The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the tourism industry in Mauritius, which is one of the major economic pillars of the country. The sector had on average contributed about 7% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Mauritius over and in 2019, accounted for 22% of employment. The impact of this sharp decline in tourism is being felt, first and foremost, at the level of people and households. About 1 in 3 households continued to endure an income deficit due to job losses and reduced working hours. The government has responded by implementing fiscal policy measures into sectors beyond tourism, such as emerging circular economy, old-age, disability, and social care services, amongst others.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a halt to the tourism industry in Mauritius, which is a dependent tourism economy, and has been highly impacted. The pandemic has led to a significant decline in tourist arrivals, with the country’s borders being closed for several months. The government has implemented measures to support the tourism industry, including the establishment of a COVID-19 Tourism Support Fund to provide financial assistance to tourism-related businesses. The government has also been working to promote domestic tourism to mitigate the impact of the decline in international tourism. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the tourism industry in Mauritius, leading to a sharp decline in tourist arrivals and a significant reduction in GDP. The government has responded by implementing measures to support the tourism industry, including the establishment of a COVID-19 Tourism Support Fund and promoting domestic tourism. The pandemic has also highlighted the need for economic diversification, with the government’s efforts to promote emerging circular economy, old-age, disability, and social care services, amongst others. The country’s economic outlook for 2022-2024 shows optimistic signs of economic recovery, with strong performance in private consumption and investment.
