We
Love Mauritius posed a number of questions to Xavier Duval, Minister
of Tourism and Leisure, about his strategy for the sector. Our purpose
was to ascertain its compatibility with the Prime Minister's vision
of Maurice Ile Durable. He delegated the Ministry's response to Sunil
Kowlessur, Principle Tourism Planner. Here is what he had to say
along with our assessments.
Tourism Strategy
From Sugar to Energy Estates
Several
issues affect the sustainable development of Mauritius. One is our
dependence on fossil fuels for transport and electricity. These
sources of energy are finite and hence, at some point in time
substitutes will have to be found. A second issue is the disposal of
waste. By taking a broader perspective on these two is it possible to
come up with more integrated solutions?
A Sickening Society
While
waste and energy grab the headlines, there is another threat to our
way of life whose consequences are at least as severe. Our society is
sick and without the proper treatment it will only get worse.
Symptom: increasing spread of HIV
Highest prevalence: intravenous drug users (IDUs), sex workers
At risk groups: wider population, tourists
Vectors: shared syringes, unsafe sex
Won't You Help to Sing?
No
matter how much we try to ignore it, the undeniable truth is that the
vast majority of us in Mauritius are the descendants of slaves and
servants. Some were sold into slavery by pirates, others were
convinced to sell themselves into servitude by deception. French
colonialists were largely responsible for the former and British
colonialists for the latter. We are now an independent nation but do
we ever reflect on the degree to which this cultural legacy lives on? Download audio
Disappearing Beaches
What
is happening to our beaches? Some are predicting that within a matter of decades
they will all be eroded away. After one storm, the beach at Pointe
aux Canonniers had lost an enormous amount of sand, making the
predictions seem true. However, within weeks the sand was returning
and the beach getting back to normal.
By thinking of our beaches as part of the mainland, we try to prevent them eroding by using many of the same methods. However, if beaches are significantly different, is it possible that we might be doing more harm than good?
Sailing into History
In
November 2008, Zac Sunderland visited Mauritius half way through his
successful bid to be the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the world
single-handed. As reported in the Weekend newspaper he told children
at the Grand Baie Youth Sailing Club: “I wish to see a Mauritian do better than
me”. However, this seems an impossible dream since only a very
few lucky Mauritians are taught how to sail dinghies and there is no
formal training at all for offshore yachting.
But are there good reasons to try to make Zac's wish a reality? We believe there are, so how can we achieve it?
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