Mauritius raises 2016 tourism earnings forecast by 2%

Reuters: Mauritius said on Friday that tourism revenue in 2016 will be 1.9% higher than it had previously forecast, after a surge in visitors during the first quarter.

Tourism is a valuable source of foreign exchange for Mauritius, an Indian Ocean country known for its luxury spas and beaches.

Tourism earnings are now expected to reach Rs. 55 billion ($ 1.56 billion) this year, up from earlier forecast of Rs. 54 billion, according to Statistics Mauritius, the government’s statistics office. Last year, tourism earnings totalled Rs. 50.2 billion.

The statistics agency also raised its forecast for 2016 arrivals to 1,240,000 from 1,230,000 tourists. Visitors in 2015 numbered 1,151,723.

In the first quarter of 2016, Mauritius attracted 327,836 tourists, up 12.5% from a year earlier. Revenue grew 13.9% to Rs. 15 billion in the quarter, the agency said. ($ 1 = 35.1500 Mauritius rupees)