All economic sectors are back to normal. Airport operations resumed on Wednesday 17 January 2024 with the rescheduling of flights. On that same day, more than 12,000 passengers were expected to arrive on around 50 inbound flights, with the same number of flights and
passengers departing.

Tourism and airline operators are deploying their best efforts to coordinate the departure of tourists in the wake of Cyclone Belal and to welcome those who have just arrived. Excursions and visits have also resumed.

Public transport is back in operation. Essential services such as water and electricity have largely been restored. The authorities are also busy cleaning up the entire island.

No incidents have been reported by tourist operators, whose priority throughout has been to ensure the safety of guests.

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Tourism is an activity that contributes to the country’s economic and social development. The sector is of vital importance due to its economic significance in the national economy. It is also a major source of foreign currency. Additionally, there is awareness of the importance of preserving natural resources and promoting sustainability, with the destination aiming to achieve green certification by 2030.

The “Feel our island energy” campaign, launched in March 2023 by the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), has achieved significant success among industry professionals and tourists. It is an invitation to discov-er the unique, intense energy of Mauritius, the placevto embrace every energy, a destination to feel connected and be free.

The campaign achieved international acclaim as “Destination Media Campaign” at the Hospitality ON Awards held in November 2023 in Paris, France. Showcasing the most innovative approaches and concepts, the event was held under the patronage of the French President, Emmanuel Macron.

Donald Payen and Arvind Bundhun, respectively Chairperson and Director of the MTPA, jointly express their appreciation for the considerable efforts made by all stakeholders and the results achieved. “We are delighted to see the results of the collaborative work carried out under the aegis of the Public/Private Tourism Sector Committee, initiated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Mr Steven Obeegadoo. We have high hopes for the future and firmly intend to continue expanding our destination’s global reach.”

Messrs Payen and Bundhun both look forward to “a promising 2024 and another productive and fulfilling year for all stakeholders of our destination.”

To see the video of the year 2023 in review, click here
To view the video of the “Feel our island energy” campaign, click here
For more information about Mauritius, visit our website: https://mauritiusnow.com

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The 23rd ceremony of the Hospitality Awards was held in Paris on Thursday 9 November 2023. Created in 2000 by Hospitality ON with an international jury comprising some forty personalities from the business, tourism and communication sectors, they are a token of recognition of the hard work and accomplishments across the global hotel industry. For the first time this year, destinations were able to compete in a brand-new category, “Destination Media Campaign”.

Mauritius is delighted to have received the award in this category, which positions the destination as a dynamic and innovative player while rewarding a collective and collaborative effort. The “Feel our island energy” campaign is the result of a public-private partnership as well as the involvement and participation of all the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority representative offices.

“Feel our island energy”, a Mauritian hymn

The “Feel our island energy” campaign is an invitation to discover the unique, intense energy of Mauritius.

Calming, euphoric, curious, adventurous, Mauritius is the place to embrace every energy, a destination to feel connected and be free. Spots like mountains, lagoons, waterfalls, beaches, national parks and bustling markets will make you feel alive, rejuvenated by nature and filled with enriching encounters. “More than just a visit or an ordinary holiday, we want travellers to take in the unique energy that sets Mauritius apart from other destination,” says Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.

To inspire and attract future travellers, the campaign uses beautiful imagery that highlights the diversity of experiences available, inland areas, the cultural melting pot and above all, the local population, the backbone of the tourism industry. The warm and welcoming Mauritian people are the ambassadors of this campaign.

To view the campaign’s promotional video, click here

To download images and the video, click here

For more information about Mauritius, visit our website:
https://mauritiusnow.com

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Partners included the national airline, Air Mauritius, leading hotels in Mauritius, a number of destination management companies (DMCs) and Tourism Associations. During the exhibition, stand sharers were able to host meetings with trade and media partners to discuss key issues for the destination and set the focus for the travel and tourism sector in 2024.

The Honourable, Deputy Prime Minister Louis Steven Obeegadoo accompanied by the Senior Chief Executive Mohammad Salim Joomun and Chairman of the MTPA, Donald Payen were in attendance to address representatives from key UK tour operators and conduct meetings with senior international media. The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister was also a speaker at the UNWTO’s Ministers summit hosted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The event was hosted by Ms Zeinab Badawi, Presenter & Documentary Film Maker, BBC World News in the presence of Julia Simpson, President and CEO, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, World Tourism Organization.

Over the three-day event, MTPA met with key tour operators to gather insights from the market, set targets for the upcoming seasons and devise joint marketing actions to stimulate bookings and keep Mauritius in the mind of travellers.

Arvind Bundhun, the Director of Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority met 15 British media to discuss exciting tourism developments on the island. Topics discussed included the recent launch of daily direct flights by Air Mauritius from London Gatwick Airport which began in October, an update on the 19 hotel developments set to open in the next five years expanding the island’s tourism offerings and the importance of each and every Mauritian local benefitting from the industry. Broadcast interviews were also conducted with the Director to discuss the news from the island and the importance of the UK market to the travel industry in Mauritius.

Alongside a very successful exhibition, MTPA was pleased to share the news of their recent win at the Travel Bulletin Star Awards 2023. Mauritius won the award for ‘Star Luxury Destination’ set against popular destinations including Barbados, Greece, Grenada, Maldives, Seychelles and The Bahamas.

The post MTPA Makes an Impactful Presence at World Travel Market 2023 appeared first on Mauritius Now.

This annual event recognises and honours the top performers in various travel, tourism and hospitality categories. WTA is regarded as the most prestigious awards programme of global tourism. The winners, determined by votes from travel industry professionals and the public, were announced at a prestigious evening held at Atlantis The Royal, Dubai, on 15 October.

Mauritius, with its lush forests, untamed waterfalls, unique wildlife, rugged mountains and palm-fringed white beaches, together with world-class luxurious resorts, romantic settings and a focus on sustainable tourism, claimed titles in four distinct categories: ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination’; ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Wedding Destination’; ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination’; and ‘Indian Ocean’s Best Cruise Destination’.

“We are honoured by this recognition of excellence and proud to receive these four awards. Mauritius offers a plethora of immersive experiences and is more than an island; it is a country island that appeals to a diverse range of tourism segments,” says Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.

For the local tourism sector, achieving all these accolades across various categories at the highest level through WTA is a significant accomplishment and a testament to our industry’s resilience.

“It is important that we continue promoting our unique tourism offerings to ensure that Mauritius retains its status as a destination of choice. As we enter our high season, these awards will help us shine on the global stage while spurring growth,” adds Arvind Bundhun.

Graham Cooke, Founder of the World Travel Awards, says, “The interest in the World Travel Awards 2023 programme shows that the appetite for travel and tourism has never been stronger and bodes well for the industry’s future. The winners represent the very best of the Indian Ocean’s travel and tourism sector and my congratulations to each of them. They have all demonstrated remarkable resilience in these challenging times.”

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The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority’s (MTPA) Director Mr Arvind Bundhun led a delegation comprising 24 operators from Mauritius to conduct a 3 cities road show in Mumbai, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

The first event kickstarted on Monday 21 August amidst a plethora of the key travel trade and media in Mumbai at the Four Seasons followed by two more events at Chennai and Ahmedabad on the 24 and 26 August respectively.

With increased connectivity between the two countries, this roadshow was an important platform for our local stakeholders to meet, bond and conduct business with the Indian travel trade. We are further directing our strategy through innovative trade, marketing and digital campaigns which will give Indian travelers the true essence of the destination. Mauritius is a year-round destination, and we invite you to feel our island energy. This roadshow is expected to propel Mauritius’ presence in the Indian market as a destination for all segments: couples, families as well as MICE and weddings.

Elaborating on plans for the Indian market, Mr. Arvind Bundhun, Director, of Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority said, “I am glad to report that Mauritius’ tourism industry has recovered quite well. The Government established a goal of one million tourists arriving in 2022, and we achieved that goal. In 2023, we aim to reach our pre-pandemic numbers of 1.4 million. Mumbai and other Indian cities are now easier to reach than ever thanks to great airlift provided by both Air Mauritius and Vistara. Additionally, we just appointed Mumbai- and Delhi-based All known Marketers (AKM) to make sure that our B2B, B2C, and digital operations are continued throughout the year.

Future goals will call for “permanent bonds” between the two parties, and we will make sure Mauritius lives up to Indian tourists’ expectations of a high-end vacation spot.”
The Chennai roadshow was graced by the Presence of H.E. Mr Haymandoyal Dillum, High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius to the Republic of India. He Stated, “We are quite hopeful for the future and see India as a potential market for Mauritius. We want to promote the destination in all of its aspects. Additionally, we want to be very visible on social media, which is quickly gaining footing as a channel for influencing consumers.”

Mr Sunil Mathapati, Country Manager, MTPA India added, “We are delighted to execute the three-city roadshow with MTPA, and our partners from Mauritius have added immense support for the event. Over 400 Indian B2B partners attended the roadshow across the three cities. This roadshow marks not just a celebration of a beautiful destination, but also a celebration of human resilience during the pandemic and its swift emergence of recovery positioning itself as a destination for all seasons and traveller segments.”

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The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) has chosen Interface Tourism through a call for tenders for the promotion of Mauritius in the Benelux market, i.e. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Interface Tourism will advise and assist MTPA in managing the PR, trade and marketing strategy, and social network presence for Mauritius. They will be responsible for raising awareness of the island in the Benelux market and strengthen its position as a unique destination.

The implementation of the overall strategy for Benelux countries will be coordinated by Interface Tourism France, which will also develop and execute the digital strategy and French-language media relations. The agency will join forces and expertise with other ITG (International Tourism Group) entities in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. They will act as local intermediaries and handle the groundwork.

This collaboration will raise the profile of Mauritius in the Benelux market. The French, Belgian and Dutch agencies will work together to showcase the various wonders of the island as a leading destination in the Indian Ocean.

Blaise Borezée, Managing Director of Interface Tourism, is also enthusiastic about this new partnership, “We are honoured to have been selected to represent Mauritius in the Benelux market. This appointment reflects the shared vision of Interface Tourism for collaborative and innovative promotion to open up new opportunities for Mauritian tourism. International Tourism Group has a presence in many European countries and this partnership will enhance and support the strength of our network.”

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Commenting on this appointment, Mr Arvind Bundhun, Director of the MTPA, says, “We welcome AKM on board and are confident that with the support of our local stakeholders, there is room for further achievement. Our strategy is focused on innovative trade, PR and digital campaigns which will give Indian travellers the true essence of the destination. Mauritius is a year-round destination, and we invite you to feel our island energy.”

Mr Sunil Mathapati, Country Manager, adds, “It gives us immense pride to represent the MTPA in India and work closely with the team to curate unparalleled travel experiences for the Indian market. Mauritius as a destination has bountiful offerings and hence has an immense potential to entice new-age travellers across all segments. We are working towards aligning our activities with MTPA’s strategy and charting out an extensive calendar to grow the brand’s presence in India.”

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London, 26 June – To mark the launch of daily direct flights from London Gatwick Airport to Mauritius, Air Mauritius in association with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority organised a Networking Gala Evening at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House, in London on 22 June 2023.

Air Mauritius, the flagship carrier of Mauritius, will be marking their 50 year anniversary of operations in the UK with a momentous move from its previous home at London Heathrow Airport to London Gatwick Airport on 29 October 2023.

The evening was graced by the presence of his Excellency Mr Girish Nunkoo, High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr. Laurent Recoura, Chief Commercial Officer of Air Mauritius, Mr. Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority and other dignitaries from the Travel Trade and top media persons.

Mr. Laurent Recoura, Chief Commercial Officer of Air Mauritius stated, “We are excited for this new chapter in our journey to continue delivering the best service to our esteemed UK visitors. It has been a pleasure to see the UK market grow over the years and the increased access to the destination will enable that growth to continue.”

Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority mentioned, “This has been a long-awaited moment and I am confident that this will improve connectivity for the UK market. This is the first direct daily flight from the UK which will increase accessibility as well as provide stability and confidence for the trade and consumers directly to book Mauritius. Our people are the foundation of the tourism industry, and we would like to pay tribute to them for keeping the Mauritian flag high.”

H.E Mr. Girish Nunkoo, High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius, reiterated the key attributes of the destination, which for years has been a preferred long-haul destination for British holidaymakers. The island is a multi-faceted holiday destination that offers unique experiences for all.

It is to be noted that this year the MTPA launched a B2C campaign titled “Feel our island energy” which highlights the immersive experiences unique to Mauritius, and lays emphasis on our population endowed with a legendary sense of hospitality.

From January to June, we welcomed 54,231 tourists representing an increase of 9% v/s 2019. Air Mauritius will operate daily flights between London and Mauritius as per the following schedules:

• MK 042 MRU-LGW Monday to Sunday 23h05 07h00 *
• MK 053 LGW-MRU Monday to Sunday 15h55 07H15 **

The Gala event ended with an exciting lucky draw, where Air Mauritius offered multiple return tickets, and hotels offered stay vouchers to the winners, in their endeavour to encourage other trade partners to make efforts to increase sales of the destination as a leisure, MICE, and wedding destination.

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To mark the resumption of direct flights from Delhi to Mauritius, Air Mauritius in association with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority organised a Networking Gala Evening at Hotel Imperial, in Delhi on 14th April 2023.

Air Mauritius, the flagship carrier of Mauritius will resume its direct operations to and from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi from the May 03, 2023, with biweekly flights using the Airbus A330 aircraft in a Business and Economy class configuration with a capacity of 254 seats. The duration of the flight is 7 hours and 30 minutes. Air Mauritius currently operates six weekly direct flights to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai.

The evening was graced by the presence of H.E Mr. H. Dillum, High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius to India, Mr. Krešimir Kučko, Chief Executive Officer of Air Mauritius, Mr. Laurent Recoura, Chief Commercial Officer of Air Mauritius, Mr. Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority and other dignitaries from the Travel Trade, top media persons and other delegates.

Krešimir Kučko, CEO of Air Mauritius stated, “We are excited to resume our operations to Delhi after three years of absence. India and Mauritius share a special relationship that is built on the foundation of people-to-people ties. Both India and Mauritius are united by culture, ancestry, language, and geography. This April, Air Mauritius is proudly commemorating its 50 years of presence in India. New avenues are being explored with Air India to offer seamless connectivity via Delhi as well as Mumbai to/from several destinations in India.”

Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, while talking to the guests, mentioned, “The long-awaited flight from Delhi to Mauritius is a major milestone facilitating travellers from the northern part of India to commute. We are thankful to Air Mauritius for this initiative which will boost demand. We foresee a steep rise in the footfalls on our land.”

Air Mauritius will operate two flights a week between Delhi to Mauritius as per the following schedules:

• MK 745 DELHI-MAURITIUS Thursdays & Sundays, departing at 08H00 and arriving at 14H00 local time
• MK 744 MAURITIUS – DELHI Wednesdays & Saturdays departing at 21H15 and arriving at 06H15 on the next day.

The Gala event ended with an exciting lucky draw, where Air Mauritius offered multiple return tickets, and hotels offered stay vouchers to the winners, through a lucky draw, in their endeavour to encourage other trade partners to make efforts to increase sales of the destination as a leisure, MICE, and wedding destination.

For more information: please mail to pr@omtourism.com

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Commenting on his appointment, he said:

“I am honoured and humbled by the continued trust placed in me. I have been a member of
the Board of the Tourist Office on several occasions since my first appointment in
2003 and look forward to carrying on with the work done to build back (tourism) better.
In this context, I would like to pay tribute to my predecessors and to all those who have
worked, and equally those who are currently working so hard for their contribution
in making tourism an important pillar of our economy, a pillar we can all be
proud of. Our priority remains returning to the level of activity we had prior to the
pandemic. We will focus on delivering on this objective in the true spirit of
public/private partnership (including ALL partners) spearheaded by the Ministry of
Tourism, which remains the cornerstone of our modus operandi at the MTPA.”

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We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new ‘Feel our island energy’ campaign on 15 March 2023. The focus will be on the life, pulse and energy of Mauritius!

Calming, euphoric, curious, adventurous – Mauritius is the place to embrace every energy, a destination to feel connected and be free.

The island offers a holiday adventure full of authentic interactions and meaningful experiences. We are inviting travellers to pause from their busy lives and feel present, taking time out to connect with themselves and their family.

Our campaign is an open invitation from Mauritians to come and explore mountains, lagoons, waterfalls, beaches, national parks and buzzy markets. Mauritius is big enough for extraordinary adventures and small enough to do it all in one holiday.

Most importantly, the people of Mauritius are warm, welcoming and invite you to feel our island energy.

Discover our main video, which encapsulates our new campaign and showcases our stunning landscapes through the eyes of our people. Turn the music up to feel our island energy!

Mauritius marks its presence at ITB Berlin.

We proudly unveiled our exciting new campaign at ITB Berlin. This highly anticipated event in Germany provided us with the perfect platform to showcase the beauty and warm hospitality of our island to a global audience of travel professionals and enthusiasts.

“More than just a visit or an ordinary holiday, we want travellers to take in the unique energy that sets Mauritius apart from other destinations,” said Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.

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• Indian Ocean’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination 2023: Mauritius
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination 2023: Mauritius
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2023: Mauritius
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2023: Mauritius
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2023: Mauritius
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination 2023: Mauritius
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination 2023: Mauritius
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Nature Destination 2023: Mauritius
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination 2023: Mauritius
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board 2023: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Wedding Destination 2023: Mauritius

The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority encourages everyone to vote in the main categories.

In order to vote, participants can simply visit https://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote.

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Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, will commence five weekly flights to Mauritius effective 26 March 2023. Vistara will be using the recently inducted A321LR NEO, which offers 12 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy seats and 152 Economy seats. The announcement was made on Wednesday 8 February 2023 by Hon. Louis Steven Obeegadoo, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning and Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Mauritius at a Gala Dinner hosted by the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority in Delhi.

“I am delighted to have had the privilege to announce the start of operations of five weekly Vistara flights from 26 March 2023 to the travel trade in India yesterday evening, ahead of the official announcement today,” says DPM Obeegadoo.

“Vistara’s flights will complement those of Air Mauritius to and from India. And provide the much-needed capacity on the route as we grow exchanges between India and Mauritius, including tourism, to a next level.”

The Gala Dinner was organised in collaboration with SATTE Delhi 2023 (South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange), South Asia’s leading tourism fair and was graced by the presence of Vistara senior management, including the CEO, Mr Vinod Kannan and the travel trade. A delegation of some 30 Mauritian industry professionals as well as heads of travel trade associations, luminaries from the travel industry and top tour operators were also in attendance.

“We are delighted to announce the addition of Mauritius, the scenic island country, to our constantly expanding global network. Besides being a popular tourist destination, the Republic of Mauritius is an important business hub and home to many global financial institutions,” says Mr Kannan.

“Given the strong cultural ties, trade and bilateral relations between India and Mauritius, this new route will further aid the growing traffic between the two countries. We are confident that travellers will appreciate our world-class product and thoughtful services on this route along with convenient, direct access to and from the island nation.”

Air connectivity is a key component of tourism and DPM Obeegadoo stoutly spoke about his firm belief that tourist arrivals from India will cross the 100,000 mark in the coming years. He also highlighted the continuous efforts of Air Mauritius, with plans to operate 2 weekly flights to Delhi from May 2023, in addition to the current 6 weekly flights to Mumbai.
Furthermore, DPM Obeegadoo emphasised that the presence of India and Mauritius on the UNWTO Executive Council will be instrumental in charting a new course for world tourism around key pillars like sustainability, resilience and inclusiveness. He also expressed his gratitude for this fruitful collaboration.

The Mauritian delegation will be present at the 29th edition of SATTE at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR from Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 February 2023. The event is recognised as Asia’s leading travel and tourism exhibition to conduct business, share knowledge, exchange ideas in order to arrive at solution-driven innovations to accelerate the pace of the growth of the industry.

MauritiusTourism PromotionAuthority 5th Floor, Victoria House, St Louis Street, Port Louis, Republic of Mauritius T +230 203 1900 | F +230 212 5142
E mtpa@intnet.mu www.mauritiusnow.com

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The competition was opened to all Mauritians to win a trip to LFC’s historic Anfield home, as well as return flights to the UK

Port Louis, 06 February 2023

The winner of the national competition Memories Last Forever, run by the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) in partnership with Liverpool Football Club, visited Anfield recently for the LFC versus Chelsea Premier League clash.

Priyadha Saneechurry was selected out of tens of thousands of Mauritius-based entrants, and won a trip to the world-famous home of Liverpool Football Club, along with husband Nichal and son Nikhil.

The prize included return flights to the UK, three nights hotel accommodation, travel to and from Liverpool, and a daily allowance to cover additional expenses, including meals.

Recalling the day she learned that she was the lucky winner of the competition, Priyadha said: “I was working from home and I got a call from MTPA, and initially I thought it was someone doing a prank because it was hard to believe that I had won.”

Husband Nichal said: “Priyadha told me ‘I have a gift for your 50th birthday – a trip to Liverpool’, and I thought she was joking. I’ve been following Liverpool FC since I was 10 years old, since I discovered football, so for me it was like a dream comes true.”

Prior to the match, the Saneechurry family was taken on a tour of Anfield, including the Liverpool FC Museum. Priyadha said: “Nichal was so emotional when we were doing the tour. I saw his tears coming. To be at Anfield, it is like we are dreaming. It’s wonderful to be here.”
The free-to-enter Memories Lasts Forever draw was launched on August 1st last year to celebrate the reactivation of the partnership between MTPA and Liverpool FC, making Mauritius the Premier League club’s Official Tourism.

The partnership sees Mauritius benefit from a range of LFC digital, social media and marketing assets in a boost to the country’s goal of becoming a leading global tourist destination and business hub of Africa. As English football’s successful club, and one of the best teams in the world, LFC has a huge international following, with hundreds of millions of fans across the globe.

Arvind Bundhun, Director of MTPA, said: “The ‘Memories Last Forever’ competition was enormously popular, and we are delighted that Mauritian citizens have had the opportunity to directly benefit from our partnership with LFC. Without a doubt, the winners have made some memories that will last forever.”

LFC enjoys a massive following on the island and its International Academy, located at Côte D’or National Sport Complex, is thriving.

As well as being one of the top premier luxury holiday destinations in the world with one of the highest rates of return visitors, Mauritius is also one of the most business and investment friendly locations in the region.

The Government of Mauritius is committed to enhancing and expanding the image of Mauritius around the world and the impact of Covid-19 on the international tourism and business sector has only increased the importance of the country’s international branding strategy, making the deal with LFC such a crucial and valuable one to the country.

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Tests have immediately been carried out in the relevant hotels and the results were positive only at Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort. Prompt corrective measures have been taken by the hotel under the supervision of the health authorities.

Experts have been called in to assist the relevant authorities and hotels to validate and enhance the protocols developed. It must be recalled that legionnaire’s disease is caused by bacteria found in fresh water and contamination occurs via inhalation from water systems. There is no human-to-human contamination.

The Ministry of Tourism and its agencies, the Tourism Authority and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, as well as the health authorities are on standby and are closely monitoring the situation

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Mauritius recorded more than a million bookings from 1st January 2022 to 1st January 2023.

This achievement is testament to the joint marketing initiative spearheaded by the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Louis Steven Obeegadoo, MTPA and the private sector. Mauritius remains resilient and top of the mind of travellers.

Tourism typically accounts for nearly 24 per cent of the nation’s GDP, and the Government has set a target of 1.4 million visitors during the calendar year 2023.

“I wish to thank all our partners in the hospitality industry for their hard work and dedication into helping Mauritius reach this milestone of one million visitors, despite all the challenges we faced,” said Arvind Bundhun, Director of MTPA.

“This is proof that when we all work together, we can stand up to any challenges. Mauritius is now firmly back as one of the world’s most inspiring destinations and we look forward to welcoming returning and new visitors alike to our shores this year to experience our range of offers.

Now that the travel industry can operate freely, Mauritius is set to reclaim its place as one of the most popular destinations in the world for leisure, business and long-term travellers including digital nomads.

A major success of 2022 was the launch of the Premium Visa scheme to attract the growing number of digital nomads; with a thousand visas have been issued by the end of the year.

Prospective international home buyers were encouraged to relocate to Mauritius through various real estate schemes, which grant permanent residency status to foreign homebuyers in Mauritius. They can also generate revenue through these properties via a rental pool. International hospitality brands are investing in Mauritius under this scheme, making it a win-win for brands, investors and visitors wishing to make Mauritius their long-term home.

“Mauritius is uniquely placed to benefit from the increasing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly holidays, as well as meet the desire to experience destinations with a strong historic, cultural and natural appeal,” said Arvind Bundhun.

“In addition to a premier luxury holiday destination in the world with a high rate of return, Mauritius is one of the most business and investment friendly locations. We are delighted to be welcoming more than a million visitors in 2023 and look forward to achieving the challenging targets that we have set for ourselves.”

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For the end-of-year holidays, the first test of the attractiveness of the destination is historically the high occupancy rates recorded by hotels and tourist accommodations.

“We have seen an interesting rebound after the pandemic with a number of our markets growing faster than two years ago. This is proof that Mauritius has retained its strong appeal and that our strategy has been a success,” adds Arvind Bundhun.

Mauritius has welcomed around 740,000 tourists from January to October. The authorities are confident in achieving the milestone of one million visitors by the end of 2022.

The Director of MTPA is pleased with the bullish sentiment that infuses the peak tourist season and points out that it is the outcome of a collective effort of the public and private sectors. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government authorities, all our local and foreign partners, the media and the entire tourism value chain, who have done their utmost to support Mauritius.”

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