Mauritius Reaping the Benefits of Wet and Cool UK Summer

Mauritius and her fellow Indian Ocean tourist destinations have been enjoying larger numbers of visitors ever since the calendar turned to 2011, and recent statistics reveal some of that may be due to the cold and wet summer in the UK. While France typically provides the most visitors to Mauritius, the number of British travellers has increased significantly this year. More importantly, British Airways and various travel operators have noticed an upswing in last-minute bookings as UK residents look to escape overseas.

Mauritius last minute deals are still available through tour operators across the UK, according to British Airways. In a recent report they also noted that Orlando and Barbados have also seen a slight increase in last-minute bookings. All three destinations offer the beautiful sunshine, warm waters, and heat so lacking in the UK this summer. And with the British summer quickly fading into autumn, going overseas may be a Brit's only hope of a warm summer holiday.

As far as Mauritius is concerned, tourist activity has been brisk to say the least. The island nation has enjoyed a 15% increase in the number of available beds since 2008 with several new hotels planned for opening between now and the end of 2012. This new reality has called for an increase in flights to and from the island, and British Airways has answered the call. They began offering more direct flights from Heathrow this past spring and plan another increase early next year.

Air Mauritius is planning increased flights as well; those new flights will begin this fall. Even the Mauritian government is getting involved, negotiating with several private air carriers from Europe and Asia who might be able to pick up the slack for them. All signs point to plenty of flights being available as the number of tourists continues to increase.

If you've never visited Mauritius there's no better time to go than now. You'll experience the Indian ocean paradise complete with plentiful sunshine, turquoise-blue waters, comfortable temperatures, and some of the most gloriously spectacular sunsets seen anywhere on the earth. Imagine strolling down a white sand beach as the sun slowly sets over the ocean horizon. In the morning, imagine waking up to see a tranquil and peaceful lagoon to one side and the majestic Mauritian mountains on the other.

While you're on Mauritius last minute deals, there will certainly be no shortage of things to do. You could spend a day in Port St. Louis, the nation's capital as well as a great spot for historic and cultural sites. You'll enjoy a spectacular natural environment that includes lush green gardens, hiking and biking trails, and beautiful vistas. For those who love the water, Mauritius offers a long list of water sports to keep you busy throughout your stay. Finally, if golf is your passion Mauritius is the place to be. Her championship golf courses offer not only a challenge, but also the ability to play among the world's most stunning natural surroundings.

More Good News for Mauritian Tourism

Throughout the spring and summer we have been keeping you up-to-date on all of the good news coming out of Mauritius and its tourist trade. Today we have yet again another story further proving that the island nation's tourism industry is thriving. The news comes by way of the latest report from Mauritius Central Statistics Office which shows gross revenues from tourism up more than 7% for the first six months of 2011.

The report shows that Mauritius' tourist economy has so far brought in €325.89 million, as compared to €302.9 million for the same period last year. In addition, the total number of arrivals to Mauritius rose nearly 6% to more than 460,000. Leading the way once again were the Europeans.

These are important numbers for Mauritius, because they depend heavily on international tourism for both their overall economy and foreign currency. In fact, tourism and textiles combine to provide the majority of Mauritius' foreign currency. If trends continue for the remainder of the year the government expects total revenues for 2011 tourism to show an increase of just under 8%. That would be quite an accomplishment in light of a still sluggish worldwide economy and earlier projections that the island would only see a 5% increase this year.

To date there are more than 100 operational resorts and hotels in Mauritius, catering to the preferences and pocketbooks of all types of travellers. You have luxury resorts with private beaches; four-star resorts with beach access close by and even three-star economy hotels which still offer great accommodations at an affordable price. Along with the hotels and resorts you have world-class dining and entertainment, plenty of golf, the island nation's natural beauty, and so many water sports possibilities you can't keep track of them all.

According to British Airways, travel to Mauritius has never been better than it is now. They are aggressively marketing last-minute bookings to people might want to get in before summer's over. They're working with tour operators and resort owners to fill as many flights and beds as possible. This is a great time to get a great last-minute deal on Indian Ocean holiday. If you've never been to Mauritius now was the time to book your plans and get going.

Mauritius is one of the world's top honeymoon and beach wedding destinations because of its weather and picturesque landscapes. Wedding beaches are highly prized because the island's romantic atmosphere makes it the perfect setting. Couples interested in a honeymoon getaway or simply a 10 day holiday without the kids are also known to bask in the glorious sunshine, warm waters, and pristine beaches.

Mauritius invites you to join them this summer for a holiday to remember. They'd like to see their good numbers keep going to be the year, and they invite you to help them make it happen. Once you've been to Mauritius, you'll definitely want to go back time and again.

Travel to Mauritius is made possible by Mauritius Holidays Direct, the specialist holiday company based in the UK that's been bringing you the Indian Ocean for years.

Mauritius Holidays Continue Strong Despite the Bad Press

If you keep up with the news from the Vanilla Islands you are probably familiar with a stream of bad news that's been coming out of Mauritius within the last couple of months. Most notably has been the government shake-up which has seen several key cabinet officials resigning from their post since the beginning of August. In addition, the Socialist party has also withdrawn from the government coalition in a protest over how an ethics investigation of one of its members was being conducted.

Adding to the string of bad news is a recent report that air Mauritius is running a loss of about £11 million for the current calendar year; this despite encouraging reports this past spring that the government-owned airline was set to return to profitability. The change in fortunes has been attributed largely to lower-than-expected passenger numbers and the continually soaring cost of jet fuel. Yet despite the bad news, tourism in Mauritius is still doing very well.

For Mauritius holidays, all inclusive packages still remain the most popular option for tourists coming to the island. They are the most economical and convenient way to travel overseas. And even though Seychelles has become a media darling over the last couple of years, and her tourist numbers are up as well, Mauritius continues to lead the Indian Ocean region. Those who have visited already know this is for good reason. There are few spots on earth as perfect for a 10-day holiday as this island.

Mauritius' greatest selling point is her near-perfect tropical weather. Because the island is so near the equator temperatures are very consistent throughout the year, accompanied by plenty of sunshine. Combined with the natural beauties of Mauritius which include white sand beaches, crystal-clear lagoons, and incredible mountains, it's easy to see why the locals claim their island was created before the Garden of Eden. Mauritius is truly a tropical paradise and favourite travel destination for many Europeans.

At the same time tourist industry development in Mauritius continues as a pretty brisk pace. There are several new hotels slated to be open by sometime next year as well as a ten-year development project under way to provide visitors with a multi-faceted resource and entertainment venue complete with hotels, restaurants, theme parks, shopping, and more. When the complex is completed it's expected to be the crown jewel of the Indian Ocean region.

While tourism continues strong in Mauritius officials fear that might change if they cannot turn things around at the national airline. Some have suggested the country follow the lead of Seychelles and open their airport to a handful of private carriers. So far government allies have resisted such suggestions. Yet they might have no other alternative down the road if current trends continue.

For your Mauritius holidays, all inclusive packages are available from, Mauritius Holidays Direct, the specialist holiday company based in the UK . They also have great deals for honeymoon, wedding, and family holidays as well.

Family Friendly Hotels in Mauritius Beckoning European Travellers

Despite very optimistic numbers for the 2011 first season, holiday operators and resort owners in Mauritius believe they can do better where family holidays are concerned. General travel to the Indian Ocean has been off significantly since the peak years of the last decade, but now, as the world's economies slowly rebound and people are once again travelling, family visits to Mauritius are not coming back as well as they could be. Most of the increase in 2011 has been attributed to couples looking for a romantic honeymoon or wedding package.

As you would expect luxury resorts in Mauritius are now realising that families have different preferences that need to be met if they expect to bring them to the island. To that end, some of these resorts are remodelling to include more spacious accommodations designed for parents with several children. They are also including more and more children's amenities and age-specific activities for toddlers, pre-teens, and even teenagers too. Many family friendly hotels in Mauritius even have kids clubs and teen clubs specifically for this purpose.

Beyond what the hotels and resorts are offering, Mauritius is a natural environment for kids because there are so many things to do. Mauritius is more than just her gorgeous weather in beautiful sunsets; she is an island nation filled with adventure. The mountains invite you to engage in long wilderness treks or exciting bike rides. The water offers sailing, water skiing, and diving opportunities. There are even opportunities to swim with the fish that your children will absolutely love.

On the beach you can enjoy a family game of volleyball or spend the hours building sand castles in the sun. Golf resorts are even beginning to develop family golf packages for both beginners and experts alike. The point is Mauritius is opening its arms to families in ways never before seen. If you've previously stayed away from the island for fear that it's not family friendly, Mauritius wants to change that perception by inviting you to come visit today.

Your best bet is to contact a luxury holiday company who can provide you with all inclusive family deals. You want to look for something that includes airfare, accommodations, a dining plan, and any extras that might be important to you. Holiday packages revolving around families are plentiful if you know where to look. And any time you can save a little money booking your holiday plans, you'll have that little bit extra to take with you for souvenirs and off-site entertainment.

If you've never taken the family overseas for holidays, there's no better time than now to do so. Book your fault holidays in Mauritius and see what everybody else has been talking about. Once you visit the first time you'll want to return time and again.

Mauritius Holidays Direct, the specialist holiday company based in the UK, invites you to contact them right away about family friendly hotels in Mauritius. Packages are available for you and your family.