The number of visitors arriving in Vanuatu in the first quarter of the year decreased by 90,341 over the same period for 2016.
According to the Vanuatu National Statistics Office, the decrease was reflected in the drop in the cruise ship visitors to the country.
Visitor arrivals by air made up 23% of all international visitors with a total of 20, 923 in the March quarter 2017.
This indicated an increase of 24% over the same period in 2016. However, this fell over the previous quarter.
Half of the tourists who arrived by air were Australians.
Holiday visitors made up 74% of total international visitors to Vanuatu and this was followed by visitors arriving to visit friends and relatives at 9%.
There was an increase in the number of visitors from New Caledonia, China and other Pacific island countries over the period in review.
However, the number of visitors from Europe, North America and New Zealand decreased over the March quarter 2017.
Photo file Tourists in Vanuatu