It was back in 1897 that Mark Twain wrote the immortal words: “You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first, and then heaven; and that heaven was copied after Mauritius.”
Today, as you look up from the white-sand beaches and kite surfers to the stunning Le Morne Mountain on the island’s southwest peninsula, you can see what he meant, and understand why this verdant island is still a major draw for travellers.
The legacy of French, British and Dutch colonists, not to mention the descendants of African slaves and Indian labourers, has yielded a rich culture and cuisine, while the sugar cane plantations have led to Mauritius being renowned for its rum.
While the south of the island is markedly less developed than the north, with a largely mountainous landscape dispersed with fishing villages and rainforest, trips to this area are rapidly gaining in popularity.
Challenges
However, in spite of its natural treasures, Mauritius has had a tough time of it of late, and the heaven that agents call the Indian Ocean has become a battleground for our long-haul holiday pound. The Maldives may have won the first round, but with its focus on service and good value, Mauritius is fighting back.
Elaine Barrett, UK trade director for the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, said: “Although numbers declined this year, figures for August show a positive turnaround.” Moreover, while last year saw a notable drop-off for British weddings, the last six months have been promising.
A united front
It helps that more than 120 British tour operators feature the island of the dodo and good rum, thanks in part to a big push by the industry. Now sales for this winter look strong, and a new agent fact pack is being launched by the Mauritius Tourism Office this autumn.
As Patrick North Coombes, general manager of Rêve Tourism, a Mauritian specialist, explains: “The destination, airlines and hotels have worked through the recession and have tried to keep Mauritius top of mind with the travel trade and consumers.”
Rooms
Holidaymakers are also being tempted by a recent increase in hotel development, which has led to some competitive pricing. A number of properties now offer two weeks for the price of one, with deals on upgrades.
Some at the top-end say it has led to a new market audience and a different clientele for the island. Nikki Mortimer, Virgin Holidays’ product manager for the Indian Ocean, says: “A lot of consumers think Mauritius is expensive, but there are some great value properties, especially all-inclusives.”
However, Nikki Hain, product manager at Premier Holidays, says: “There seems to be an oversupply of hotels, which is outstripping demand compared with other Indian Ocean destinations.”
Airlift
Unfortunately for Mauritius, Virgin Atlantic has cancelled its direct service, favouring flights to the Caribbean. And British Airways now flies mid-sized Boeing 757s to the island, whereas before it used larger 747s on the route.
As Glenn McCool, Indian Ocean regional product manager at Hayes & Jarvis, points out: “Limited flight availability means that seat costs are relatively high, which can put Mauritius at a disadvantage compared with its main competitors.”
However, on a positive note, in recent months this has resulted in promising sales on Air Mauritius. Emirates Airline has also capitalised on this, drawing traffic through Dubai from Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.
Investment
Meanwhile, a raft of refurbishments, renovations and reinventions is helping to keep Mauritius’s hotel scene fresh and vibrant. For instance Beachcomber, the biggest hotel operator on the island, is revamping the Trou aux Biches, set to reopen next month, to the tune of £60 million. There’s also the newly reopened Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort.
As Annabel Griffin, Trou aux Biches general manager, explains: “The accommodation choice is huge and it’s still very much an aspirational destination for many people.”
Markets
This is why it is still very popular with honeymoon couples looking for an exotic holiday, while families appreciate the many hotels with good kids’ clubs.
All-inclusive hotels are doing well this year, while the top-end properties are still pumping out competitive half-board options. The golf market is also doing well with more than seven golf courses that are internationally recognised as being of championship standard.
“It is also about the excellent level of service here,” says Mike Taylor, product manager at ITC Classics. “This is often cited as the main difference between Mauritius and its worldwide competitors.”
And in the coming months the destination will have more to talk about. Long Beach, a Sun Resort property, opens this December.
St Regis opens next year on the coveted Le Morne beachfront, while a new Angsana property is expected in this coming spring. All in all, the stage is set for Mauritius to shine once again.
Sample product
Hayes & Jarvis has a seven-night, three-star, half-board stay at the new Veranda Grand Baie Hotel & Spa for £1,045 per person, saving £207 per person. The
package includes Air Mauritius flights from Heathrow. hayesandjarvis.com/agents, 0871 200 2211
Premier Holidays is offering 14 nights at the five-star Constance Belle Mare Plage for £1,649. This includes half-board accommodation based on two sharing a prestige room, transfers and return flights from Heathrow. trade.premierholidays.co.uk, 0844 493 7444
Sunset Faraway has seven nights at the Grand Mauritian from £1,729, staying half board in a deluxe room, including Air Mauritius flights and a daily £15 allowance per person to be used against spa, food and beverage. sunset.co.uk, 020 8774 7100
Africa Collection is offering a Cape Town and Mauritius twin-centre from £1,875 for two weeks. The two countries are linked by a twice-weekly direct flight.
africacollection.com, 01403 256655
