Tourist Revenues Continue Upward Trend in Mauritius

Industry experts have been closely watching Mauritian tourism ever since the start of the 2011 calendar year. Almost immediately they began noticing a jump in the number of arrivals to the island, usually hovering around 4.5% to 5% per month. By early summer arrivals had increased some 7%, even as the Mauritian government was in full court press promoting the island around the world as a top-notch holiday destination. Their efforts appear to be continuing to pay off according to recent statistics just announced by the Bank of Mauritius.

As reported by Reuters, the Bank of Mauritius announced earlier this week that tourism revenues rose by some 9.7% over the twelve months ending on August 31. For that same period in 2009/2010, revenue stood at approximately 37.8 billion rupees as opposed to the 41.5 billion rupees realised this year. That's quite an economic boost when one considers the fact that tourism makes up roughly 10% of the Mauritian GDP. The revenue increase simply adds to what is already one of the best economies in the Indian Ocean region.

In addition to revenues being up, the total number of arrivals also increased from 903,867 in 2010 to 963,078 this year. That's an increase of nearly 7%, keeping in line with the numbers being recorded in June and July. Overall the tourism picture in Mauritius looks very good for 2011. Government officials are hoping to see even better numbers as the peak travel season opens in December. With the addition of a pro golf tournament and a couple of other special events, Mauritius should see good numbers through December and into 2012.

Experts attribute much of the increase to a better economy in Europe, which supplies nearly 2/3 of the region's annual visitors. But they also don't discount the Herculean efforts made by the Ministry of Tourism to boost the island's profile. In addition to working on quite a bit of self-promotion, Mauritius has also joined with the Vanilla Islands cooperative that seeks to promote the entire Indian Ocean region in a joint effort.

Amidst all of the good news this might be the perfect time for Mauritius family holidays. With the winter season fast approaching in Europe, families looking for fun in the sun leading up to the Christmas holidays could choose no better destination. Mauritius offers great luxury resorts, exquisite dining, inspiring culture and history, natural tropical beauty, white sand beaches, and of course, some of the most consistently spectacular weather anywhere on the planet.

UK travellers should find Mauritius especially attractive due to the fact that this past summer was nothing to cheer about. And now that they are in the full throes of autumn, the traditionally warm and sunny European destinations in Spain and southern France are cooling down as well. This is a perfect time to get a flight and escape to a beautiful tropical environment. There are still plenty of flights available as well as resorts for every taste and budget.

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Four Seasons Offers a New Way to See Mauritius

More often than not, tourists to Mauritius tend to embark upon traditional sightseeing tours with trained guides who show them the way. While this method of seeing the Indian Ocean island is certainly a viable one, those who prefer a more adventurous sightseeing tour done independently of large groups now have an interesting new option. The new program is being offered by the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius located at Anahita, in the south east of the island.

So what is this adventurous new sightseeing program? It is something being described by the hotel chain as a "top-down" tour. The tour is developed by the Four Seasons staff tailored to show tourists the best parts of the island that would particularly appeal to their tastes and interests. The tour data is downloaded into the satellite navigation system of a convertible Mini Cooper that the registered guests then use to embark on their own tour, at their own schedule.

The best thing about these tours is that there are four different itineraries to choose from. The choices are designated as Adrenaline (for those looking for exciting adventure), Culinary (focused on fine dining and food), Family (packed with family oriented activities), and Scenic (dedicated to showing guests the best of Mauritius' natural beauty). The scenic tour takes guests to the Black River National Park and the World Heritage Site at Le Mourne.

The tours are marketed as a great alternative for Mauritius family holidays because they allow for parents and their children to experience a wide range of activities they might not otherwise be exposed to. Where mother and father might prefer a culinary tour on one day, they could satisfy the desires of the children with a family tour on the next. Having such a good variety means there is something for every family member to enjoy.

In addition to driving the Mini Cooper from one site to the next, guests will engage in other activities such as hiking, biking, kite surfing, windsurfing, and dining at some of the world’s most interesting restaurants. Far from just sitting in a car all day, these new mini tours provide plenty of activity to keep guests busy for hours. Though they may be tired at the end of the day, it will be with the satisfaction of knowing great things experiences were enjoyed by all.

The tropical environment and natural beauty of Mauritius makes this island the ideal place for The Four Seasons mini tours. If they prove to be successful here it is possible the hotel chain will implement them elsewhere. If you're heading to Mauritius for a holiday this winter, you could be one of the first guests to utilize the service. The Four Seasons would be happy to provide you with your own customized tour that will make your stay in Mauritius a memorable one.

Mauritius Holidays Direct, the luxury holiday company based in the UK, is your best option for Mauritius family holidays, beach weddings, and romantic honeymoons.

New Mauritian Dam to Spur Further Economic Development

A project to build a new dam in Mauritius, set to get under way on December 1, is expected to help further economic development in the country's capital city of Port St. Louis, as well as some of the smaller towns downstream. The project will create an artificial reservoir through a dam across the Terre Rouge River, on the north-west portion of the island. When it's complete, the 14.2 million m³ reservoir will become instrumental in the Mauritian effort to maintain responsible water conservation.

The new dam is being built by China's Three Gorgeous Corporation, the operator of that country's largest and most notable water conservation project. It will cost a projected USD $112 million with a completion schedule of about three years. The new dam has already been given a name: the Bagatelle dam.

A similar dam project developed around the turn-of-the-century was an immediate success in helping Mauritius control its potable drinking water supply. Although she is a tropical island in the midst the Indian Ocean, potable water has long been a problem in Mauritius as the government pours most of its resources into the tourist industry, leaving inland towns and cities with poor infrastructure. Building these dam projects means that clean drinking water will be available in those areas as well.

Furthermore, building dams such as Bagatelle help to create a more inviting environment for business development. When dams go in, new towns and their accompanying businesses are born. The Mauritian government is hoping that the economic activity resulting from this new dam will be good for everyone, especially the tourist industry. Tourism still accounts for the largest percentage of the Mauritian GDP and foreign currency, so it must be preserved.

Holidays to Mauritius should only get better with the building of the new dam. But even without that project, this island nation has been a favourite European holiday destination for generations. Being able to visit an island that has been significantly influenced by both the British and the French, means Europeans are able to get a glimpse of a colonial past in a tropical environment where peace and tranquillity are the norm.

The island has always been known for incredible natural beauty, crystal-clear water alive with water sports, an intriguing indigenous culture, interesting and tasteful cuisine, and of course, near-perfect weather year-round. In recent years Mauritius has also been trying to develop itself as a great getaway for sports-related activities. They have been developing their golf industry as well as attracting professional sports like surfing and kite-surfing.

As many of the downstream towns and cities realize a consistent supply of potable water economic development will soon follow. That means more opportunities for business, more places to see for visitors, and a healthier environment all the way around. The Mauritian tourist industry extends an invitation to you to consider visiting their island on your next holiday trip. They are ready with plenty of bed capacity and all of the amenities necessary to make your trip one you'll never forget.

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LHW Bringing Father Christmas to Mauritius

Leading Hotels of the World, operators of the Royal Palm Hotel in Mauritius, have announced plans for this year's Christmas day celebration. It includes bringing Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus in other parts of the world, to the beach-side resort on the morning of December 25. The program is designed to provide Christmas entertainment and celebration to the resort's guests during the Christmas holiday season.

According to the announcement, Father Christmas will make the rounds visiting all of the LHW properties around the world, finishing up his travels on Mauritius on Christmas morning. After appearing in Seychelles he will make his way across the Indian Ocean and arrive in Mauritius on water skis. At the conclusion of the aquatic program the jolly old elf will disappear from view and reappear in the resort's lounge area. From there the children will be invited into the hotel's kids club to receive gifts. The entire celebration will close out with a special Christmas show.

LHW decided to provide the Christmas celebration so that parents won't have to miss out on an age-old tradition if they choose to take holidays to Mauritius. Having the island play host to the final appearance of the season also plays into the long-held tradition that Father Christmas takes a tropical vacation after finishing his global rounds. It's an added bonus for the younger kids who can then lay claim to the fact that they enjoyed the tropics with one of the most famous international celebrities.

November through January marks the peak travel season in Mauritius so interested travellers should not delay in making the reservations if they want to be at the Royal Palm on Christmas morning. In addition to the special Christmas day program, guests will be treated to a fine luxury resort which knows how to cater to their guests every whim. From the accommodations to the beach to the resort facilities, the Royal Palm is a quality resort.

Elsewhere on the island, guests at all of the resorts will enjoy the perfect tropical weather while relishing the fact that their loved ones back home are fully ensconced in winter. Golfers will be enjoying one of the island's eight championship-level courses in shorts, T-shirts, and sunglasses. Kids will be building sand castles on the beach while couples will go on for long strolls among tropical green gardens. There's no better way to spend your Christmas holidays then an extended stay on Mauritius.

If you've already made plans for Christmas, there is still occupancy for October, November, and even next spring. Regardless of the season you visit, Mauritius always has plenty to offer by way of culture, history, water sports, shopping, and other activities. The island also boasts resorts and hotels to fit every budget and taste. So if you're planning to leave home to travel abroad for holidays, there's really no reason for you not to consider Mauritius.

To book All Inclusive Mauritius Holidays contact Mauritius Holidays Direct, the specialist holiday company based in the UK .