Photo: Darren Coralie via Facebook
VICTORIA, Seychelles, Seychelles and Emirates Airline have pledged to deepen cooperation on destination marketing and joint promotion after a sharp March decline in visitor arrivals attributed to the Middle East crisis and disruptions to Gulf aviation hubs, the Ministry of Tourism announced on Saturday.
Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein met with a senior Emirates delegation in Dubai on 12 June to review the performance of the Seychelles tourism sector over the past three months and to assess the impact of recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East on international travel demand. The minister was accompanied by the principal secretary for Tourism, Sherin Francis. The Emirates delegation was led by Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice-President for International Affairs, and included Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Senior Vice-President for Commercial Operations across West Asia and the Indian Ocean, the chief executive of Emirates Holidays, and other senior officials.
While Seychelles had recorded positive growth in visitor arrivals at the beginning of the year, the regional crisis that unfolded in March led to a significant decline during the month, with visitor numbers dropping by approximately 37 percent compared to expectations. The National Bureau of Statistics later confirmed the scale of the downturn, reporting 23,746 visitor arrivals in March 2026, a 37.2 percent fall compared with March 2025 and the lowest March figure since 2021, when arrivals were still depressed by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both parties acknowledged that the downturn reflected temporary market disruption rather than any weakening of Seychelles’ appeal as a world-class tourism destination. Discussions focused on recovery strategies, market stimulation initiatives, and opportunities to strengthen collaboration across key source markets. Emirates reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the destination’s recovery through continued connectivity, joint marketing activities, and enhanced promotional initiatives.
The Seychelles tourism sector relies heavily on Gulf aviation hubs for long-haul connectivity, with around 40 percent of international passenger traffic to the archipelago carried by Gulf carriers. Disruptions to UAE, Israel, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia routes produced a near standstill from those markets, and the ripple effect was felt most strongly in Asian source markets, which had relied on Middle Eastern hubs for onward travel. Europe still dominated March arrivals with a 76.9 percent share and 18,270 visitors, but even that segment slipped by 3.5 percent, while Asia recorded a year-to-date decline of 27.2 percent.
Minister Bernstein welcomed Emirates’ continued support and highlighted the critical role the airline plays in connecting Seychelles to international markets. Discussions held during the meeting, she said, demonstrate the shared commitment of both partners to overcoming current challenges and ensuring the continued growth and resilience of the Seychelles tourism industry.
The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to working closely together in the months ahead, leveraging Emirates’ extensive global network and Tourism Seychelles’ destination marketing efforts to accelerate recovery. Emirates remains one of Seychelles’ most significant airline partners, providing year-round connectivity through Dubai and contributing substantially to visitor arrivals from key international markets.
Industry analysts say the recovery in arrivals will depend on the duration of the Middle East disruption and the speed with which Gulf carriers restore normal scheduling. The Seychelles Tourism Board has indicated that it will monitor weekly arrival data closely and adjust marketing spend toward markets that remain open, with Europe and selected African source markets seen as the most reliable short-term contributors to visitor numbers.
Source: SN
Sources cited: Centre for Aviation (CAPA), “Seychelles Visitor Arrivals Down 37% in Mar 2026” (April 2026); Trading Economics, “Seychelles Tourist Arrivals” (May 2026); International Investment, “Middle East War Drives Seychelles Tourism to 2021 Lows” (April 2026); Travel and Tour World, “UK Joins South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, UAE, Israel, Qatar and More in Leading Significant Drop in Seychelles Tourism” (April 2026); Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics (March 2026 visitor arrivals release).
