Euro Zone holiday spending up 15% for the Seychelles

Good news for the tourism industry in this Indian Ocean island country.

Good news for the tourism industry in this Indian Ocean island country.

A Seychelles visitor expenditure survey recorded from those originating from the Euro Zone on a daily basis, indicated a significant increase of 15% for the first quarter of 2015, this from an average daily spending of Rs. 372 rupees (1st quarter 2014) to a daily spending of Rs. 570 in the first quarter of 2015.

The survey issued by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and conducted over one week, March 23-29, 2015, captured a sample of 1,206 departing visitors traveling on all airlines.

Statistics compiled for the total expenditure from visitors originating from the Euro Zone showed the average daily rate charged for a room in the first quarter of 2014 was Rs. 1,366 per night compared to Rs. 1,850 in the first quarter of 2015.

It, therefore, indicates that in the first quarter of 2015, 47% of the total expenditure was being allocated to accommodation compared to 53% in 2014.

In total, an increase of 27.5% with regards to total expenditure was recorded in 2015 compared to the same period last year.

Visitors from France continued to remain the biggest spenders.

In 2015, visitors from France spent Rs. 1,278,554 compared to Rs. 1,081,665 in 2014. Spending dropped in 2015 among German holidaymakers from Rs. 988,200 in 2015 compared to 1,113,566 in 2014. The United Kingdom recorded a slight increase with Rs. 189,625 in 2014 compared to Rs. 331,723.

With regards to visitor spending from those originating from the Euro Zone other than accommodation in the first quarter of 2014, the majority of visitors spent most on excursions at sea with an average daily spending of Rs. 1,467.

Restaurants, cafes, and bars followed in the second position with an average daily spending of Rs. 587. Excursions at sea remained the most common activity in the first quarter of 2015 with an increase of 13% compared to the same period last year. While this was followed by spending in restaurants, bars, and cafes, it was noted that spending on the latter decreased by 18.7%.

The visitor expenditure survey for visitors originating from the Euro Zone also illustrated a slight increase in the length of stay. During the first quarter of 2015, visitor length of stay was recorded at 10.7% compared to 10% the same period last year.

In comparison to the first quarter of 2014 where the highest length of stay were by visitors from Switzerland with an average of 15.9 nights, the first quarter of 2015 indicated that the Germans were visitors with the highest average length of stay, which stood at 13.3 nights.

Countries outside the Euro Zone, mainly the rest of Europe, South Africa, other African countries, and United Arab Emirates, as well as other countries, the average length of stay recorded in the first quarter of 2015 remained 8 days compared to the first quarter.

The total expenditure for the first quarter of 2015 showed an increase of 56% compared to the same period last year. Despite the increase in average daily spending, the daily spending decreased by 2%. The average price paid for accommodation increased by 5.7% with an average of Rs. 2,396 charged per night.

In regards to expenditure other than accommodation, similarly to visitors from the Euro Zone, most visitors spent most on sea excursions whereby an average daily spending of Rs. 1,522 in the first quarter of 2015 was recorded compared to Rs. 1,404 in the first quarter of 2014. Restaurants, bars, and cafรฉs stood in the second position, with an increase of 12.7% compared to the same period in 2015.

A total of 5,761 departing visitors were captured in the expenditure survey for the first quarter of 2015, indicating 21% coverage.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...