Mauritius Records a Record Year

Tourism in Mauritius generated over 100 billion rupees (US$2.2 billion) in 2025, setting a new record for the island. More than 1.4 million visitors stayed in Mauritius during the year, an increase of nearly 4% compared to 2024, according to Statistics Mauritius.

The year started slowly, with the first quarter down by more than 5%. Visitor numbers then increased, peaking in December with 161,000 arrivals. Conversely, February and June each saw fewer than 100,000 tourists.

The French remained the top visitors, with 337,000 arrivals, followed by the British (155,000), the Germans (122,000), and the South Africans (110,000). Reunion Islanders, counted separately, represent just over 145,000 people, or 10% of the annual total, with 17,000 visitors in December for the holiday season.

This performance brings Mauritius closer to the Seychelles, which welcomed approximately 400,000 tourists in 2025. For Jocelyn Kwok, President of the association of restaurateurs and hoteliers, 2026 must be a year of consolidation and innovation, with the goal of reaching 1.5 million visitors.

In the region, the island faces competition from the Maldives, which recorded 2.25 million tourists (+10%), and Sri Lanka, with 2.3 million foreign visitors and $3.2 billion in revenue.

Despite this competition, Mauritius continues to attract visitors thanks to its beaches, hotels, and cultural heritage. The island thus confirms its position as a leading destination in the Indian Ocean and hopes to surpass its records in the coming years.