LAST year’s tough
economic climate failed
to put a damper on South
Africans visiting Mauritius.
Air Mauritius’s passenger
numbers out of South Africa
grew by 7,2% with arrivals
increasing from 104 834 in
2016 to 112 129 in 2017.
Also in the SA market, yearon-year
sales were up 18%
and the airline exceeded set
revenue targets by 3%.
Carla da Silva, Air Mauritius
regional manager: Southern
Africa and Latin America,
announced the figures at
the airline’s annual Travel
Oscar Awards. At the awards,
Beachcomber Tours took first
place; Flight Centre Travel
Group came second; and
Cullinan Outbound Tourism
were third. World Leisure
Holidays was awarded gold as
the top market share partner.
The Mauritius Tourism
Promotion Authority says 2018
has started on a positive note,
with a 10,3% increase in SA
arrivals during January.
South Africans continue to
be drawn back year after year
because Mauritius offers a
world-class, value-for-money
beach destination right on the
doorstep, says John Ridler,
pr and media manager of
Thompsons Holidays.
Ramesh Jeenarain, md of
World Leisure Holidays, says
the short flight, no need
for visas or vaccinations,
plus the abundance of both
kids’ clubs and couples-only
dedicated resorts all help
to maintain Mauritius as an
evergreen destination for
South Africans. Terry Munro,
Beachcomber md, agrees,
and says the abundance of
all-inclusive options and the
high standards of Mauritius’s
four- and five-star resorts are
further drawcards.
Terry and John agree that
their clients cover the full
spectrum of market segments.
John says Thompsons has
seen a recent increase in
family reunions on the island,
including multigenerational
bookings, from grandparents
to grandchildren.
Air Mauritius’s continued
growth out of SA – Mauritius’s
top source market – has seen
it add the A350-900 three
times a week on its daily JNB
service; increase DUR flights
to four a week; and use the
A340 on its twice-a-week
flights from CPT. A third Cape
Town flight will be added later
this year.
Thanks to increased sales in
the SADC region, the airline is
also looking to appoint a GSA
in Botswana and Namibia.
