In the first quarter of 2019 the Russian tourist flow to the exotic island destinations of the Indian Ocean continued to grow. In total, for the first quarter of 2019 73,764 tourists from the Russian Federation visited the exotic island destinations of the Indian Ocean - the Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius and Sri Lanka, which is 14.57% more than a year earlier.

According to the results of 2018, the flow of tourists to Seychelles from Russia fell by 13.8%. The dynamics of the beginning of this year are also negative. Nevertheless, tour operators believe that in 2019 the country will stabilize demand for Seychelles in the organized segment. 

Seychelles Tourism Authority (STB) released statistics on tourist arrivals for the first half of 2018. The figures for the Russian tourist flow show a serious decline (- 17%). According to Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics, Seychelles hosted 167,381 foreign tourists from January 1 till June 24, which is 2% more than in the same period in 2017 (164,866 tourists).

Press release on the entry into force of an agreement waiving visa requirements for short-term trips by citizens of Russia and the Seychelles Republic was published on the web site of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday. The agreement between the Russian government and the government of the Republic of Seychelles waiving visa requirements for short-term trips by citizens of both countries, which was signed in Victoria, Seychelles, on September 2, 2015, will enter into effect on December 14.