The Seychelles has launched a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) system to measure the economic impact that tourism has on the island nation.

The system will offer definitive measurements of the contribution of tourism to the country’s GDP and also the economic value of the sector. 

Seychelles began the process in 2019 when it entered into an agreement with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Tourism Statistics Expert at the UNWTO, Kevin Willington, pointed out that the data collected so far showed that tourism directly contributed 16.5% to Seychelles GDP.

“The contribution of 16,5% to GDP is a very significant amount and is very important for Seychelles. In most countries, this figure is much less,” said Willington.

The TSA aims to reconcile demand with supply for tourism, with Willington noting that it measured the direct contributions that tourists spend with businesses.