Mauritius records over 1m bookings in 12 months

Mauritius has recorded more than a million bookings from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023, marking the joint marketing initiative spearheaded by the Deputy Prime Minister Louis Steven Obeegadoo, MTPA and the private sector.

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 travelers including digital nomad,” he added.

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.”