One million tourists the island expects this year

Mauritius is stepping up efforts to protect the one million tourists the island expects this year. Minister of Tourism and Leisure Nando Bodha said yesterday he has held talks with with various stakeholders in a bid to find ways to curb assault on visitors. 

The latest figures are worrying. Some 75 criminal offences were committed against tourists were reported from January 1 to March 17. Last year, 292 cases were reported and in 2009 the figure was 471. 

Back in 2005, 913 assaults on tourists were registered, The country is expected to generate about Rs45 billion from the tourist trade this year. 

Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam said recently in the National Assembly that the authorities are taking major steps to protect tourists. “We place a high premium on the safety and security of all residents, including tourists who visit our country. We shall continue to leave no stone unturned to ensure that our country remains a safe destination,” he told the House. 

Yesterday, Tourism Minister Bodha said his ministry and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) had a series of meetings recently with the Attorney General, the Chief Justice, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), the Commissioner of Police (CP), and representatives of the State Law Office (SLO) and the Association des Hoteliers et Restaurateurs de l’Ile Maurice (AHRIM). 

“This year we are targeting one million of tourists to visit Mauritius. If one tourist stays for an average of seven nights, it will be a total of seven million nights in 2011. 

“We must ensure the security of these tourists,” he said. He met the bosses of the hotel groups Beachcomber, Naiade, Constance and Sun Resorts, and also had talks with representatives of beach hawkers, canvassers, pleasure craft operators and taxi drivers operating in the tourism industry. 

“Our objective is to see how to protect the tourists from assaults and to bring change in the legal and judicial system so as to allow foreign victims and witnesses to have a fair trial,” he said. 

Mr Bodha has listed a series of constraints that undermine the functioning of the existing legal procedures in cases where tourists have been assaulted: departure of the assaulted tourists before the case is brought to court; hotels do not want to the bad publicity, and police investigators take too long to complete an enquiry. 

“We are coming with a judiciary practice to curb these constraints, but an in-depth study will be needed to see its impact on our Constitution as the functions of the Attorney General, Chief Justice, DPP and CP are all defined in the Constitution,” he said. 

“If need be, we will bring a new piece of legislation to ensure the security of tourists.” About the screening of workers in the hotel industry, Mr Bodha announced the setting up of a database on the profile of workers, their past history and professional track record. 

He said a “five-star shelter” will be made available in each hotel for taxi drivers. There will strict control on taxi drivers as very often “illegal taxis” are operating on the back of registered ones. “Taxi drivers will have to sign an agreement with the hotel they are working for,” he said.

New hotel 

Beach hawkers will not be able to operate independently as they will be integrated in the hotel labour force. They will be trained; they will have their stands, and will be dressed in T-shirts with the hotel’s logo. 

“As from now, there will be no issue of new permits for beach hawkers except for those who plan to work for a new hotel,” he told the media. For the 300 canvassers “who are seen everywhere with their albums” on the hotels’ premises, the minister said they will be stopped from operating. 

“Canvassers sell everything. In many cases, we have registered swindles. So, they will be integrated in the hotel industry and will be given a beach hawker licence or a pleasure craft operator permit,” he said. 

Mr Bodha said that over 2,000 requests for pleasure craft permits have been entertained out of 2,800. He has also announced the setting up soon of a “flying squad” of 10 officers under the umbrella of the Tourism Police. 

“Their action will be focussed on the security of tourists with a watch on the activities of canvassers, beach hawkers and pleasure craft operators. 

“Three people acting as ‘sheriffs’ will be recruited and posted permanently at Flic-en- Flac, Grand Bay and Trou d’Eau Douce. Once there is a problem, they will call the flying squad to intervene,” he said.

Massive clean-up for I'lle aux cerfs 

As from next month, access to Ile aux Cerfs and Ile Trou Viré will cost Rs10 per Mauritian. The authorities are still working on the access charge for tourists. 

Minister of Tourism Nando Bodha has announced a “great sweep” at l’Ile aux Cerfs to get rid of the “mess” there. He said that barbecues are being organised everywhere on Ile aux Cerfs and are eyesores. 

“Rs500 million is generated by 350,000 tourists who visit Ile aux Cerfs annually. Some 1,000 visitors land on the island daily with 20 big boats, resulting in a problem of space around the island.” 

Grills are normally interdicted on all islands, but the Tourism Authority will organise a special shelter for grills at Ile Trou Viré, very close to Ile aux Cerfs, with toilets, water and power. 

“There will be only one port of embarkation and disembarkation,” said Mr Bodha. “Ile aux Cerfs is our postcard, our jewel. We must preserve this exceptional image that we sell abroad,” he added. He also said that after Easter, Ile aux Cerfs will be closed to visitors for two days as to allow a major clean-up. Then, Ile Gabriel and Ile aux Benitiers will get the same treatment.

By Clifford Vellien