1. Could you introduce your strategic vision for Mauritius’ tourism sector and the priorities you have set since taking office?
Our strategic vision is to revitalise the Mauritius brand by aligning it with emerging global travel trends while preserving its core identity. We want Mauritius to be recognised as more than a beach destination, offering meaningful and diverse experiences for eco-tourists, adventure seekers, cultural enthusiasts, digital nomads, and wellness travellers.
Since taking office, one of my key priorities has been the diversification of the tourism product through the promotion of inland tourism. Particular emphasis is being placed on cultural and patrimonial tourism, nature-based tourism, medical and wellness tourism, as well as the MICE segment. These areas showcase Mauritius’ rich heritage and natural landscapes, while supporting sustainable and inclusive development.
Another major priority is a comprehensive branding overhaul to ensure the destination resonates with today’s travellers, who increasingly value sustainability, cultural immersion, innovation, and inclusivity. In parallel, we are curating thematic events such as the Festival International Kreol, international kite surfing championships, and cultural marathons to attract niche markets and strengthen destination storytelling.
Ultimately, our objective is to position Mauritius as a safe, attractive, and truly year-round destination, particularly for families, retirees, and wellness seekers looking for comfortable and temperate travel options.
2. Mauritius has long been recognized as a premium island destination. How is the Ministry working to enhance the country’s global positioning and diversify its tourism offerings?
Mauritius remains one of the most sought-after travel destinations globally. What truly sets us apart is the unique blend of breathtaking natural beauty, cultural richness, and world-renowned hospitality.
While we are globally recognised for our iconic beaches, Mauritius also offers lush inland landscapes, a vibrant multicultural society, and exceptional service standards. Today’s travellers are looking for immersive and meaningful experiences, and Mauritius delivers across multiple dimensions—whether in adventure, gastronomy, culture, or sustainable tourism.
We have also made significant progress in safety, resilience, and sustainability, reinforcing Mauritius’ position as a destination that offers both relaxation and purposeful exploration.
3. Visitor arrivals have been steadily growing. What key markets are you prioritizing for the next phase of expansion, and how are you tailoring your marketing strategies to attract them?
Europe remains our core market, accounting for around 65% of tourist arrivals in 2024. But we’re now actively looking eastward, to India and China, but also towards Africa’s emerging middle class. These regions hold enormous potential. From January to November 2025, Mauritius has registered an interesting 37% growth on the Indian market.
It should also be noted that eastern European arrivals grew from 65,921 in 2019 to 95,714 in 2024, a +45.2% increase, establishing the region as a high-performing and increasingly vital contributor to Mauritius’s visitor mix.
The post-pandemic period has underscored the critical importance of market diversification in building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable tourism industry in Mauritius.
The strong performance in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Nordics implies however that a differentiated, data-driven market strategy is essential. Strengthening air access, tailoring experiences to regional preferences, and promoting underleveraged segments (culture, sports, events, amongst others) will be key to sustaining Mauritius’s global competitiveness and year-round tourism appeal.
Moreover, across major regions, summers are increasingly becoming intolerable due to record-breaking heat. We are moving forward for a campaign positioning Mauritius as an ‘alternative cool’ from extreme global heat especially for travelers from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to tap the full potential of May to September 2025
4. Sustainability is becoming central to global travel. What initiatives is Mauritius implementing to promote eco-friendly tourism, protect natural assets, and foster community-based experiences?
Sustainability is a top priority for Mauritius, not only as a necessity, but as an opportunity to lead globally in eco-tourism.
As an island nation, our tourism industry depends on the preservation of our natural ecosystems, including our lagoons, coastlines, and biodiversity. From a destination marketing perspective, we are shifting the narrative to position Mauritius as a model for sustainable tourism. “Greening the destination” is our guiding principle.
This involves encouraging clean energy adoption, promoting eco-friendly practices across the value chain, and supporting responsible tourism. We are integrating climate-conscious approaches at every level, from green certification for hotels to exploring low-carbon tourism infrastructure.
5. Mauritius is increasingly developing niche tourism segments such as wellness, golf, medical tourism, adventure travel, and cultural experiences. Which of these segments do you believe hold the strongest potential for future growth?
Mauritius is strategically investing in wellness, adventure travel, golf, and cultural tourism to diversify its offering and attract high-value travellers year-round.
Wellness tourism, in particular, represents a major growth opportunity. As global travellers increasingly seek experiences that rejuvenate body and mind, Mauritius is well positioned with its luxury resorts, holistic retreats, spa therapies, and serene natural environment. With rising demand from health-conscious travellers and ageing populations, wellness tourism is emerging as a cornerstone of our future growth.
Adventure tourism is also gaining traction. Mauritius’ diverse terrain, from mountains and forests to coral reefs, offers opportunities for hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, and eco-tourism, particularly appealing to younger travellers and repeat visitors.
Golf, while niche, is highly lucrative. Mauritius boasts eleven 18-hole championship golf courses, many designed by internationally renowned architects. Currently, the island attracts over 60,000 golfers annually, and our objective is to exceed 100,000 within the next five years. Events such as the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, broadcast to over 400 million households worldwide, significantly enhance our visibility.
Cultural tourism further enriches the destination, drawing on Mauritius’ multicultural heritage, festivals, and cuisine. Together, these segments allow Mauritius to deliver experiences that go far beyond sun and sand.
6. Air access is crucial for an island economy. How is the Ministry collaborating with airlines and aviation stakeholders to improve connectivity and support increased traffic from key regions, including the Middle East?
Mauritius is becoming increasingly attractive to travellers from the UAE and the wider Gulf region, a market with significant untapped potential. Emirates and Saudia Airlines alone offer approximately 420,000 seats annually to Mauritius.
Emirates has been a key strategic partner, operating double daily A380 services with a capacity of up to 1,000 passengers per day. From December 2025, Emirates will introduce a third daily flight, increasing capacity by over 30%.
Saudia currently operates three weekly flights, and in January 2024, Air Mauritius launched a codeshare partnership with Saudia on the Jeddah–Mauritius route, further enhancing connectivity and flexibility.
Our strong participation at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has also been instrumental in reinforcing Mauritius’ image as a premium, family-friendly, and Muslim-friendly destination, while strengthening B2B partnerships across the region.
7. The UAE and the wider Gulf represent a fast-growing market for luxury travel. What opportunities do you see for deepening engagement with Gulf-based travelers, tour operators, and hospitality investors?
Mauritius views the UAE and the wider Gulf not only as source markets, but as strategic partners for tourism, investment, and destination development.
We are actively targeting affluent travellers from GCC countries by positioning Mauritius as a luxury, year-round destination offering personalised services and experiences beyond beaches, including MICE, nature, sports, and culture.
Air connectivity remains central to this strategy, as strong aviation links reduce travel friction and support higher-spending inbound tourism. We also see strong potential for Gulf-based investment in hospitality, wellness, and mixed-use tourism developments.
8. Tourism is a major employer in Mauritius. What measures are being taken to strengthen skills development, service excellence, and workforce readiness within the hospitality sector?
Addressing labour shortages and skills development is a key priority. This is being tackled through the transformation of the Sir Gaëtan Duval Hotel School into a centre of excellence, a process already underway.
We are working closely with the private sector to deliver high-level training and equip young Mauritians with the skills required by the hospitality industry in 2025 and beyond.
In this context, we are also in discussions with close associates of French President Emmanuel Macron to benefit from French expertise in hospitality training. This collaboration promises to be highly fruitful.
9. Public-private partnerships are essential for tourism development. How is the Ministry working with hotels, developers, SMEs, and other ecosystem players to drive innovation and create a seamless visitor experience?
Public-private partnerships are critical to our success, combining government vision with private-sector innovation and agility.
From infrastructure development to product diversification and sustainability initiatives, progress in tourism is built on collaboration. While other ministries oversee certain technical aspects, 2025 will see strategic investments in destination infrastructure, smart tourism technologies, and eco-tourism projects, all aimed at enhancing visitor experience and long-term competitiveness.
10. Finally, what message would you like to share with Khaleej Times readers about why Mauritius remains one of the world’s most exceptional and welcoming destinations?
Mauritius is a bridge between continents, cultures, and opportunities. For Gulf-based travellers, it offers a sanctuary of natural beauty, world-class hospitality, and authentic experiences rooted in warmth and diversity.
With its pleasant climate, Mauritius is a year-round destination. For investors, it is a stable, innovative, and forward-looking partner, strategically positioned at the crossroads of Africa and Asia.
We warmly invite our friends to discover not only the charm of our island, but also the strength of our shared values and ambitions for a sustainable and prosperous future.
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