According to the 2001 Visitor Statistics of the recently-released edition of the Migration and Tourism Statistics, the tourism industry earned the country R649 million in foreign exchange last year.

This figure compares to R600 million in 2000 and is R63 million higher than in 1999. Last year's earning is also the highest to be recorded over the last 10 years.

Last year saw the arrival of 129,762 visitors, representing a decrease of 1% below the peak of 1996, when 130,955 visitors were recorded. Last year's figure is almost of the same level as for the year 2000.

Of the total number of visitors who arrived in Seychelles last year, 98% arrived by air and only 2% arrived by sea. Of those who arrived by air, 98% were non-transit while 2% were transit visitors and of those arriving by sea, 49% were non-transit visitors while 51% were in transit.

Statistics show that 90% of the visitors were on holiday, 5% on business or combining business with a holiday and 3% were in transit. Compared to 2000, the number of transit visitors increased by 18%, those on holiday decreased by 1% and visitors on business decreased by 2%.

The average length of stay in 2001 was 10.4 nights, which was the same as in 2000.

In 2001, Europe saw the majority of visitors with 102906, amounting to 79%, 11% came from Africa, while between 4% and 5% arrived here from America. Increases were recorded for visitors from Oceana which went up by 12%, while an increase of 10% was recorded from America, 3% from Asia and 1% from Africa. However, the visitors coming from Europe decreased by 1% below the 2000 level.

The leading markets in 2001 were France with 25459, followed by Italy, UK, and Germany.

With regards to the migration statistics, 67%, amounting to 27,554, of all departing residents, which amounted to 40,840 were going on holiday while 12%, 4,901, were going on business or for employment.    

The statistics indicate that 47%, amounting to 19,216, of all departing residents went to Africa, 29% went to Europe and 21% to Asia. The country in Africa which saw the most departing residents, is Mauritius with 11,698 representing 29%.

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