Fooad Naurally "Direct Flight To Shanghai, Bet On Emerging Market"

"This is a key economic market in Asia and there is the critical mass necessary to support the development of the island and Air Mauritius. We believe and we want it! "He also pointed out that according to statistics," by 2020 there will be over 100 million Chinese traveling outside their home country. This is the time to exploit this potential as much as Europe is in a financial crisis ... ".

What is the purpose of establishing the Air Mauritius flight between Mauritius and Shanghai?
We want to prove that China has evolved, it's a place open to the world. It is easy to access - it is now easy to get a visa - and the Mauritian being curious by nature, we believe it is still a novelty and he can discover that it is a journey that it may take more cheaply in comparison, for example, Europe.The Mauritian today is international and the young people do not necessarily visit their relatives in Europe. They will go to Shanghai that combines discovery, and exotic shopping. Mauritians love cheap shopping in Shanghai and they can be found in small markets. We believe that this is a niche that we can develop to support the most important thing is to say, the Chinese who leave Shanghai. It is a key economic market in Asia and there is the critical mass necessary to support the development of the island and Air Mauritius. When you create a flight, it must be profitable and to do this we must go where the critical mass travel. Shanghai is an economic capital with 24 million inhabitants, and within two years, 26 million people, there is necessarily a segment traveling. And around Shanghai, there are other big cities! In this context, we have one of our trained crews Mandarin. We believe and we want it! According to the latest statistics, in 2020 there will be over 100 million Chinese traveling outside their home country. If we can have a small part ... In 2011, the number of Chinese tourists to Mauritius has almost doubled to nearly 15,000 people making China the 10th country with the largest number of tourists to Mauritius. According to the World Tourism Organization, China is the third country in the world to provide the largest number of tourists with Germany in the first position followed by the United States. Chinese tourism has reached its cruising speed in recent years, and this is the time to exploit this potential as much as Europe is in a financial crisis ...

Why did you choose precisely Shanghai?
Shanghai is the economic capital of China. We had a choice between Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Was not selected because Guangzhou is close to Hong Kong. If it was a direct flight to Guangzhou, it would affect our flight from Hong Kong. While Shanghai in addition to being the economic capital, is the largest port in the world. Moreover, the people of Shanghai have disposal income ... It is not only in the sense above all Maurice Shanghai Shanghai-Maurice. It has seven flights a week to China, including three via Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and two via two direct flights to Shanghai.

Many Mauritians have a misconception of China and often prefer to spend their holidays elsewhere. However, Shanghai is one of the great capitals of the world and is also culturally rich. What is Air Mauritius to change this perception?
Shanghai is the perfect place to show that this is not the China that many have in mind ... Shanghai is a European capital. It is an economic giant that awoke a few years ago and will not stop there ... So we want to show the Chinese that Maurice and that means there is a direct flight twice a week, they can come to us. And secondly, show that compared with the Maldives, for example, Mauritius has much to offer, not just the beaches. We also have an indoor and tourism have an excellent service from our hotel, very famous worldwide. On the other hand, to encourage Mauritians to visit Shanghai, the Mauritian press are invited to Shanghai next week, travel agencies Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Air Mauritius will meet with tour operators in Shanghai and their return to Mauritius, they will begin to sell packages. So the Mauritian may go to Shanghai with a package that includes airfare, transportation and visits to key sites. And there, with the mouth of return Mauritians, it will not make that 25 passengers per flight ... In fact, Air Mauritius has connected the Indian Ocean region to China twice. First, through Hong Kong and Shanghai, and if things work, we consider Beijing.

At what point can we expect a direct flight Maurice Beijing?
For now, this is only a draft. It is under consideration. But with Beijing, it will not be the same clientele. Beijing, it is more a diplomatic capital while Shanghai is the financial center. These are young professionals who want to come for some three days ... It's a bit of it is needed. This is a bet on an emerging market (Shanghai).

Sought by Chinese tourists?
A Chinese tourist does not tan in Mauritius. What is interesting are young couples who come for a week as part of their wedding. Of the 24 million people of Shanghai every year if, say, there are a million weddings and if we can accommodate from 50 000 marriages, we would already have 100,000 tourists ... So you can sell to Mauritius honeymoons with the Chinese.