The Honourable Mr Anil Gayan, Minister of Tourism;

The Director of Mauritius Tourism Authority;

The Director of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute;

Members of the press;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

It is a great pleasure to be here today, with you all, the key players of the tourism industry in Mauritius.

50 years of independence - 5 decades of economic growth. Tourism is a big part of that story.

But we must understand both sides of the tourism coin: the economic side and the environmental side. The need to innovate and grow, and the need to preserve and protect. The need to go green, without going into the red.

It is a challenging task. But it is also an exciting one, not least because of the sheer size of the opportunities at stake.

Tourist arrivals are expected to hit 1.41 million in 2018. This represents an increase of 5.1 per cent over the 2017 figure.  All these visitors translate into hard economic data – foreign direct investment, job creation, etc.

But these visitors also translate into environmental and social challenges. Badly planned tourism risks depleting biodiversity, degrading land and polluting the seas.

So if Government wants tourism to remain the pillar of the economy, you have to get it right.  For the years to come, you now need to think differently to face the global challenges of environment and climate change.  A sustainable tourism industry can face these challenges.

In his Budget Speech 2018-2019, the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development has rightly stressed on the need to develop policies that would focus on sustainability of the tourism industry.  At the level of the European Union, we commend this commitment.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Sustainable development, environmental and climate change issues are at the heart of the European Union external relations.  This is why we have chosen to support the Mauritius Tourism Authority.

Our support is in line with the EU - Mauritius solid partnership to tackle climate change and green the economy. 

As you might be aware, in May this year, the EU awarded a grant to the Mauritius Tourism Authority for the implementation of the project ‘Improving Sustainable Tourism in Mauritius through greening the value chain of tour operators (SUS-ISLAND)’. This funding is part of the Switch Africa Green initiative of the European Union. 

In a spirit to making Mauritius a green destination, this project will aim at targeting various stakeholders along the value chain of tour operators.  It goes without saying that Tourist Guides are an important link in the value chain of the tourist industry.  This is why this project includes a component on the training of tour guides.

Today, we are here to launch the Certificate Course in Tour Guiding. This course will aim at equipping tourist guides with the essential knowledge in the history, environment, people and culture of Mauritius which is essential to perform as professional tourist guides.

However, I am sure that this course will also help raise awareness about environmental issues and develop students’ commitment to sustainable tourism.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Republic of Mauritius has the potential of becoming a model in sustainable development, particularly in the context of Small Islands States. 

Sustainable consumption & production and the green economy are certainly key priorities for development. The Sustainable Island project of the Mauritius Tourism Authority is fully in line with this vision and represents an important recognition of businesses and hotel key operators and customers' efforts to go green.

With the Switch Africa Green initiative, the European Union supports this development and offers a significant opportunity for the Mauritius Tourism Authority to contribute to the green destination target.  

If Mauritius wants to maintain its competitive edge, I firmly believe that sustainable tourism – tourism that provides fresh, engaging experiences with a minimal ecological footprint – is the way to go.

Because our environment deserves it. But also because, increasingly, travellers demand it.

Dear Participants,

When tourists and visitors come from abroad, they want to visit places that are packed with history and culture.  I am sure that this training course will make you ethical and committed ambassadors of Mauritian culture.  You should take full advantage of this course to improve your service delivery.

I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Mauritius Tourism Authority for their efforts and commitment to the implementation of this project. 

I thank you for your attention.