Fewer Europeans visit Mauritius in first quarter

PORT LOUIS,(Reuters): The number of tourists visiting Mauritius fell 0.2 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter, as arrivals declined from France, one of the Indian Ocean island’s most important markets.

Statistics Mauritius said on Tuesday arrivals for the first three months of 2012 fell to 261,995 from 262,626 in the period a year ago, although March arrivals rose 0.6 per cent to 83,827.

Visitors from France dropped 2.7 per cent to 89,626 while arrivals from Europe overall declined to 171,669 from 176,460.

Tourism typically generates about 10 per cent of gross domestic product for Mauritius’ $10 billion economy. European tourists account for some two-thirds of arrivals.

The tourism industry in Mauritius has been hit by the fallout from the global economic slowdown and continued worries about the euro zone crisis.