Tourism on the Rise: 15% Increase in Arrivals for Early April

The tourism sector in Mauritius has begun to claw its way back from the depths of despair that characterised the first quarter of the year. Following a dismal performance in January, February, and March, the latest figures released by Statistics Mauritius reveal a significant recovery, with arrivals soaring by 15% during the first half of April.

The Ministry of Tourism is understandably buoyed by this resurgence, noting that the island has recouped approximately 40% of the shortfall experienced in the first three months of 2025.

Between the 1st and 15th of April, the total number of tourist arrivals reached 59,784, a notable increase from the 52,002 recorded during the same period in 2024.

This translates to an impressive rise of 7,782 visitors.

However, the preceding months had painted a starkly different picture, with tourist numbers plummeting to 326,329 from 346,562 in the corresponding period of the previous year—a decline of 20,173 visitors.

The Ministry attributes this earlier downturn to a confluence of factors, including the chikungunya outbreak on the nearby island of Réunion, the economic recession gripping Europe, and the timing of Easter celebrations, which fell in April this year.

Nevertheless, officials are heartened by the “significant leap” in tourist arrivals during the first half of April.

Thanks to this recent performance, the deficit in tourist numbers from January 1 to April 15 now stands at a more manageable 12,391.

Tourism officials expressed optimism that if this upward trend continues through the latter half of April, Mauritius could find itself welcoming a visitor count comparable to that of the first four months of 2024.

Delving into the specifics, arrivals by air surged by 17%, increasing from 50,999 to 59,648—an additional 8,649 tourists.

In stark contrast, maritime arrivals plummeted by a staggering 86.4%, dropping from 1,003 to a mere 136.

Noteworthy increases were observed from several key markets:

United Kingdom saw a remarkable rise of 37.8%, from 7,053 to 9,718

Germany experienced a 42.7% increase, climbing from 3,980 to 5,679

South Africa rose by 12%, from 3,623 to 4,057

India surged by 47.8%, from 1,783 to 2,636

Italy enjoyed a 55.4% increase, from 735 to 1,142.

Conversely, two significant markets reported declines:

France saw a decrease of 4.9%, from 15,814 to 15,036, while Réunion experienced a slight dip of 0.3%, from 2,885 to 2,877.

For the overall period from January 1 to April 15, the total number of tourist arrivals has decreased by 3.1%, falling from 398,564 to 386,173—equating to 12,391 fewer tourists compared to the previous year.

As Mauritius navigates these turbulent waters, the hope remains that the recent surge heralds a brighter future for its vital tourism industry.

Source: Le Mauricien