Mauritius tourist arrivals up 10.9 pct in January

Mauritius said visitor arrivals rose by 10.9 percent in January due to a stronger-than-expected recovery from the global economic slowdown.

Tourism typically generates about 10 percent of gross domestic product for Mauritius' $10 billion economy. European tourists account for some two-thirds of arrivals.

"According to the last statistical bulletin, 101,887 tourists visited Mauritius in January ... as compared to 91,857 in January 2010, that is, an increase of 10.9 percent," the government said in a statement seen by Reuters on Monday.

Tourist arrivals to the Indian Ocean island rose 7.3 percent in 2010 to a record 934,827.