Seychelles’ decline in visitor arrivals this year is raising concern across the trade with long-haul flight disruption through the Middle East, rising airfares and intensifying competition from other island destinations all cited as pressure points behind the slowdown.
Between January and May, stopover arrivals fell 11.7% year on year to 145 858 compared with 165 155 in the corresponding period last year.
The slowdown comes after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that weaker tourism demand and travel disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict would weigh on Seychelles’ economy. The IMF expects growth to slow to 1.5% in 2026 from an estimated 5.1% in 2025 when record tourist arrivals helped drive one of the country’s strongest recent performances.
Air access woes
Luxury operators told Tourism Update that Seychelles has not lost its appeal but uncertainty about routing through Gulf hubs, higher airfares and growing scrutiny of value are affecting booking behaviour.
“The primary factor has been the disruption to air connectivity through the Middle East. For many long-haul travellers, particularly those originating from Europe and North America, Middle Eastern hub carriers provide the most comprehensive network and convenient onward connections to Seychelles,” said Vanessa Dean, Head of Product at Mahlatini Luxury Travel.
She said the reduction in services from early March, coupled with temporary government travel advisories against non-essential travel through parts of the Middle East, created “considerable uncertainty” for travellers.
“The impact is reflected in the visitor figures. Seychelles recorded strong growth at the beginning of 2026 with arrivals up around 12% during the first two months of the year. March and April then experienced significant declines of approximately 35% while May arrivals were only around 3% lower than the previous year, suggesting that demand is beginning to recover as confidence in travel returns.”
Dean said Mahlatini has not seen any meaningful drop in the destination’s appeal but a shift in traveller behaviour with clients taking longer to commit and some pushing travel plans into 2027.
Some European travellers chose Mediterranean or Caribbean alternatives this year because of easier air access while others deferred their Seychelles trips rather than substitute the destination altogether, she added.
Value under scrutiny
Go2Africa, according to Ashley Gerrand, the operator’s Africa Safari Expert, is also not seeing a decline in interest in Seychelles but clients comparing the destination more closely with rival Indian Ocean islands.
“It remains one of our more popular beach extensions after an African safari, particularly for honeymooners and couples looking for privacy and natural beauty,” said Gerrand.
“What has changed is how clients are making decisions. Travellers are spending more time comparing destinations and looking closely at overall value. Seychelles is now more frequently considered alongside Mauritius, Zanzibar and the Maldives with clients weighing factors like flight costs, accommodation value and ease of access before making a final decision.”
Gerrand said pricing is one of the biggest factors, particularly as Seychelles is positioned at the premium end of the market.
“Seychelles has always been positioned as a premium destination but today’s travellers – even at the luxury end – are asking more questions about value. When clients compare a seven-night stay in Seychelles with Mauritius or Zanzibar, they’re looking beyond the nightly rate to what is included, how easy it is to reach and what the overall experience offers.”
Improved messaging
While both operators maintain that Seychelles should not dilute its premium positioning, they said there is room to strengthen the destination’s competitiveness through better air access, clearer destination education and stronger communication of unique selling points.
Dean said the destination’s long-term recovery depends largely on the restoration of reliable international air connectivity and competitive airfares.
Gerrand said Tourism Seychelles has an opportunity to tell a “richer story” about what differentiates the islands from competitors while doing more to educate travellers and the trade about the distinct appeal of islands such as Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
Gerrand also said Seychelles could broaden its appeal without undermining its premium image by more clearly promoting boutique hotels, guesthouses and shorter-stay options for clients, particularly safari travellers.
“Those strengths deserve to be at the forefront of the destination’s messaging.”
According to Dean, there are already encouraging signs of recovery. “Passenger arrivals have begun to improve, enquiries for 2027 are increasing and attractive advance booking offers from many hotels are helping to rebuild demand.”
