Tourism in Mauritius
Encyclopedia
Tourism in Mauritius tends to be high end tourism, with a focus on coastal resorts and diving
.
has developed from a low-income economy based on agriculture
to a middle-income diversified economy. Much of this economic growth has been the result of the expansion of the luxury tourism sector. Mauritius is one of Africa's wealthier countries, and its economy is mainly dependent on the sugar
, textile
s, and tourism industries. As world sugar prices have declined and the production of textiles has become economically unfeasible, the tourist industry is being concentrated on. Tourist policy in Mauritius promotes elite and specialist tourism because of the limited space available for tourism and the need to maximise income while minimizing environmental impact. Low budget tourism in not encouraged. Preferring high-end tourism, the Mauritian government promotes boutique luxury hotels, 4 and 5 stars beach resorts, golf courses, and spas and beauty centres. Tourism is directed primarily at the high-spending European market.
Mauritius had about 18,000 visitors in 1970. Between 1985 and 2000 the size of its tourism sector, measured by the increase in tourist arrivals, grew by approximately 340%. Tourist arrivals in 2004 were almost 720,000.In 2008, 970 482 tourist came to Mauritius. Tourism created 30,000 full time job equivalents in 2000. Tourists are primarily European, mainly French and British. Mauritius tends to be a high cost tourist destination. Air travel and accommodation are relatively expensive. Most tourists are on package holiday
s; there is very little independent travel or backpacking
. To promote up-market tourism, charter flights have been banned, the resort hotels have been built to high standards and there are high standards of cuisine and service. There are direct flights from Britain and South Africa.
The amount of resorts clustered in parts of the coastline is increasing, despite concerns about pollution and damage to coral reefs. Policy in the country has generally been to regulate contact between Mauritians society and tourists because of concerns about cultural and social problems.
It is a world class diving destination. It is surrounded by 150 km of fringing coral reefs, with two breaks in the west and south. The lagoon between the shore and the peripheral fringing reefs has an extent of between 0.2 and 7 km. The lagoon's depth is between 1 and 6 m. There are about 340 species of fish, many of them endemic. About 160 species of Scleractinian
corals have been identified around the country. Tourism has damaged the reefs. Diving conditions are best in the summer, from December to March. This period is generally hot, wet, and humid, and there are occasional cyclones. The average air temperature is 30°C. There are a large variety of dive sites for people of all abilities in Mauritius. The main dive centres are located in and around Grand Baie
, Flic en Flac
, Blue Bay, and Belle Mare.
Undersea walks are an unusual tourist activity where participants wear a diving helmet and weight belt so that they walk along the sea bed and feed the fish. Oxygen is piped down from the surface to the participants. The prime locations for this activity are Grand Baie and Belle Mare.
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
.
Tourist numbers
In the past thirty years, MauritiusMauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
has developed from a low-income economy based on agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
to a middle-income diversified economy. Much of this economic growth has been the result of the expansion of the luxury tourism sector. Mauritius is one of Africa's wealthier countries, and its economy is mainly dependent on the sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
, textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
s, and tourism industries. As world sugar prices have declined and the production of textiles has become economically unfeasible, the tourist industry is being concentrated on. Tourist policy in Mauritius promotes elite and specialist tourism because of the limited space available for tourism and the need to maximise income while minimizing environmental impact. Low budget tourism in not encouraged. Preferring high-end tourism, the Mauritian government promotes boutique luxury hotels, 4 and 5 stars beach resorts, golf courses, and spas and beauty centres. Tourism is directed primarily at the high-spending European market.
Mauritius had about 18,000 visitors in 1970. Between 1985 and 2000 the size of its tourism sector, measured by the increase in tourist arrivals, grew by approximately 340%. Tourist arrivals in 2004 were almost 720,000.In 2008, 970 482 tourist came to Mauritius. Tourism created 30,000 full time job equivalents in 2000. Tourists are primarily European, mainly French and British. Mauritius tends to be a high cost tourist destination. Air travel and accommodation are relatively expensive. Most tourists are on package holiday
Package holiday
A package holiday or package tour consists of transport and accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour operator. Other services may be provided like a rental car, activities or outings during the holiday. Transport can be via charter airline to a foreign country...
s; there is very little independent travel or backpacking
Backpacking (travel)
Backpacking is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent international travel. Terms such as independent travel and/or budget travel are often used...
. To promote up-market tourism, charter flights have been banned, the resort hotels have been built to high standards and there are high standards of cuisine and service. There are direct flights from Britain and South Africa.
The amount of resorts clustered in parts of the coastline is increasing, despite concerns about pollution and damage to coral reefs. Policy in the country has generally been to regulate contact between Mauritians society and tourists because of concerns about cultural and social problems.
Tourist attractions
Its tourist attractions are its environment, with white beaches, sea, and warm climate; the friendliness of the Mauritians; and its political and social stability. Mauritius is surrounded by 33 km of coastline. It has excellent beaches, climate, and marine life. There are submarine dives for tourists and an undersea walk.It is a world class diving destination. It is surrounded by 150 km of fringing coral reefs, with two breaks in the west and south. The lagoon between the shore and the peripheral fringing reefs has an extent of between 0.2 and 7 km. The lagoon's depth is between 1 and 6 m. There are about 340 species of fish, many of them endemic. About 160 species of Scleractinian
Scleractinia
Scleractinia, also called stony corals, are exclusively marine animals; they are very similar to sea anemones but generate a hard skeleton. They first appeared in the Middle Triassic and replaced tabulate and rugose corals that went extinct at the end of the Permian...
corals have been identified around the country. Tourism has damaged the reefs. Diving conditions are best in the summer, from December to March. This period is generally hot, wet, and humid, and there are occasional cyclones. The average air temperature is 30°C. There are a large variety of dive sites for people of all abilities in Mauritius. The main dive centres are located in and around Grand Baie
Grand Baie
Grand Baie, is a seaside village and large tourist beach in the district of Rivière du Rempart on the island of Mauritius. The village is on the western side of the northernmost point of Mauritius and was the site of the British Invasion of Île de France in November 1810.Grand Baie may well be the...
, Flic en Flac
Flic en Flac
Flic en Flac has become the second tourist area of Mauritius after Grand Baie. From a small fishing village, over the past 200 years, it has rapidly developed into an important tourist area.-History:...
, Blue Bay, and Belle Mare.
Undersea walks are an unusual tourist activity where participants wear a diving helmet and weight belt so that they walk along the sea bed and feed the fish. Oxygen is piped down from the surface to the participants. The prime locations for this activity are Grand Baie and Belle Mare.