Mauritius' tourism figures for the first half of 2026 are in — and they paint a nuanced picture. Over the six-month period, the island welcomed 668,471 visitors, a gain of +1.5% on H1 2025 (658,909 arrivals). Tourism revenue reached Rs 40.44 billion for the first four months of the year. But June brought a sharp chill.
A Notably Weak June
In June alone, arrivals fell to 89,098 visitors from 97,273 a year earlier — a drop of -8.4%. European markets, Mauritius' primary source of visitors, lost significant ground: Europe as a whole was down -12% in June, with the United Kingdom collapsing -25.2% for the month and -16% for the full half-year.
Average length of stay edged down slightly to 11.2 nights, from 11.3 nights over the same period in 2025.
Markets Bucking the Trend
Not all is gloom. China posted a standout performance with +30.1% arrivals over the semester — a surge reflecting the full return of Asian tourists following post-pandemic restrictions. India advanced +11.9% over six months despite a slight dip in June. South Africa jumped +26.6% in June alone.
Maritime traffic was the real revelation: cruise arrivals surged +55.8% over the half-year, lifting sea arrivals to 23,331 passengers — partially offsetting the near-stagnation in air traffic (+0.2% for the semester).
Why It Matters
Tourism accounts for roughly 18% of Mauritius' GDP. H1 2026 confirms two structural trends: geographic diversification of source markets (China, India, Southern Africa) is advancing, but dependence on Europe — and the UK in particular — remains a vulnerability. The British market's -25% plunge deserves attention, against a backdrop of a weakened pound and intensifying competition from Mediterranean destinations. For the industry, the target of one million visitors in 2026 remains achievable — but only if the second half delivers a strong rebound.
Sources: Le Mauricien, IonNews.mu, Statistics Mauritius / Business.OI