Mauritius recorded 158 043 visitors in December, representing a growth of 1.6% compared with the same period the previous year, with Europe leading the pack. Arrivals recorded from January through to December, however, show growth of 4.6%.

Arrivals from Europe constituted 94 368 of the December total, with the majority of visitors coming from France (32 869), an increase of 2% compared with December 2017. Other notable figures from Europe include Germany with 14 475 visitors – growth of 25.5% compared with December 2017; Italy with 5 537 visitors, representing growth of 16.2%; and Sweden with 3 143 visitors, a growth of 10.6%.

Both Switzerland and the UK remain key source markets for Mauritius, with 4 364 and 14 842 visitors recorded in December, respectively. Despite high visitor numbers from these source markets, Switzerland showed a decline of 12.5% and the UK a decline of 2% compared with December 2017.

Other notable arrivals for December from Europe:

• Austria: 2 071 (decrease of 4.3%)
• Belgium: 1 726 (decrease of 11.3%)
• Czech Republic: 1 830 (increase of 37.4%)
• Netherlands: 1 447 (decrease of 7.9%)
• Poland: 1 470 (increase of 10.9%)
• Spain: 1 182 (decrease of 11.2%)

Arrivals from Asia dropped 19.7% in December 2018 compared with the same period the previous year, with India showing a decrease of 34.5% with 6 261 visitors recorded, and China a decrease of 10.8% with 2 329 visitors. 

North American arrivals sat at 3 014, a decline of 11.2%, with Canada contributing 1 207 visitors, a growth of 3.5% and the US 1 188 visitors, a decline of 25.1%.

Oceania showed a decline of 19.7% with 2 719 visitors recorded in December 2018, with the bulk coming from Australia (2 540 visitors), a decrease of 19.2%.

Arrivals from the Middle East increased by 53.6% compared with December 2017, with 2 199 visitors recorded in December 2018. Saudi Arabia saw growth of 233.2% with 1 113 visitors and the United Arab Emirates saw a decline of 4.2% with 897 visitors recorded.