Mauritius is predominantly a holiday destination for beach-resort tourists. It possesses a wide range of natural and man-made attractions, enjoys a sub-tropical climate with clear warm sea waters, attractive beaches, tropical fauna and flora complemented by a multi-ethnic and cultural population that is friendly and welcoming.
These tourism assets are, its main strength, especially since they are backed up by well-designed and run hotels, and reliable and operational services and infrastructures. The hosts are being seen product and the “hospitality atmosphere” has more and more as the nucleus of the tourism been receiving increasing attention.
Black River Gorges National Park, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden (SSR Botanical Garden), Ganga Talao, Trou aux Cerfs, Blue Penny Museum, Tamarind Falls, Crocodile & Giant Tortoises Park, Eureka House, Mare aux Vacoas Reservoir, Pieter Both (mountain), La Preneuse and Jummah Mosque attracts thousands of tourists from all the continents every year.
About 67% of the tourist arrivals are of European origin, with France supplying nearly half. The nearby Reunion French Territory is the most important short haul source market accounting for about 13% of total tourist arrivals. Asian residents provided 6% of tourist arrivals, almost half of which originated from the Indian Sub-Continent.
In 2000, total number of nights spent by tourist was estimated to about 6.5 million, representing an increase of 13% over 1999. The average length of stay works out to around 10 nights and average expenditure per tourist reached about Rs. 22,000. Based on the favourable growth registered in tourist arrivals, it is estimated that arrivals for the year 2001 would be around 700,000 (+10%) with total gross receipts of the order of 15,500 million rupees.