The tourism industry is poised for further growth next year, increasing job prospects and the employment rate, contributing to the economic growth of the country.

This assurance was given to the students of the University of Mauritius and other students taking tourism and hospitality as a subject, by stakeholders in the sector during a lecture on “Why Toursim & why study Tourism” at the University of Mauritius on Tuesday. 

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

The year 2009 had experienced a decrease in the number of tourists coming to Mauritius due to the global financial crisis that affected large economies of the world. In 2008, 930 456 tourists had visited the country while only 871 356 came to Mauritius in 2009.

However, the latest reports of the Central Statistics Office on International Travel and Tourism, predict that tourist arrivals for the year 2010 would be around 915 000, that is an increase of 5% compared to 871 356 in 2009.

Ashwin Seetaram, Research Executive at Association des Hoteliers et Restaurateurs de Ile Maurice, AHRIM, says that more hotels will be constructed to accommodate the increasing number of tourists in the country: 1 205 Narraidoo hotels in 2010 and 2 566 hotels in 2011. He adds that the number of staff is also expected to rise accordingly: 3013 employees for 2010 and 6 415 in 2011.

“This is a very promising industry and there are many job prospects for graduates in this field. These include direct employments as well as indirect ones, that is professionals in the IT department, finance, human resource, analysts, sales and marketing officers,” he says.

Donald Payen, Executive Vice President Commercial and Communications at Air Mauritius explains that the new terminal which will be inaugurated in 2011, will eventually require more staff, not only as frontliners at the airport but in other departments as well.

“Air Mauritius is the bridge which brings tourists to the country. More terminals at the airport implies more tourists coming to the country. This will eventually lead to more staff both at Air Mauritius and in the tourism industry,” says Payen.

He adds that Mauritius is prepared to welcome 2 million tourists per year but for that, training of the staff is required.

Dr. Tulsidas Naraidoo, from Casuarina Resort and Spa, explains that to be able to survive and succeed in tourism, Mauritius will have to always innovate in the services that are being offered to the tourists.
He says: “We have to overcome all the challenges and provide new products as Mauritius is aiming to become a centre of excellence for tourism in the region. Our greatest asset is our hospitality and not the sun, sand and sea. Therefore, proper training in the tourism sector is very important.”