After being severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, the tourism industry has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels, with tourist arrivals accounting for 92% of January to July 2019 figures, according to a report by AXYS.
This upturn is mainly due to air connectivity, competitive airfares compared with previous years, MTPA's promotional campaigns aimed mainly at European countries, and the evolution of the currency.
AXYS, a leading provider of portfolio management services in Mauritius, has published a report highlighting the vital importance of tourism to the Mauritian economy.
According to this agency, the local tourism industry is directly responsible for over 77,000 jobs, with the average real expenditure per visitor remaining stable at around EUR1300 (or EUR120/Rs5,800 per day) over the last 30 years. This reflects the consistent purchasing power of tourists visiting Mauritius.
Major benefits 
" With the crisis of Covid-19, the industry has been severely hit, and has managed to survive thanks to loans from the Mauritius Investment Corporation (MIC). Nevertheless, following the complete reopening of our borders in July 2022, tourist arrivals have almost returned to their pre-pandemic levels. As a result, hoteliers recorded significant profits in fiscal 2023, making the sector the best performer in 2022," says Intesh Seebaluck, Research Analyst at AXYS.
According to the report, Europe remains our main market, with a marked dependence on France, the UK, Réunion, Germany, India and South Africa. Due to our geographical disadvantage and higher airfares, Mauritius has unfortunately not been able to fully capture the Chinese and Indian markets, as the Maldives has done.
AXYS also maintains that, contrary to preconceived ideas, the Maldives and the Seychelles are not necessarily our direct competitors.
The report also reveals that, despite the growth of the informal sector, around 80% of tourists choose hotels, even though the French, including Réunionese, prefer non-hotel accommodation.