Budget 2018-2019 : expectation and optimism for Different Sectors

The tourism industry, environment, IT or the SME sector are areas that need to be revamped. In the context of the upcoming Budget, experts Sen Ramsamy, Dev Sunnasy, Suttyhudeo Tengur and Sanjay Mungur elaborate on their expectations and what measures should be brought for the different sectors.

Sen Ramsamy : “An urgent need for our hotel development model”

Managing director of the Tourism Business Intelligence, Sen Ramsamy argues that there is an urgent need for a major shift in our hotel development model. “After more than 70 years, we have successfully developed a hotel industry and we still do not have a proper Tourism Industry which is vibrant and beneficial to a wide cross-section of the local population. The all-inclusive concept should be urgently re-visited, as it is subtly stifling the destination, resulting in numerous pockets of poverty around hotels.”

He further explains that bold measures should be taken to boost tourist expenditure on the island. “A diversification of our tourism product is long overdue and new facilities should be created in towns and villages for greater community participation, more wealth and job creation, entrepreneurship and value addition. The creation of duty-free shopping facilities and leisure or entertainment parks for both tourists and locals should be encouraged. This will serve as an ideal platform for harmonious host and visitor interactions whilst boosting tourist spending and enhancing the visitor experience in Mauritius.”

As he sees it, our tourism sector is on automatic gear for quite some time now. “The Mauritius tourism product should be more diversified and varied than simply resting on the traditional 3 S’s concept which dates back to more 70 years. It is high time for Mauritius to take bold and innovative measures to encourage tourists to spend more money on the island. Average tourist expenditure is very low, even by regional standard whereas employment in tourism has been in stagnation mode for years. Based on official statistics, the average tourist expenditure forecast for 2018 is estimated at only US$ 116 per day, and this comprises the tourist’s accommodation, food and drinks, transfers, excursions, shopping and so on.”

Sen Ramsamy states that there are absolutely no major policy decisions being taken to give a new boost to tourism development. “This is a very anxious signal for our tourism industry. There are hardly any creative ideas or any innovative measures in our development strategy. Tourism, as a sector, which is still sustaining our economy in spite of economic uncertainties, deserves by far closer attention to stimulate its full growth potentials, professional maturity at all levels and a good dose of audacity.”

Suttyhudeo Tengur : “A beach management strategy is needed”

The President of the Association for the Protection of the Environment and Consumer, Suttyhudeo Tengur underlines that there are so many measures that must be taken to tackle the environmental problems in the country, starting from cleaning to reforestation and ending with beach management.

“Firstly, there is an imperative need to deal with our natural environment, as our indigenous forest represents today hardly 2% of our national territory. Our catchment area around Mare aux Vacoas is being reduced every day where forests are replaced by vegetable plantations. In a country where we have only four dams to service more than 1.3 million people, this project should be seen as a top priority if Mauritius does not want to turn barren.”

Moreover, he believes that our beaches are being reduced day by day and if we want to keep our tourism industry alive, it is a must to devise ways and means to control this ongoing erosion. “The Japanese, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, have done fantastic work and their report has been submitted some two years back to the Ministry of Environment. Funds should be made available to tackle this problem urgently. By the way, the motorists contribute to the Île Maurice Durable Fund.”

He further adds: “If you drive on the motorway, it is no surprise that you might find yourself in the midst of a black cloud of smoke emission by a bus or any other heavy vehicle. Some years back, one former minister commissioned specialized equipment to control these toxic carbon emissions. But this equipment has never been used and I understand that it is lying idle and is meant only to be recycled into iron for construction purposes.”

Dev Sunnasy : “Calls for the creation of an ICT Promotion Agency”

The President of Mauritius Industry Information & Technology Association (MITIA), Dev Sunnasy argues that at MITIA, they believe that Mauritius will not achieve a high-income country status if we do not focus on exports and SME development.

“Africa at our door step has a promising future and Mauritius hosts several African delegations every month. We highly recommended having Mauritian offices in three selected countries in West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa as a ‘Mauritius Digital Promotion Agency’. Each $1 invested in Export Promotion yield $15-19 in returns. The targeted regions cover a population of more than 500 million people. Use Mauritian embassies and consulates as offices with on-the-ground sales persons.”

He calls for the creation of an ICT promotion Agency (Digital Mauritius) to really help kick-off our digital sectors. “This agency should focus on two targets: Africa for MITIA and US/Europe for OTAM. Here in our country, our experts are still ‘thinking’ the same old way.”

On the other hand, MITIA has also recommended buying ‘Made in Moris’ software, systems and solutions, highlights the President. “We expect that our actual government will not repeat the same stupid decision that penalised our local industry, by signing the major E-Health project to an Indian company. We have recommended that a fair share of local projects goes to our local companies, which will help them grow and will create local jobs.”

Sanjay Mungur : “A full-fledged SME Mauritius is needed”

The Chief Executive Officer of Empretec Mauritius, Sanjay Mungur recalls that the SME sector needs to be re-boosted in three ways. “First, there is need for a full-fledged operation of SME Mauritius.  The organisation we have today is not fully fledged. There should be more government policies towards SMEs.”

Besides, he believes that in theory, Mauritius is known for its business facilitation but in reality, it is not the same. “There is a need to make procedures smoother. For instance, we should opt for e-passport, e-signature and e-contract. Another expectation is a strategy to enter the African market. Mauritius is a small market, so we need to implement strategies to facilitate trade and marketing in the African market.”