INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM

January to March 2012 - Highlights

Passenger traffic

Total passenger arrivals for the period January to March 2012 numbered 345,530 almost same (345,626) as in the corresponding period of the preceding year. During the same period, passenger departures numbered 373,259 (-0.7%).

Tourist arrivals

Tourist arrivals for the first three months of 2012 attained 261,995. This represents a decrease of 0.2% over the figure of 262,626 registered for the first quarter of 2011.

Tourist arrivals from Europe decreased by 2.7% to 171,669 with a 2.7% fall in arrivals from France, the leading market. As regards the other major tourist generating countries, the following performances were recorded in tourist arrivals: Germany (-0.8%), United Kingdom (-6.3%) and Italy (-20.2%).

Tourist arrivals from Africa decreased by 1.8% to 59,955. Arrivals from Reunion Island, the major market of the region, dropped by 6.8% while those from the Republic of South Africa increased by 6.9%.

Tourist arrivals from the Asian market went up by 19.4% to reach 21,977, with India, the major generating country of the continent, registering a growth of 5.7%. The performance of other Asian countries was as follows: People’s Republic of China (+78.5%), Hong Kong (+43.8%), Japan (+34.1%), United Arab Emirates (+3.4%), Malaysia (-10.2%) and Singapore (-18.8%).

Tourist arrivals from Oceania rose by 5.1% and those from America went up by 43.0%. Tourist arrivals from these two continents numbered 8,220, representing only 3.1% of the total.

Tourism receipts

Gross tourism receipts for the first quarter of 2012 were estimated by the Bank of Mauritius at Rs 13,819 million, representing an increase of 15.6% compared to Rs 11,949 million estimated for the same period of 2011.

Hotel Statistics

At the end of March 2012, there were 117 registered hotels of which 110 were in operation, with a total room capacity of 12,027 and 24,446 bedplaces. The average room occupancy rate for all hotels in operation for the first quarter of 2012 was 69% while bed occupancy rate averaged 61%.

Forecast 2012

Based on data available on tourist arrivals and information gathered from stakeholders, the forecast of 980,000 tourist arrivals for the year 2012 is maintained, representing an increase of 1.6% over the figure of 964,642 in 2011.

According to the Bank of Mauritius, tourism receipts for the year 2012 will be around Rs43,178 million (+0.8 %) compared to Rs 42,845 million in 2011.

May 2012

More: International Travel & Tourism 1st Quarter 2012