Mauritius welcomed 348,445 international visitors in the first quarter of 2026, with arrivals from India rising 21.1% and Germany recording the strongest growth among the island’s main source markets.
Mauritius recorded a strong start to 2026, welcoming 348,445 international tourist arrivals in the first quarter, a 6.8% increase from the 326,389 visitors recorded during the same period in 2025, according to data released by Statistics Mauritius, the country’s national statistical agency.
India emerged as one of the fastest-growing major source markets for Mauritius during the quarter. Tourist arrivals from India increased 21.1% year on year, reaching 14,990, compared with 12,376 in the first quarter of 2025. The increase represents 2,614 additional visitors from India.
The overall rise in visitor numbers was supported by both air and sea travel. Arrivals by air grew 5.1%, from 316,604 in Q1 2025 to 332,632 in Q1 2026. Sea arrivals recorded considerably stronger growth of 61.6%, increasing from 9,785 to 15,813.
Germany records the strongest growth
Germany registered the most significant increase among Mauritius’ principal tourism markets. Arrivals from Germany surged 50.3%, climbing from 23,290 in Q1 2025 to 35,007 in the first quarter of 2026.
India recorded the second-highest growth among the island’s main markets, with its 21.1% increase placing the country ahead of several established tourism markets in terms of growth during the quarter.
The principal source markets collectively accounted for 66.5% of Mauritius’ total tourist arrivals in Q1 2026, marginally higher than the 66.1% share recorded a year earlier.
France remains Mauritius’ largest source market
France continued to lead Mauritius’ tourism markets, generating 83,557 arrivals in the first quarter, up 0.7% from 82,984 a year earlier.
Reunion Island was the next-largest market with 34,381 arrivals, representing a 1.6% increase. The United Kingdom, meanwhile, recorded a 4.5% decline, with arrivals falling to 29,162.
South Africa posted modest growth of 0.9%, reaching 23,087 arrivals, while the Russian Federation recorded a stronger 15.9% increase to 11,551 visitors.
The latest figures point to continued diversification in Mauritius’ international visitor base, with particularly strong momentum from Germany and India. The island’s official tourism statistics for the first quarter were published as part of Statistics Mauritius’ International Travel and Tourism series.
Source: Statistics Mauritius, International Travel and Tourism – First Quarter 2026. View the official Mauritius tourism statistics
