User:Llewelynpritchard/Sandbox

"The importance of Free Independent Travellers to the Government of Mauritius's tourism development policy"

"Tourism development policy, Government of Mauritius, 2008" Tourism in Mauritius [] contributed significantly to economic growth [] in 2008 with a value added of 9.2 % of GDP []and has been a key factor in the overall development of the island’s prosperity. The Government of Mauritiusis focussed on promoting the island as a 4/5 star holiday destination or as a high end tourist destination for European travellers and the country has done very well in the region in terms of attracting foreign direct investment []and attracting world class hotels. The Government's tourism development policy aims to attract foreign capital through the availability of preferential tax treatments for potential investors and property buying through Integrated Resorts Schemes.

"Main countries of origin of tourists to Mauritius, 2008" In July 2008 About 65.7% of tourist arrivals were of European origin, with France supplying nearly half and nearby Reunion Island [] was the most important short haul source (10.6%). In relation to the Government’s figures showing a total estimated resident population of 1,272,040 on 31 December 2008, a total of 455,758 tourists mainly from France, United Kingdom, India, South Africa, Australia and Russia visited Mauritius for the first six months of 2008 – an additional 35.8% on top of its permanent population and a growth of 5.5% compared with the same period in 2007.

"Growth of Tourism in Mauritius 2007 - 2008" The country has experienced a rise of 9.9% for India (24,430 tourist arrivals), 10.3% for South Africa (41,919 tourist arrivals) and 6.3% for Australia (8,757 tourist arrivals). Reunion, the second market of the destination, has grown by 0.4%, with 45,200 visitors, in March 2008.

"Economic consequences of relatively few Free Independent Travellers(FITS), otherwise known as DIY travellers, visiting the island" But since most tourists are on package holidays there is still relatively small numbers of free independent travellers in Mauritius[] and therefore relatively little involvement in the country’s economic development process in providing self-catering accommodation by local Mauritians themselves, including improved job opportunities for women among others, apart from low paid, less skilled jobs in servicing the hotels and other foreign investment projects.

"The Mauritian Government's policy for tourism development is not supporting an increase of Free Independent Travellers on the island" The above established facts do not match up with The Government’s approach as described by the Hon. Etienne Sinatambou, Government Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Acting Minister of Tourism, Leisure and External Communications at a Workshop organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in collaboration with the University of Technology, Mauritius (UTM) in July 2008. Although the Government is simultaneously seeking to maximise the benefits of tourism to investors []and to the Mauritian economy as a whole their strategy is not yet supporting the need for more FITS tourists on the island. It is still unclear whether or not the Government's own policy of promoting Mauritius as a 4/5 star hotel destination is the main cause of insufficient all-year round FITS arriving on its shores.

"The rise of the FITS and the Mauritius Government's response" However it is an established fact that the Free and Independent Traveller is a growing sector of the worldwide market with distinctive economic development implications from a perspective of what is most efficient for the healthy growth of the Mauritian tourist economy as a whole. For example, because the FITS whilst spending, spread their money around more in different ways at different locations they are helping to bring about more efficient economic development for the whole country than if their spending behaviour is more restricted by for example, tour operators who have more control and constraints over the many components in the chain of delivering tourists’ spending money to the island.

"Economic and social consequences of the Government's policy" The economic implications of the Government’s policy for the self-catering accommodation market in Mauritius is restricting the island’s general prosperity because many apartments and villas owned by local people are left unoccupied even during the peak November – January season as any visitor to the island can testify.

"External Links" [http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/Mainhomepage/menuitem.cc515006ac7521ae3a9dbea5e2b521ca/ Government of Mauritius]Workshop organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in collaboration with the University of Technology, Mauritius 21 July 2008