There is no doubt that tourism is one of the pillars of the Mauritian economy, up to the year 2002. There many hotel projects, some of which are well on their way, but can you tell us about the main aspects of future development for the hotel industry?
It seems obvious, with the number of tourist arrivals in Mauritius
being in constant increase – you know that we are expecting 700,000 tourists in year
2002 – it seems obvious that the necessary infrastructures will have to be set up.
Construction of a few new hotels has already started and, in the pipeline, there are
several new projects that will be approved by Government. Approval will, of course, only
be obtained after all the procedures required prior to the construction of an hotel have
been followed, one of the main conditions being the delivery by the Ministry of
Environment of an "E I A" Certificate (Environment Impact Assessment
Certificate). It is important to know that, before we give the green light for the
construction of a hotel, we must have the guarantee that it will have no adverse effect on
the landscape of our country, so that Mauritius can keep its specificity of being a
beautiful island.
So, we are pragmatic enough to encourage hotel development in order to
cater for the future, but at the same time, we make sure that these development, these
permits are granted only after strict procedures, as stipulated by law, have been adhered
to, including the steps to be taken for the protection of environment.
What are the true development priorities to attract new tourists. Will
it still remain an up-market destination?
Definitely, it is our policy and at the Ministry, ever since my
appointment as Minister of Tourism, I insist upon that aspect. We want quality; we are not
interested in quantity. We want quality and are now starting being successful in that
respect. We want the top-grade. We want the tourists coming to our island to see for
themselves that our product retains its up-market character. I am against mass tourism; I
am against "Charters". We think that by keeping this policy, we can ensure a
good future for our country
But, speaking of that, are the investments you are making commensurate
with the income that you derive from tourism?
I must say now – you will see the figures for yourselves - that
the Tourism Industry generates an annual revenue of 11 billion rupees for Mauritius and
this industry is called upon to grow in the years to come. Investments in terms of tourism
promotion and, most of all, in terms of training, generate appreciable dividends. The
tourism industry may eventually become the first industry of this country. This is an
evidence. So, as I told you before, we invest largely in quality, in promotion of course,
and in training. It is also interesting to note that in Mauritius the Tourism Industry is
almost entirely privately owned, to the level of 98% to 99%. My Ministry assists the
Private Sector, trying to make things easier for them, encouraging them to keep on
developing de-luxe products.
Concerning the promotion strategy you have adopted: what are the target
countries or markets for the promotion of Mauritian tourism?
As you will see by the figures, we are well established in Europe: in
France, in England, in Italy and we also have interesting potential markets in South
Africa, in Reunion and also in Germany. But this does not stop there. We are considering
having promotions aimed at the Southeast Asian market and the countries of Latin America.
To this effect, we are now studying the possibility of facilitating visa procedures for
Latin-American nationals so that we can offer packages for the South of Africa and
Mauritius to visitors from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay etc.
Mainly Brazilians who travel a lot
You are right! Brazilians travel a lot and they like to make quick
decisions about their travels and so they should be able to obtain a visa almost on
request.
On a global point of view, there is now a definite evolution towards
"green and environmental tourism" . Are you adapting your priorities to these
new trends?
You know, we have always sold our sun, our beaches, but also our smile,
the smile of our people and the quality of our ecology. So, we are giving incentives, you
see, to encourage some hotel development inside the island. It would be interesting to see
for yourself the Domaine du Chasseur or the Domaine Les Pailles. We are very concerned
with ecology and try to develop the island while keeping constantly in mind the ecology
side, mainly for the protection of our lagoons. There are many attractions for the
tourists but we must be very watchful in all environmental matters too.
Your country has now a regional development projects, together with
Mozambique, Madagascar, Seychelles. Can you integrate your present priorities into this
regional development project?
There are two aspects for the regional development of tourism. First,
the aspect of investment in those countries. As you said, we are going to invest in
Mozambique, not only in tourism, but in several other fields as well and we are also
aiming at Madagascar, Tanzania, etc. and we encourage exchanges that will allow us to know
these countries better. However, the second aspect is important as well: Mauritius is now
presiding the Council of Tourism Ministers of the SADC (The Southern African Development
Community) – and as Minister of Tourism, I am now Chairman of the Council of Tourism
Ministers of the fourteen member countries of the SADC, and – as you must be aware
– we have just signed a "Tourism Protocol" for all these member countries
of the SADC. This protocol will eventually, when it will be ratified, allow us to set-up a
"uni-visa" for all the countries of the region, to increase our co-operation in
terms of training and in terms of promotion. What we have set up – this Conference of
the Ministers of Tourism of the SADC had taken the decision some time ago -. we have
formed the RETOSA (Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa) which is the
promotional body for the SADC, therefore, of the countries of the region. In future,
therefore, we will have a regional promotion policy and the RETOSA, with its headquarters
in Johannesburg, its Board of Directors and its General Manager, will be present at all
the big tourism fair to sell the region.
Our readers are constantly looking for new investment and business
opportunities. Could you mention some investment opportunities in your sector?
As I said before, at present investments are always welcome in
Mauritius, either coming from local or from foreign investors and we are giving them all
the facilities they need. Promoters for Leisure Parks, Aquatic Parks, Aquariums, hotels or
for all other projects relating to tourism are welcome here. They will be given many
incentives – for example, exemption from customs duties on equipment. We deliver what
is called the "Hotel Management Service Certificate" to encourage large hotel
groups to settle here in Mauritius. We also have, in additional to the Hotel Management
Service Certificate, introduced a "Leisure Development Certificate" allowing
promoters to obtain substantial tax rebates. And as you know, all the big projects also
benefit from fiscal incentives under the provisions of the "Companies Tax" etc.
| One more general question: after twenty years of tourism, can you still
talk of a Mauritian specificity?
I believe that this is our greatest achievement. We have gone from our
first timid steps during the 60’s to what is today one of our main industries,
representing, with other sectors, the future of our country. We have managed this
transition and still have retained the specificity of our island – mainly because we
have always aimed at the top-range. All the tourists - I call them "guests" -
who come to Mauritius, will always find the bright smile of Mauritians, the welcome of our
people, the differences in cultures, integrated in the Mauritian way of life: The guests
will feel at home amongst Mauritians of different origins: European, African, Indian and
Asian – all living together in social harmony, in peace of mind and in a safe
environment. To me, this is the Mauritian specificity: it’s giving to our guests all
the beautiful, clean and noble things we have managed to retain over the years in our
country.
It is evident that there is continuity in your ideology in respect of
tourism. Your tourism development saw no abrupt changes.
No, things happened smoothly over the last 30 years, with no clashes
whatsoever. Mauritius is a very peaceful and safe country – an absolutely safe
destination which, in spite of its remoteness, continues to attract more and more guests.
Remoteness, for some – if you are looking towards Asia and around!
Have you given any thought of creating a health-orientated market, as
is the case for many other countries now. I mean thalaso, keep-fit and anti-stress
centers, run by professionals.
There are a few projects with hotels using this concept. There is
already a hotel and thalasotherapy center project in the west – which shows interest
in this field. And this aspect interests a few investors in the Private Sector.
Let’s say it’s the new trend…
Yes, we can say that: anti-stress and massages centers and
health-farms.
That’s being very popular nowadays. Here no such projects exist
yet. Are you thinking of creating a market, a niche for your country?
A few investors have shown interest and submitted projects. There
is definitely an important project on the West Coast.
And, do you believe in their potential?
Absolutely, we must also go this way, the more so, that it will not
affect our specificity at all.
Can the Honorable Minister give to our reader a brief outline of his
professional experience?
You mean, at my Ministry?
No, about what brought you there.
Now you are asking me a personal question… As you know, in
Mauritius, the sugar industry has always been the pillar of our economy and my parents and
grandparents have always had close links with the Sugar sector. I, therefore, started at a
young age, I was only 16, working in the sugar-cane fields, doing what was called "La
Marque", meaning time-keeping for the laborers. I slowly went up the ladder in the
hierarchy of the Sugar Industry and in the field of Accountancy where I qualified and I
finally was Chief Accountant at a Sugar Factory. But I was always drawn towards the social
aspect and I always managed to do some social work and I think that it’s this
involvement in social work, which led me, after twenty years, towards a political
involvement. Then I was candidate to the elections and was elected. I was first Junior
Minister at the Ministry of Finance and then became Minister of Tourism. I think that it
was really my active participation in social work since my youth that led me to be now at
the service of my country.
Just a little side story: we have a specificity in my family: my father
is a catholic priest. It’s very rare – I think that Forbes has never seen that.
What really happened is that my father first went to the French seminary in Rome to become
a priest. After five years – at that time it needed 7 or 8 years to become a priest
– my grandfather who was Administrator of a Sugar Factory here, died. So my father
decided to come back here, to discontinue his studies and come back to take care of the
family. Many years after that, he met my mother and got married – I am thankful for
that! My mother died very young, she was only 39, I was only 6 years old then – and
ten years after my mother’s death, my father, then aged 57, went back to the French
Seminary in Angers where he studied for three years to finish his studies – he was a
widower, could therefore become a priest and he was ordained. He came back to Mauritius,
celebrated the weddings of all his own children and christened all his grandchildren.
That’s why I said that you have there, in front of you, a specimen – the son of
a catholic priest.
How interesting! He had the real vocation to become a priest and
obviously it was what he wanted most to do.
One more question – may be more personal. What was your greatest
satisfaction as the Minister of Tourism & Leisure?
I believe that the greatest satisfaction was not one single event.
The greatest satisfaction is continuous: it’s seeing my country welcoming tourists
truly like "guests" – it’s seeing that our people consider tourists
even more than guests: here is their home. The greatest satisfaction is seeing Mauritians
enjoying the presence of tourists and becoming integrated to them. It also works the other
way round: the tourists coming here are our guests, they are integrated in the Mauritian
society – and for me, this is the greatest satisfaction.
Your final message to our readers?
As my final message, I will just quote the words of the poet saying
that God had first made Mauritius and then Paradise – that’s Mark Twain. These
words are well known. And I will invite the tourists to come over and over again in this
Paradise which will keep its actual specificity, with this special welcome our people have
for people from abroad. I invite them to visit us, to come and enjoy all that we have to
offer as an ancestral mixture. |
