In 2018, Mauritius registered approximately *** million tourist arrivals. This was an increase compared to the previous year when the island nation on the southeast coast of Africa received just over **** million tourists. Furthermore, in 2019, it was forecast that tourists’ figures would have increased steadily over the following years. However, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of tourists entering Africa decreased significantly. Africa counted roughly *** million tourists in July 2019, whereas by the same month in 2020 the numbers decreased to *** thousand.

Pandemic impact on tourist arrivals

Looking at the year-to-date change in tourists’ arrivals in Africa by sub-region, Northern Africa had approximately ** percent fewer visitors in 2020, whereas Sub-Saharan Africa suffered as well with ** percent fewer tourists. Similar results are seen for Mauritius with significant decreases in international tourists’ arrivals in 2020 and 2021. By April 2020, the country counted a 100 percent decrease in visitors compared to the same month of the previous year. Moreover, the first five months of 2021 illustrated the same development, which heavily impacted the economy.

Projected GDP growth

Such economic impact can be seen with the estimated and projected GDP growth of Mauritius. According to the 2020 estimations, the country's real gross domestic product (GDP) declined significantly by ** percent. Nevertheless, projections show a positive GDP development in both 2021 and 2022.

Key information about Mauritius Visitor Arrivals

• Mauritius Visitor Arrivals recorded 95,991 person in Feb 2025, compared with 116,926 person in the previous month
• Mauritius Visitor Arrivals data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1998 to Feb 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 158,043 person in Dec 2018 and a record low of 9 person in Jun 2020

Statistics Mauritius provides monthly Tourist Arrivals. Tourist Arrivals include Same-Day Visitors who are non resident cruise passengers, and Transist Visitors who leave the airport and stay in the country for more than 24 hours.

Key information about Mauritius Visitor Arrivals

• Mauritius Visitor Arrivals dropped 6.7 % in Feb 2025, compared with a decrease of 2.0 % in the previous month
• Mauritius Visitor Arrivals Growth rate data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1999 to Feb 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 145,189.7 % in Apr 2022 and a record low of -100.0 % in Apr 2020

CEIC calculates Tourist Arrivals Growth from monthly Tourist Arrivals. Statistics Mauritius provides Tourist Arrivals. Tourist Arrivals include Same-Day Visitors who are non resident cruise passengers, and Transist Visitors who leave the airport and stay in the country for more than 24 hours.

Further information about Mauritius Visitor Arrivals

• In the latest reports, Mauritius Visitor Arrivals recorded 95,991.0 person in the month of Feb 2025
• Tourism Revenue of Mauritius reached 448.3 USD mn in Sep 2024, an increase of 4.7 % change from the previous quarter

As of April 2020, international tourist arrivals decreased by *** percent compared to the same month of the previous year in Mauritius. The effects of the pandemic were still visible in 2021. The number of tourist arrivals were still *** percent lower in May 2021 than in May 2019.

Tourist Arrivals in Mauritius decreased to 97273 in June from 115090 in May of 2025. This dataset provides - Mauritius Tourist Arrivals - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

As of 2020, France was by far the most common destination of visitors from Mauritius, accounting for 64 percent of the total departures recorded in that year. India, Reunion, South Africa, and Malaysia, followed.

Mauritius: Tourist arrivals: The latest value from 2020 is 316 thousand tourists, a decline from 1418 thousand tourists in 2019. In comparison, the world average is 4935 thousand tourists, based on data from 123 countries. Historically, the average for Mauritius from 1995 to 2020 is 870 thousand tourists. The minimum value, 316 thousand tourists, was reached in 2020 while the maximum of 1431 thousand tourists was recorded in 2018.

International tourism, number of arrivals in Mauritius was reported at 316000 in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mauritius - International tourism, number of arrivals - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2020, there were over 70 thousand jobs in the sector of travel and tourism in Mauritius. Despite a decrease by over 30 percent compared to 2019, the sector of travel and tourism held roughly 14 percent of the total employment in Mauritius.

In 2021, travel and tourism contributed roughly five percent to Mauritius's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The share decreased from 8.3 percent in 2020, still reflecting the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the sector. Famous for its beaches and natural landscape, Mauritius is one of the most visited destinations in Africa.

Employment in travel and tourism in Mauritius represented a share of 15.5 percent of the country's total employment in 2021. The share slightly increased from 14.8 percent, when the sector was strongly affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the improvement, employment in tourism remained lower compared to the level previous to the health crisis.

Mauritius Visitor Arrivals: Europe: France data was reported at 26,268.000 Person in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 30,022.000 Person for Feb 2025. Mauritius Visitor Arrivals: Europe: France data is updated monthly, averaging 22,664.000 Person from Jan 2007 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 219 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 38,276.000 Person in Oct 2024 and a record low of 0.000 Person in May 2020. Mauritius Visitor Arrivals: Europe: France data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Mauritius. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mauritius – Table MU.Q001: Visitor Arrivals.

Tourism expenditure in the country of Mauritius sank by 74.41% from 2,024,000,000 current US dollars in 2019 to 518,000,000 current US dollars in 2020. Since the 7.78% jump in 2018, tourism expenditure in the country plummeted by 76.03% in 2020. Series 1.33

Tourism receipts of Mauritius plummeted by 74.41% from 2,024,000,000 US dollars in 2019 to 518,000,000 US dollars in 2020. Since the 7.78% surge in 2018, tourism receipts sank by 76.03% in 2020. International tourism receipts are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include receipts for passenger transport items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

International travelers usually made up the highest spending group in the sector of travel and tourism in Mauritius. In 2020, domestic spending added up to nearly 530 million U.S. dollars, whereas domestic spending reached around 110 million U.S. dollars. Overall, the spending decreased compared to 2019.

Mauritius: International tourism revenue, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2020 is 4.54 percent, a decline from 14.02 percent in 2019. In comparison, the world average is 3.33 percent, based on data from 125 countries. Historically, the average for Mauritius from 1995 to 2020 is 15.46 percent. The minimum value, 4.54 percent, was reached in 2020 while the maximum of 20.4 percent was recorded in 2007.

International tourism, number of departures in Mauritius was reported at 65000 in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mauritius - International tourism, number of departures - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Tourism expenditures of Mauritius plummeted by 65.85% from 656,000,000 US dollars in 2019 to 224,000,000 US dollars in 2020. Since the 8.05% surge in 2017, tourism expenditures sank by 69.65% in 2020. International tourism expenditures are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries, including payments to foreign carriers for international transport. These expenditures may include those by residents traveling abroad as same-day visitors, except in cases where these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include expenditures for passenger transport items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

International tourism, expenditures (current US$) in Mauritius was reported at 224000000 USD in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mauritius - International tourism, expenditures - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

United States Visitor Arrivals: Africa: Mauritius data was reported at 281.000 Person in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 224.000 Person for Feb 2025. United States Visitor Arrivals: Africa: Mauritius data is updated monthly, averaging 195.000 Person from Jan 2000 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 303 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 804.000 Person in Jul 2024 and a record low of 5.000 Person in May 2020. United States Visitor Arrivals: Africa: Mauritius data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Travel and Tourism Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.Q001: Visitor Arrivals.