PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - Visitor numbers to Mauritius rose 19.6 percent in October from the same month last year, driven by an increase from Europe, the tourism minister said on Thursday. Tourist arrivals climbed to 130,421 from 109,014 in the same month last year, Xavier-Luc Duval, who is also the deputy prime minister, said in a statement. "Tourism makes a tremendous contribution to economic growth of the country. Twenty-one thousand additional tourists in October have generated more than 1 billion rupees," Duval said. Tourism is a major source of revenue in Mauritius, known for its beaches and spas. The island nation's major exports include textiles and seafood. Arrivals from Europe, which accounts for two-thirds of visitors to Mauritius, rose 25 percent to 79,415. Numbers from Germany rose 42.7 percent while arrivals from France, the island's main source market, grew 15 percent. (Reporting by Jean Paul Arouff; Editing by Duncan Miriri)