Seychelles has concluded its successful 2025–2026 cruise season with 41 ship calls, increased premium cruise arrivals and a stronger commitment to sustainable tourism. As the country finalizes its first Cruise Tourism Strategy with UNECA, officials are prioritizing higher-value visitors, environmental protection and greater economic benefits for Seychellois businesses and communities.
The departure of the MV Viking Yi Dun from Port Victoria on June 27 marked more than the final cruise ship call of Seychelles’ 2025–2026 season. It signaled the close of a year in which the island nation demonstrated that the future of cruise tourism may lie not in welcoming more ships, but in attracting the right ones.
With 41 cruise ship callsup from 35 during the previous seasonSeychelles recorded a strong performance despite global disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions that forced itinerary changes and cancellations across several cruise markets. Eight of those visits were maiden calls, while several cruise operators chose Seychelles for the first time, underscoring growing international confidence in the Indian Ocean destination.
A Season of Growth and Resilience
A closing ceremony at Port Victoria brought together senior government officials, tourism leaders and maritime stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of the season.
Among those attending were Principal Secretary for Tourism Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary for Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine David Bianchi, Seychelles Ports Authority Chief Executive Officer Pierre Prosper, Tourism Seychelles CEO Vesna Rakic, Port Victoria Mayor Josy Michaud-Payet, senior port officials, shipping agents and representatives from destination management companies.
While the numbers reflected a successful season, industry leaders stressed that the real success lies in the transformation taking place within Seychelles’ cruise sector.
Rather than pursuing mass tourism, the country is increasingly positioning itself as a destination for smaller luxury, expedition and premium cruise vessels that generate higher visitor spending while reducing pressure on fragile island ecosystems and public infrastructure.
That strategy aligns closely with Seychelles’ long-standing reputation as a high-end tourism destination built around environmental conservation and authentic visitor experiences.
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Moving Beyond Passenger Numbers
Principal Secretary for Tourism Sherin Francis said the country’s vision is no longer measured simply by the volume of cruise arrivals.
“Success is not simply about attracting more ships. It is about creating greater value for our country, protecting our environment, improving the visitor experience and ensuring that more Seychellois businesses and communities benefit from cruise tourism.”
Her remarks reflect a broader policy shift taking place within the tourism industry, where economic quality is increasingly being prioritized over visitor quantity.
This philosophy mirrors Seychelles’ broader sustainable tourism agenda, which seeks to protect one of the world’s most biodiverse island ecosystems while maintaining tourism as the country’s principal economic pillar.
First National Cruise Tourism Strategy Nears Completion
Perhaps the most significant milestone achieved during the season is the development of Seychelles’ first dedicated Cruise Tourism Strategyprepared in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
The strategy, now in its validation phase, represents the culmination of a two-year analytical process involving government agencies, industry stakeholders and international experts. It is expected to guide cruise tourism development through 2033 with an emphasis on sustainability, governance and greater economic returns for local communities.
The roadmap focuses on:
- increasing the economic value retained within Seychelles;
- improving environmental management;
- strengthening cruise governance and coordination;
- enhancing visitor experiences;
- expanding opportunities for Seychellois businesses and entrepreneurs;
- investing in sustainable port infrastructure.
Research Highlights Untapped Economic Potential
The strategy is supported by UNECA’s comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of the cruise sector, one of the first studies of its kind for Seychelles.
The research conclusions that cruise tourism is projected to contribute approximately US$531 million directly to GDP between 2026 and 2033rising to an estimated US$1,247 billion when wider multiplier effects across the economy are included. The study estimates a 205 percent return on investmentgenerating roughly three dollars in benefits for every dollar invested.
However, the report also identifies a major challenge.
Only a relatively small share of cruise passenger spending currently remains within the local economy due to revenue leakage through foreign-owned services, imported goods and international booking channels. The analysis estimates that reducing this leakage by just 10 percent could significantly increase national economic benefits. (tourismanalytics.com)
For policymakers, this reinforces the importance of strengthening local supply chains, encouraging greater participation by Seychellois businesses and creating more locally owned tourism experiences.
Balancing Tourism with Conservation
Environmental sustainability remains central to Seychelles’ cruise ambitions.
As one of the world’s leading biodiversity hotspots, the country faces unique challenges associated with cruise tourism, including marine pollution, pressure on coral reefs, waste management and congestion at popular attractions.
UNECA’s research acknowledges these environmental pressures while concluding that cruise tourism can continue delivering positive net economic benefits if accompanied by stronger environmental safeguards, better regulation and improved management practices.
Future recommendations include cleaner vessel standards, enhanced wastewater management, stronger monitoring systems and incentives for environmentally responsible cruise operators.
The emphasis on smaller expedition vessels already reflects this thinking by reducing passenger concentrations while appealing to higher-spending travelers seeking authentic nature-based experiences.
Strong public-private partnership
Officials also credited the success of the season to close collaboration between government agencies and the private sector.
The Tourism Department acknowledged the contributions of the Seychelles Ports Authority, the Ministry responsible for transport, ports and civil aviation, shipping agents, destination management companies, immigration, customs, police, health services, transport providers, tour operators, guides and local businesses.
That coordinated approach has become increasingly important as cruise operations grow more sophisticated and visitor expectations continue to rise.
Looking Ahead
When the 2025–2026 season opens in October 2025, authorities anticipated 47 scheduled calls. Although geopolitical developments ultimately reduced that figure to 41 actual port callsthe season still exceeded the previous year’s performance and demonstrated the resilience of Seychelles as a cruise destination. (tourism.gov.sc)
With its national Cruise Tourism Strategy nearing completion, Seychelles is now entering a new phase of development.
Rather than competing with larger cruise hubs on passenger volume, the island nation is carving out a distinct niche centered on premium experiences, environmental stewardship and greater local economic participation.
As global cruise tourism continues to evolve, Seychelles is betting that sustainable growth—not simply bigger numbers—will secure its place among the world’s most desirable and responsible cruise destinations.