http://za.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2006-04-28T132150Z_01_ALL848039_RTRIDST_0_OZABS-MAURITIUS-TOURISM-20060428.XML
Mauritius tourist arrivals plummet on fever fears
PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - Tourist arrivals in Mauritius dropped 14.4 percent in March compared with the same month a year ago, mainly due to concerns about a fever outbreak on the Indian Ocean island, officials said on Friday.
The number of tourists visiting the island was 58,136 in March against 67,931 in the same month of 2005, said a report issued by the ministry of tourism.
Industry players attributed the drop to an outbreak of a mosquito-borne virus called chikungunya which has affected several islands in the Indian Ocean region including Reunion, Mauritius and Seychelles since January.
"We've seen a number of cancellations of bookings over the chikungunya outbreak," said a hotel representative. "Even though it is not serious, visitors mainly in Europe have been worried by it."
Arrivals from Europe, which accounts for more than 60 percent of the total, fell 16.3 percent in March. The number of tourists from Africa also dropped 20.7 percent.
Tourism is an economic pillar for Mauritius, along with textiles, sugar, and financial services, with the island attracting more than 700,000 visitors and generating around $800 million every year.
Mauritius has launched a major marketing campaign in France, from where arrivals fell 37.1 percent, to win back confidence, Analysts however say it will be difficult to achieve the targeted 10 percent growth in the industry in 2006.
Mauritius tourist arrivals plummet on fever fears
PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - Tourist arrivals in Mauritius dropped 14.4 percent in March compared with the same month a year ago, mainly due to concerns about a fever outbreak on the Indian Ocean island, officials said on Friday.
The number of tourists visiting the island was 58,136 in March against 67,931 in the same month of 2005, said a report issued by the ministry of tourism.
Industry players attributed the drop to an outbreak of a mosquito-borne virus called chikungunya which has affected several islands in the Indian Ocean region including Reunion, Mauritius and Seychelles since January.
"We've seen a number of cancellations of bookings over the chikungunya outbreak," said a hotel representative. "Even though it is not serious, visitors mainly in Europe have been worried by it."
Arrivals from Europe, which accounts for more than 60 percent of the total, fell 16.3 percent in March. The number of tourists from Africa also dropped 20.7 percent.
Tourism is an economic pillar for Mauritius, along with textiles, sugar, and financial services, with the island attracting more than 700,000 visitors and generating around $800 million every year.
Mauritius has launched a major marketing campaign in France, from where arrivals fell 37.1 percent, to win back confidence, Analysts however say it will be difficult to achieve the targeted 10 percent growth in the industry in 2006.