Gulf hubs now carry the majority of Seychelles visitors
Central Bank of Seychelles data show the country welcomed 398,841 visitors in 2025. That is roughly 13 per cent more than in 2024. Tourism earnings rose far faster: receipts reached US$1.196 billion, a 29 per cent increase year on year. The gap between volume growth and revenue growth points to stronger average spend and longer stays.
The Ministry of Finance separately estimated 2025 receipts at approximately US$1.2 billion, reinforcing the sector’s weight in GDP and foreign exchange. Average daily visitor spending reached about US$322, per Central Bank figures. That reflects a deliberate shift by the Seychelles Tourism Board towards higher-yield segments across hotels, private islands and specialist experiences.
Gulf aviation anchors this strategy. Around 60 per cent of Seychelles visitors connect through Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, according to IMF and regional tourism reporting. These hubs link the archipelago to source markets across Europe, Asia and Africa. Gulf hub performance, therefore, directly drives Seychelles GCC tourism prospects.
What does the Emirates MoU mean for investors and policymakers?
Emirates renewed its memorandum of understanding with the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture at ATM 2026. The partnership, first signed in 2013, commits both sides to joint marketing campaigns and trade familiarisation trips. Emirates currently operates two daily flights between Dubai and Mahé, reaching nearly 140 destinations through its network.
One senior Gulf-based hotel executive put it plainly: the GCC has become one of Seychelles’ most important luxury source markets, supported by strong connectivity, visa-free access and demand for exclusive, personalised hospitality. That assessment captures why the MoU matters beyond its headline.
The deal lands against a more mixed 2026 backdrop. Fitch and regional observers recorded an 11–12 per cent drop in arrivals across the first seven months of 2026, driven by Middle East airspace disruption. However, January–February 2026 tourism earnings reached an estimated US$208 million — about 27 per cent above the same period in 2025. Revenue held firm even as volumes softened.
Three signals stand out for capital allocators. First, Emirates’ premium cabins and global reach channel high-spend visitors who match the archipelago’s value-over-volume model. Second, the MoU secures marketing scale at a moment when competition for Gulf wallets is intense. According to GCC Statistical Centre data, the six Gulf states attracted 75.7 million tourists in 2025 and generated roughly US$254.7 billion in total tourism economic contribution. Seychelles targets the affluent family and repeat-traveller segment within that pool. Third, deepening ties with Qatar Airways and Air Seychelles alongside Emirates reduces the concentration risk that comes with 60 per cent Gulf transit dependency.
For institutional investors, record receipts, high average spend and a clear premium pivot support a measured, positive view on hospitality and aviation-linked assets geared to GCC travellers. Watch how quickly joint Emirates–STB campaigns restore booking momentum from Gulf markets, and whether Qatar Airways’ planned 2027 frequency increases add further depth to Seychelles GCC tourism connectivity.
Quick answers
Central Bank of Seychelles data show tourism receipts reached US$1.196 billion in 2025, a 29 per cent increase on 2024, while the Ministry of Finance estimated receipts at approximately US$1.2 billion for the same year.
Around 60 per cent of all Seychelles visitors connect through Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, making Gulf hub performance a direct driver of arrivals and revenue for the archipelago.
The renewed memorandum of understanding between Emirates, the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture commits both sides to joint marketing campaigns and trade familiarisation trips, building on a partnership first established in 2013.
