TMS. Please give us a brief background of your role at Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, highlighting your professional journey so far.
Sunil Mathapati. I am the Country Manager for MTPA in India. Our job responsibility is to create awareness of Mauritius and ensure arrivals in Mauritius increase and reach pre covid levels. We had received the mandate for promoting MTPA from July 2023. Our journey has been just 4 months old. In the last 4 months MTPA has participated on WOW Events which is Wedding Planners event. Here MTPA in order to reach out the wedding planners introduced a 15% Vat refund . MTPA also participated in India Hospitality Network. The event was a networking event which had corporate / Mice agents and Wedding planners attending the same. We have also conducted 3 city Roadshow in Mumbai / Chennai and Ahmedabad and embarked on a Online promotion campaign targeting the consumers.
TMS. What are the key objectives of MTPA as an organization?
Sunil Mathapati. The key objectives:
- To increase visibility of the destination among consumers segments
- Increase the arrivals numbers to the island and bring the same at pre pandemic levels.
- Conducting training for TA & TO on Mauritius.
- Meetings with MICE agents and Corporate to encourage them to travel to Mauritius.
TMS. How has tourism changed in Mauritius over the last couple of years? What are the main contributing factors behind its growth, and what challenges has it faced along the way?
Sunil Mathapati. Covid period was one of the most difficult period for the Tourism Industry and Mauritius was also effected by it. During the period of Covid most of the hotels refurbished their properties making the ambience of hotels more inviting to guest. With all the readiness, Mauritius as a destination has bounced back strongly. Two Direct flights from Mumbai and 1 from Delhi was encouraging which saw the destination receive Indian guest. Visa on arrival also helped travellers plan to visit the destination at a very short time. Airline pricing was a challenge in some cases but the destination was inching towards arrival number pre pandemic levels.
TMS. How India acts as a market for Mauritius Tourism and how it has been evolving over the years? What are the current trends in the market?
Sunil Mathapati. India is the 5th Source market for Mauritius. In order to attract more tourist from India, Mauritius has allowed the validity of the Indian passport to be 15days for Indian Tourist thus encouraging more to travel to Maldives. MTPA is also changed its strategy by reaching out to the B2C segment with spreading the
awareness and reaching to a wider audience to creating a demand.
TMS. What distinguishes Mauritius from its other competitors in the Asian region?
Sunil Mathapati. Every Asian tourist destination is unique in its own way. Mauritius is one such island which offers every unique experience for every travel segment. Firstly its lovely beaches and resort hotels provide a prefect ambience for a memorable holiday. For honeymooners, family or even adventure lovers activities in Mauritius give you the prefect activity based holiday.
TMS. What is the current status of the MICE segment’s development in the country, and what venues or facilities are accessible for hosting conferences, congresses, and corporate events?
Sunil Mathapati. For MTPA MICE is a very important segment. Post pandemic MTPA to attract MICE movement Most 5* Hotels who have good banquet facilities have geared up to receive MICE movements. Most 5* and 4* have good number of rooms to accommodate MICE groups. Group movement from 50 to 500 can be easily be done in Mauritius.
Facilities for organising a Conference with Gala evening is available with the Hotels. DMC are providing various new activities to keep the MICE group engaged other then sightseeing. Mauritius is fast reckoning to be a good MICE destination for many corporates. MICE movements from various parts of India are looking at Mauritius for their next offsite.
TMS. How is MTPA helping Indian tour operators in developing the MICE segment?
Sunil Mathapati. MTPA has introduced a 15% VAT refund on the 3 night accommodation for all MICE groups above 50 pax. Air Mauritius is offering a discounted fare for group movements. DMC are geared up to arrange for logistic support. Activity based service providers are geared up to handle groups. Overall Maurtius is a value for money for a corporate.
MTPA is also conducting training for MICE agents. MTPA is also interacting with the Corporate to see the Mauritius can be looked at for next offsite. In the near future MTPA would be conducting FAM trips for Corporate and MICE agents to showcase the destination.
TMS. Are there any new tourism initiatives or schemes in Mauritius that you would like to highlight?
Sunil Mathapati. The current 15% rebate on 3 nights of accommodation is introduced. Airline is giving discounted fare. MTPA would also look at case to case basis if the group size is of a sizeable number.
TMS. Any message to the global travel and tourism industry that you would like to give.
Sunil Mathapati. Mauritius is a prefect beach destination which has been in demand in the past. Its still finds its way in the bucketlist of every traveller. In simple word I would like to end by saying “ Come to Mauritius – Feel the Island Energy” # mauritiusnow
