Mauritius United Properties

Overview of 2011 Budgetary measures per sector

Transforming Mauritius as Duty Free shopping paradise

Government will pursue actively its efforts to make of Mauritius a duty-free island and a shopping paradise for tourists. In this regards,:

Government will prepare a Blueprint to provide a basis and an action plan to transform Mauritius into a Duty-Free shopping and leisure IslandThe BOI will promote the duty-free shopping as a new sector of the economy by encouraging flagship brand labels, regional/international distribution chains and speciality shops to set up businesses in Mauritius. Government will work with existing and forthcoming shopping centres so that they integrate the concept of duty-free shopping paradise in their design and marketing.Government will make use of expertise that can draw on international experience to make tourism shopping as another pillar of the economy

(http://www.investmauritius.com/Budget2011/overview2.html)

PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - Mauritius is targeting a 15 percent rise in foreign direct investments to 10 billion rupees, up from 8.7 billion rupees last year, the country's Board of Investment said on Monday.

"Based on the trend for the five months ending May 2010 we believe that this year we will do much better than 2009 in terms of foreign direct investment," said Prakash Maunthrooa, managing director of the board.

Once reliant on sugar and textiles, the Indian Ocean island has diversified into tourism, information technologies, business outsourcing and offshore banking to become one of Africa's most stable and prosperous economies.

Bank of Mauritius said foreign direct investment into Mauritius reached 5.8 billion rupees for the period January to May 2010 against 3.4 billion rupees in the first half of 2009, with the real estate sector contributing 1.4 billion rupees to total.

Europe was the biggest source of foreign direct investment during the last five months, providing 1.5 billion rupees.

MEDICAL DESTINATION

Maunthrooa said apart from its traditional European market, the board of investments will intensify its actions on emerging markets like India and China. An investment promotion mission has been planned in India by the end of August, he said.

"We are going to give particular attention to emerging sectors like healthcare, tertiary education, manufacturing and agro-industry while consolidating existing sectors like financial services, ICT and real estate" he said.

He said real estate activities will remain a pillar in terms of contribution to foreign direct investment while the healthcare sector is also seen expanding over the next five years with the development of medical tourism.

Foreign investment in the sector grew to 157 million Mauritius rupees in 2009 from 2 million rupees in 2007.

Best known for its azure waters and white sandy beaches, the palm-fringed island is trying to position itself as a medical destination for foreigners. It expects 100,000 foreign patients annually by 2015, up from 10,000 last year, for treatments ranging from cardiothoracic surgery to hair grafting.

Mauritius' central statistics office said the island economy of 1.3 million people will grow by 4.2 percent in 2010, against a forecast of 4.6 percent made in March this year.

Source: Reuters Africa, Mon 2 August 2010

www.newsnow.mu (26/03/2010)

The government has decided to go ahead with the construction a new prison in Melrose in the east of the island. Ready by 2011, it is expected to cost Rs1.3 billion. The existing prisons in Majuritius are overcrowded and do not meet international norms for safety and security.

The new prison will also help the Prisons Department maintain good standards of discipline and security while providing an environment conducive for the rehabilitation of detainees.

Work is due to start anytime now on a 42-acre site. The new complex will be able to accommodate 780 prisoners with provision for an extension, increasing its capacity to 1,000.

An official source told NEWSNOW that the new prison will have the following residential facilities: 102 detainees in two cell blocks, 128 detainees in one cell block and 300 detainees in six dormitory blocks of 50 detainees each.

The prison will also comprise three high security blocks for 60 detainees and “drug-free accommodation” for 100 detainees in two dormitory blocks of 50 detainees each.

In addition, the project provides for a 50-detainee segregation dormitory block, a 30-detainee geriatric ward and a 20-detainee transit unit. There will also be a 20-bed medical unit to cater for the general health needs of the prisoners.

Over and above the basic needs of the detainees, an educational facility of three classrooms and a computer room with library facility will also be available.

A kitchen for food preparation for 1,000 detainees and religious facilities for the different religious groups will also be part of the complex.

Security features will include a 7- metre high security wall with power fencing on top around the main prison with watchtowers at strategic locations and a “no man’s land” around the main complex with CCTV surveillance.

By Sanjana Bhagmal- Cadervaloo

www.newsnow.mu(11/03/2010)

Tourism arrivals were up by 6.6% in February, mainly buoyedby a rebound from the traditional European market. Total arrivals for the monthreached 72,366.

Some 27,900 tourists from France visited Mauritius lastmonth, a rise of 17.6% over the same time last year, confirming the French marketremains our top source of visitors.

The better than expected performance follows a year markedby a 6.5% contraction courtesy of the global economic crisis. Hotels had toresort to cutthroat pricing and aggressive marketing campaigns to keep their businessesticking over.

Since the beginning of the year, the island has maintained agood performance, with 164,223 tourist arrivals recorded for the months ofJanuary and February as compared to 156,483 arrivals for the same months lastyear. This is an increase of 4.9% over the same period in 2009.

The increase is largely attributed to the European marketwith 114,649 arrivals over the past two months. Arrivals from Reunion Islandhave also fared much better than expected with 22,947 visitors representing a12.9% rise over the period. “We are satisfied with these results, despite the factthat the upturn remains slow. The depreciation of the euro is adverselyimpacting the purchasing power of European tourists. There is still work ahead,”said Minister of Tourism, Xavier Duval.

Over the two months, France has pole position with arecorded 57,823 arrivals, representing a rise of 14.7%. Other European marketsthat have performed well are Italy with a 13% increase, and Switzerland with a24.3% rise.

Emerging markets like China and India have bounced back topositive growth rates after the declines experienced last year. Arrivals fromChina increased by 5.3% and arrivals from India by 37.3% over the period.

To further profit from the upturn in the European markets,the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) is currently participating inITB Berlin, an international tourism fair.

Local hoteliers and tourism operators are accompanying theMTPA delegation to the fair. They will showcase their services at the MTPA andAir Mauritius stands.

Germany represents a market with high potential. The nextpromotion campaign for the MTPA will be focused on Germany, with the themeMauritius: My kind of holiday! This campaign will put more emphasis on theMauritian destination catering for all types of holidaymakers.

Moreover, Sun Resort group will showcase its new hotel, theLong Beach, at the launch ceremony of ITB fair in Berlin. The hotel will belocated in Belle Mare on the same site as the Coco Beach, which was pulled downto make way for the new establishment.  Thenew development has cost Rs2.5 billion and will add to the country’s increasingoffer of 5-star hotels. It has been inspired by the 700-metre beach that itoccupies, and will be built over a total land area of 59 arpents. It will havein all 255 rooms with sea view

www.newsnow.mu (12/03/2010)

Dertour, the German specialist for tailor-made holidays, is bringing out an eight-page supplement on Mauritius in all of Dertour Indian Ocean 2010/2011 winter brochures. The brochures have a circulation of

220,000. Dr. Karl Mootoosamy, Managing Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority( MTPA) together with MTPAGermany, yesterday met Mr. Jörn Krausser, Head of Product Dertour (Indian Ocean) at the tourism fair ITB 2010 in Berlin.

Dr Mootoosamy expressed his appreciation for Dertour’s enthusiastic support in selling the Mauritius product. The supplement will contain interesting tourist information about Mauritius such as sightseeing and the wide range of activities on the island.

This year, more than 110,000 trade visitors are expected at the show.

According to David Ruetz, Senior Manager ITB Berlin, the recession has had a severe impact on every holiday destination in the world and has affected all forms of vacationing. “With this in mind, ITB Berlin has become more important than ever as a network platform and marketing instrument for exhibitors and trade visitors.”

ITB Berlin is the world’s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

news from www.newsnow.mu

Tourists arrived in Mauritius in record numbers last month, giving the struggling industry a much-needed boost in the face of the biggest dowturn in living memory.And according to Minister of Tourism Xavier Luc Duval yesterday, “we have already reached the trough and we should be riding back up again”.

In November, 78,544 visitors arrived here – topping the 75,380 for last year and even eclipsing the record set in 2007 at 77,236. Minister Duval said he was “very pleased” with these results as it shows that the Mauritian destination has been able to reverse the trend during a negative year.

According to Mr Duval, the results are “the fruits of a joint effort between the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority and the tourism operators as well as the opening of the sky on some key markets”. Many traditional markets have rebounded with positive growth during November. For example, India posted a record growth of 64.8%, which South Africa grew by 9%.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the French and Reunion markets are the only markets that remained positive throughout the year.

From January to November 2009, some 767,626 tourists visited Mauritius. And if the latest trends are a guide, December is also looking positive.

The official forecast of a 10% drop in tourism has also been reviewed upwards and it is now expected that tourism will decline by a smaller 6% for the current year.

By Mahesh Bugnath