In an ongoing effort to reshape the way Mauritius engages in the tourism industry, that nation's government announced over the weekend plans to divest itself of some of its tourist interests. The plan not only helps further the island nation's goals for revamping the industry, it also helps raise some much needed cash for other expenditures. Among the divestitures are the new developments at the Port Louis waterfront, the Lake Point Complex, and several casinos.
Beyond the announcement no further details have been given as to a timetable for completing the divestments. It is assumed that the government will now go through the valuation process to find out exactly how much its property is worth. Whether or not international bidders will be allowed also remains to be seen. It may be that the Mauritius government decides to keep all of the properties under the control of local investors, although that would be highly unlikely.
The sale of the properties is in keeping with the plan Mauritius is currently on to attract more foreign investment and enter new markets. Government officials have been working extra hard during this past year to completely revamp the way the nation does business in the tourism sector. They are working to develop relationships between international and local investors, public and private sector organizations, and other nations like Seychelles and the Maldives.
Given the announcement there is new speculation about whether the country's national airline, Air Mauritius, will also be fully or partially put on the sales block. The government-owned airline has long been protected against losses through the contribution of its shareholders, but after opening up her skies to foreign airlines, Mauritius may need to consider privatizing the airline in order to compete effectively. Nothing specific has been said about Air Mauritius to date.
Perhaps helping to encourage the sale of all or part of Air Mauritius is the fact that the international airport in Port Louis was recently voted as the best airport in Africa. Ongoing capital improvements are continuing to make it a more desirable destination to fly into, resulting in increased flights from airlines like British Airways.
Individuals coming to the island for Mauritius honeymoons, family holidays, and romantic getaways should notice no significant changes once the divestments are complete. If anything, there may even be slight improvements made as private-sector companies seek to enhance the properties they purchase. Regardless, the island will still be home to bright golden sunshine, turquoise-blue lagoons, lush gardens, vast sugar cane fields, and her majestic mountains.
She will continue to provide the ideal destination for Indian Ocean deep-sea fishing, snorkelling, sailing, and a host of other water based activities. Her luxury resorts will also continue providing the same high quality experience combined with amenities that will make you feel like royalty. Suffice it to say that the divestment is good not only for the Mauritian government and the purchasers, but also the visitors coming from various locales around the world.
Mauritius Holidays Direct, the specialist holiday company based in the UK, in great Indian Ocean deals like Mauritius honeymoons and family holidays.
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