The Seychelles islands are becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. A 15 percent increase in arrivals has been recorded for January to April 2015, compared to the same period last year. During 2014, the number of visitors who came to the Indian Ocean archipelago of 115 islands was almost equal to that of 2013, when only a one percent increase in visitors was recorded. However, the year 2015 seems likely to be a good year for the Seychelles tourism industry. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, the highest number of visitors since January 2009 was recorded during the months of March and April of this year, with 25,129 and 25,038 visitor arrivals respectively; a very promising figure for the small island state with its population of 90,000. Tourism is the main pillar of the Seychelles economy. The island nation, situated in the Indian Ocean, east of the African Coast and northeast of Madagascar, is known for its white sandy beaches, turquoise sea water and its unique, well-preserved environment.
