Find Tourism and Travel partners in Mauritius

Overview

Tourism plays a significant role in the economy of Mauritius, and the sector has been a key factor in the continuing development of the nation.  In 2011 the direct contribution of travel and tourism to Mauritius’s GDP was MUR41.9bn, rising to MUR94.6bn if the total contribution is considered (World Travel and Tourism Council estimate, 2011). In 2011 the sector supported 67,500 jobs directly (12% of total employment) and 151,500 jobs indirectly (26.9%).  Employees in the tourism sector are supported by the Tourism Employees Welfare Fund, which aims to provide for their economic and social well-being.  Overall travel and tourism provided 28.6% of GDP in 2011, placing it 20th in the world (out of 181 countries) in relation to the relative contribution of the industry to a country’s economy, compared to the world mean of 14% (World Travel and Tourism Council).  Tourism is the third most important sector in terms of foreign exchange earnings, after manufacturing and agriculture.  Visitors from France occupy the largest share of tourist arrivals, with Reunion Island and the United Kingdom also providing significant numbers of visitors. Tourist arrivals numbered over 935,000 in 2010 (UN World Tourism Barometer).  Indeed visitor exports are a significant part of the direct contribution of travel and tourism, generating MUR51.8bn in 2011, or 35% of total exports.  

Investment

The tourism industry in the country is expected to expand over the next ten years.  By 2022, it is predicted that travel and tourism will account for 100,000 jobs directly, increasing by 3.4% p.a. over the ten years from 2012.  This will be generated by a growth in both leisure and business travel spending.    Business travel spending was expected to grow by 7.4% to MUR 29.4bn in 2012, and continue to rise by 5,6% pa to MUR50.6bn in 2022.  At the same time leisure spending was expected to grow by 8.3% in 2012 to MUR44.9bn, and continue to rise by 5.5% pa to MUR77.1bn in 2022.

The main tourist attraction on Mauritius is as a beach resort holiday destination, making use of its many natural attractions, including beautiful beaches, and sub-tropical climate.  The National Tourism Policy on the island focuses on encouraging low impact, high spending tourism, with upmarket resorts constituting a major segment of the sector.  The Ministry of Tourism wishes to pursue upmarket and selective tourism, as well as hoping to diversify the sector and expand further into eco and cultural tourism.  In order to do so it has established the Tourism Fund, which hopes to finance tourism related projects and attractions with great potential, and to include communities living in areas deprived of infrastructural facilities within the benefits of tourism.  The government supports tourism through the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Agency (MTPA) and the continued expansion of tourist attractions.