Hoteliers Sounding Alarm
Decline in tourist arrivals in July (-2.4% compared to July 2010) with a collapse of the French market (-30%). European market, which represents two thirds of arrivals, down 14%. Losses that dig for hotel groups: for the quarter ended June 30, New Mauritius Hotels (NMH) recorded losses of Rs 172.3 million and Sun saw his reach Rs 145.8 million of the environment ... tourism sector, which was already undermined by the crisis in Europe deteriorates further.
The causes of the stagnation are known. Since the beginning of the year, tourist arrivals stagnated. The crisis in the eurozone affects our main reservoir of tourists. And the lack of prospects for a settlement, the situation may still worsen. Meanwhile, the number of rooms available is increasing. Hotel groups have indeed embarked on renovation and expansion and construction of new facilities. It was to develop capacity in the prospect of receiving two million tourists by 2015, a target set at the foundations of tourism in 2006. But it is now clear that this goal has very little chance of being achieved. End of 2011, professionals have agreed to consider it lacked 400,000 tourists a year to complete. The arrival of additional 2,500 beds by the end of the year will not fix things.
This leads hoteliers to push a cry of alarm. "The Mauritian destination is caught in a dangerous downward spiral. She pays the price of a sellout that has transformed the country'''' discount destination with loss of identity, even leading tour operators to seek other destinations for their growth, "wrote Herbert Couacaud, CEO of NMH in an editorial Beachnews the group's internal newspaper. The reason for this decrease? "First there is the problem of access by air. Markets where Air Mauritius has taken direct flights, that is to say, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, which accounted for 60 000 seats, we see through our reservations taken down from the month August this year. All indications are that this trend will increase. Second, the lack of airline seats on the destination that demand exceeds supply and therefore the major airlines serving Maurice practicing excessive prices, " replied Robert Spéville, commercial director of Beachcomber.
François Eynaud, president of the Association of Hoteliers and restaurateurs Mauritius (Ahrim) does not say anything stressing the need to reduce the imbalance between the growth of hotel facilities, stagnation in tourist arrivals and the decrease the number of aircraft seats. The urgency of the situation is all the more acute the crisis in the hospitality industry could lead to a global crisis in the tourism sector which affect the receptive taxis and beach hawkers. Enough to feed a real social crisis.
This is why many advocate general real state of tourism, which would bring together all the stakeholders around the table to define major recovery and implement funding to develop them. Because we must not delude ourselves. After defining a common strategy, Air Mauritius, the State, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) and hoteliers will have to put their hands in the pocket.
The announcement Ahrim already it is working with the ministry and the MTPA to redefine a strategy to boost tourist arrivals but many professionals remain skeptical. It is true that in the past, they have been burned by the actions spread if not contradictory competent authorities say.
