INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Year 2009 - Highlights

Passenger traffic

Total passenger arrivals for the year 2009 numbered 1,156,579 representing a decrease of 5.7% over the figure of 1,226,428 for the preceding year. During the same year, passenger departures numbered 1,153,569 (-4.4%).

Tourist arrivals

Tourist arrivals for the year 2009 attained 871,356. This represents a decrease of 6.4% over the figure of 930,456 registered for the year 2008.

Arrivals from Europe decreased by 4.7% to 579,509 with a 6.0% rise in arrivals from France, our leading market. As regards the other major generating countries, the following decreases were recorded in arrivals: United Kingdom (-5.5%), Italy (-14.6%) and Germany (-16.6%).

Tourist arrivals from Africa contracted by 4.5% to 204,308. Arrivals from Reunion Island grew by 9.1% while those from the Republic of South Africa, our other major market of the region, declined by 12.2%.

Arrivals from the Asian market went down by 14.6% to 62,131, with India, the major generating country of the continent, registering a fall of 10.6%. The performance of other Asian countries was as follows: Singapore (-5.7%), People’s Republic of China (-17.8%), Japan (-22.8%), Malaysia (-22.9%), United Arab Emirates (-23.6%) and Hong Kong (-40.4%).

Tourist arrivals from Oceania fell by 44.7% and those from America shrunk by 4.7%. Arrivals from these two continents numbered 24,213 representing only 2.8% of the total.

Tourism receipts

Gross tourism receipts for the year 2009 were estimated by the Bank of Mauritius at Rs 35,693 million, that is, a decrease of 13.4% compared to Rs 41,213 million for of 2008.

Hotel Statistics

At the end of December 2009, there were 102 registered hotels in operation, with a total room capacity of 11,456 and 23,235 bedplaces. The average room occupancy rate for all hotels for 2009 was 61% while bed occupancy rate averaged 54%.

Forecast 2010

Based on data available on tourist arrivals and information gathered from stakeholders, it is expected that tourist arrivals for the year 2010 would be around 915,000 representing an increase of 5% over the figure of 871,356 in 2009.

According to the Bank of Mauritius, tourism receipts for the year 2010 will be around Rs 40,150 million (+12.5%) compared to Rs 35,693 million in 2009.