The Seychelles are a year-round paradise for beach and nature holidaymakers - according to tourism advertisements, but also according to many objective travel reports. Moreover, as the latest tourism statistics show, the number of visitors to the Seychelles is increasing noticeably. The most important statement of the current annual statistics: In 2010, the Seychelles welcomed a record number of foreign visitors.
176,088 foreign visitors were counted in 2010, more than ever before in the history of the country. 11% more than in 2009, when 159,226 foreign visitors came to the 115-island republic. The income from foreign tourism, which is economically vital to Seychelles' survival, also reached an all-time high in 2010.
As in previous years, the most important countries of origin in 2010 were in Europe, with the only exception of South Africa, which is comparatively close by (see table in the web article in the link above).
The number of visitors from Germany also increased year-on-year (in 2009, there were around 19,700 arrivals), although the number of German tourists visiting the Seychelles in 2008 was already as high as in the record year 2010.
Restructuring of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), broad cooperation between the STB and the private tourism industry and increased international marketing activities are among the reasons for this positive development. For example, great efforts have been made to counter the outdated idea that Seychelles is only a destination for "rich and famous" people. In fact, Seychelles tourists have long been able to take advantage of many reasonably priced hotel and package deals.
