Addressing reporters here, Deputy Director of MTPA Vijaye Haulder said the island nation that recorded over 29,239 Indian arrivals during the first seven months of 2010 has now set a target to have over a lakh tourists from India next year. The country had recorded 40,000 Indian tourists in the last tourist season.
“We have till date registered an increase of 30 per cent compared to arrivals in 2009. The overall average spend of the Indian visitor to Mauritius has now doubled to US dollars 360 per person per day. Mauritius is also keen on positioning itself as a great wedding get-away for Indian honeymooners,” said Haulder.
To tap the huge Indian market, MTPA has allocated an additional increase of 50 per cent in its budget to promote and showcase the island nation as the best holiday option for Indians, Haulder added.
According to MTPA officials, Bangalore is emerging as a hot City to tap, in terms of the huge workforce from the IT, corporate and software sectors, who are keen to splurge on overseas holiday trips.
Currently, Air Mauritius offers weekly flights from New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. MTPA has also announced attractive package tours starting from Rs 40,000. The tours are spread over a period of six nights/seven days.