and 656 business travellers. Holidaymakers accounted for 206,867 of the 232,970 arrivals recorded during the first eight months of the year.
The average stay in August was 9.6 nights, only slightly below the 9.9 nights recorded in August 2025 and 10 nights in August 2024. Across the January-July period, the average stay increased from 9.3 nights to 9.4 nights.
Longer visits can benefit accommodation providers, restaurants, transport businesses and excursion operators, even when total arrival numbers are lower.
First-time visitors dominate August arrivals
Seychelles attracted a particularly high proportion of first-time visitors during the month. Of the 34,987 arrivals, 31,948 people, or 91.3%, were visiting the country for the first time. Repeat visitors accounted for 3,039 arrivals.
The figure reflects continued interest in the destination’s beaches, marine environment, nature-based activities and wellness experiences. It also highlights the importance of digital travel research, as visitors compare destinations and look for experiences connected with nature, culture and wellbeing.
Tourism authorities are using a pre-arrival survey to better understand what motivates visitors to choose Seychelles. A planned departure survey is expected to provide further insight into satisfaction and the overall visitor experience.
What the figures mean for travellers
The latest data does not indicate a travel restriction or disruption. Instead, it shows that Seychelles is restoring international air access after a period of weaker demand.
Travellers considering a trip should check current airline schedules carefully because services can vary by season and departure market. Direct and connecting options may also change as airlines adjust capacity.
For people travelling from Ireland, there are no direct Seychelles services identified in the supplied figures. A journey will generally involve connecting through an international hub, so passengers should allow sufficient time between flights and check whether their itinerary is booked as one ticket or separate reservations. Baggage transfer, transit rules and missed-connection protection can differ between these arrangements.
What happens next for Seychelles tourism?
The strong August result gives Seychelles a positive platform for the final months of 2026, but the year-to-date total remains below 2025. Continued flight capacity, stable leisure demand and growth from emerging markets will be important if the destination is to close the gap.
The country recorded 398,841 visitor arrivals in 2025. Reaching a similar level in 2026 would require sustained momentum beyond the summer recovery. For now, the August figures show that improved connectivity is translating into stronger demand, even though the broader annual picture is not yet fully restored.
Seychelles tourism is clearly moving into a recovery phase, with August arrivals up 14.1% and international air access expanding. Travellers planning a holiday should confirm the latest flight schedules and connection requirements directly with their airline before booking.
