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# [MAURITIUS] H1 2026 tourism: 668,471 arrivals, semester stays positive despite June dip
- URL: https://businessoi.media/en/maurice-tourisme-s1-2026-668-471-arrivees-le-semestre-reste-dans-le-vert-malgre-un-juin-en-repli-en/
- Published: 2026-07-31T02:46:23.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-31T02:46:23.000Z
- Description: 668,471 visitors in H1 2026 (+1.5%), but June down 8.4%. Europe retreats, China (+30%) and India (+12%) compensate. Ethiopian Airlines launches a new route on July 12.
- Author: Emmanuel TAOCHY
- Tags: Maurice, tourisme, Économie, Revue matinale, #en

The first half of 2026 ends with 668,471 visitors to Mauritius, a 1.5% increase over H1 2025\. This positive result masks a difficult June (-8.4%), dragged down by European markets, while China (+30.1%) and India (+11.9%) confirm their momentum.

## June drops, H1 holds green

In June 2026, Mauritius welcomed 89,098 visitors, down 8.4% from June 2025's 97,273\. The fall is mainly airborne: air arrivals dropped from 96,805 to 88,640\. Maritime traffic — driven by cruise calls — surged 55.8% over the semester to 23,331 passengers, a notable contribution to the 668,471 total.

## Europe stumbles, Asia accelerates

Europe remains Mauritius's main source market but is struggling: -12% in June and -0.6% over the semester. The UK posted the steepest drop, down 25.2% in June and 16% over six months. The Middle East contracted 34.8% in June, with Saudi Arabia falling 41.7%.

Conversely, Asian and African markets are driving growth. South Africa grew 26.6% in June; China gained 30.1% over the full semester; India recorded +11.9%. These results reflect a geographic diversification that is bearing fruit.

## Ethiopian Airlines: a new card on the table

On July 12, 2026, Ethiopian Airlines launched a new service to Mauritius, strengthening connections with the African continent. The airline, which operates one of Africa's most extensive networks, is expected to amplify flows from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia via its Addis Ababa hub. Tourism Minister Richard Duval framed the opening as part of a strategy to reduce dependence on European markets.

## A favourable regional context by comparison

Mauritius's June decline must be put in regional perspective: the Seychelles recorded a 24.8% drop over the first five months of 2026, and the Maldives fell 12%. Mauritius thus shows relative resilience, supported by its source-market diversification strategy.

## Why it matters

Tourism represents a significant share of Mauritius's GDP and foreign exchange earnings. The retreat of European markets — particularly British — amid global tariff pressures and economic uncertainty is forcing the island to accelerate its pivot towards Asia and Africa. Ethiopian Airlines is a structural lever: its continental connections could permanently reshape the geography of Mauritian tourism.