The Republic of Seychelles has identified mainland Chinese tourists as its most promising source of tourist arrivals.

It is targeting to attract 5,000 mainland Chinese visitors by 2010 or 2011 and 15,000 by 2015. In 2008, the country welcomed 16,000 visitor arrivals, out of which only 1,000 were from China.

Tourism forms an important component of Seychelles' gross domestic product (GDP), contributing approximately 20%.

With the envisaged increased visitation from China, the authorities hope that tourism can contribute to 35% of GDP in the future.

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