Mauritius Offers Beyond Beaches, Culture, History and Gastronomy and Give Travellers More to Explore

Written By: Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar is a Senior Journalist at Travel and Tour World with more than 10 years of experience in travel and tourism journalism. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, he combines strong research, industry knowledge and storytelling expertise to produce engaging, insightful and impactful travel news and fascinating feature stories.

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September 13, 2026 22:51 GMT+5:30

Mauritius offers far beyond beaches. Culture, history and gastronomy give travellers more to explore, turning a tropical escape into a richer journey packed with flavour, heritage and discovery today.

Mauritius offers far beyond beaches, giving travellers more to explore through culture, history and gastronomy. The island combines coastal beauty with heritage, local traditions and memorable food. Moreover, visitors can move beyond resort life and discover a richer side of Mauritius. Culture brings communities, stories and traditions closer.

History adds depth to every journey. Gastronomy gives travellers another reason to explore, from Creole flavours to culinary influences.

As a result, Mauritius is not simply a beach escape. Instead, it presents a varied experience where beaches meet culture, history and gastronomy, creating opportunities for curious travellers to experience the destination differently.

Mauritius is stepping up its efforts to grow the Indian tourism market, with the island nation seeking to position itself as a diverse experience destination rather than simply a beach holiday. In an exclusive interview with Tuhin Sarkar, Journalist at Travel and Tour World, Benoit Harter, Director at the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), outlined the destination’s strategy for attracting more Indian visitors, expanding into new cities and strengthening high-value segments including luxury travel, weddings and MICE.

Harter said the immediate priority is to return strongly to the Indian market and demonstrate the breadth of experiences available across Mauritius.

“The first momentum is to come back on Indian market and to showcase Mauritius for Indian visitors as an experience destination, not only a beach and island destination.”

India emerges as a key market for Mauritius

India currently ranks as the sixth-largest tourism source market for Mauritius, according to Harter. The MTPA wants to strengthen that position, with an ambition to move India towards the fourth or fifth position.

The organisation has already increased its engagement with the Indian travel trade. Harter said Mauritius has conducted multiple roadshows since the beginning of the year, including a second roadshow covering four Indian cities.

For Mauritius, the focus is not simply on generating visitor numbers but on developing relationships with travel industry partners who can convert interest into bookings.

“We have to go and grow this market,” Harter said, emphasising the importance of working closely with partners in India.

The approach comes as Mauritius seeks to broaden its appeal among Indian travellers who may traditionally associate the destination primarily with beaches, resorts and luxury escapes.

Pune shows strong potential

Mauritius is also looking beyond India’s largest metropolitan markets for future growth.

Harter acknowledged increasing demand from Mumbai and Delhi, while highlighting Pune as a particularly strong emerging market.

“We have seen a lot of increase from Mumbai and Delhi also. But Pune is increasing very strongly,” he said.

The comments underline the importance of India’s expanding regional travel markets. For destinations such as Mauritius, engaging with cities beyond the traditional major gateways can create additional opportunities to reach new customer segments.

Rather than concentrating exclusively on established metropolitan markets, the MTPA is looking to deepen its trade engagement across India’s wider travel ecosystem.

Mauritius says it is already prepared for Indian travellers

When asked how Mauritius is adapting its tourism products to meet Indian preferences, particularly across luxury, weddings and other segments, Harter offered a clear response: Mauritius does not necessarily need to redesign its tourism offering specifically for India because the destination already has the infrastructure and services required.

“What Indian must understand is that we are not adapting. We are already ready for you.”

He pointed to Mauritius’ capabilities across gastronomy, service, wellness, luxury and non-luxury travel.

That breadth is central to the destination’s strategy. Instead of marketing Mauritius exclusively as a luxury beach destination, the MTPA wants Indian travellers to recognise that the island can accommodate different travel motivations and budgets.

From beaches to golf, nature and Creole cuisine

One of the strongest messages from Harter’s interview was the need to change perceptions of Mauritius.

He argued that the destination should be considered as a complete country offering multiple experiences rather than as an island defined solely by its coastline.

“Mauritius is not only beach. We have to think about Mauritius like a country where you have the beaches.”

The destination can offer a combination of experiences within the same trip, he explained. Travellers can spend the morning at the beach, explore a trail in the afternoon and enjoy a Creole dish in the south on the same day.

Harter also identified golf and nature as important experiences beyond the beach. He highlighted Mauritius’ natural environment and opportunities for visitors who want to explore the island rather than remain within resort areas.

This positioning could become increasingly important as travellers look for holidays that combine relaxation with culture, food, nature and outdoor activities.

Weddings and MICE remain high-value opportunities

The Indian wedding market is another major priority for Mauritius.

Harter said the destination is ready to host large Indian weddings, while also seeking opportunities in medium and smaller celebrations.

“We must be back on the market for these two segments, especially for the big weddings, big fat weddings. We are ready.”

Mauritius’ wedding proposition is therefore being positioned across different scales rather than solely around large-scale celebrations.

The same approach applies to MICE, with the destination looking to attract business events and incentive travel from India.

These segments are strategically important because they can generate demand beyond conventional leisure travel and potentially bring groups of travellers to the destination at the same time.

Air connectivity linked to market growth

Improving air connectivity is another consideration for Mauritius as it develops the Indian market. However, Harter suggested that demand growth needs to come first.

“For more connectivity, we have to grow the market. So it’s like we have to start somewhere.”

His comments indicate that the MTPA sees market development and connectivity as closely connected. Building stronger demand from India can create a stronger case for additional connectivity in the future.

For now, the priority is to grow the market and work with existing partners and channels before discussing further connectivity opportunities.

Kolkata workshop focuses on trade relationships

Kolkata was also highlighted as an important part of the MTPA’s current engagement programme.

Harter said the workshop brought together around 21 to 22 participants from the Kolkata trade and Mauritian partners, creating an opportunity for the two sides to understand each other and establish direct business relationships.

“This first workshop is very important so that they can take contact and then transform that into actions.”

The emphasis on direct contact reflects the MTPA’s wider strategy of using roadshows and workshops to strengthen relationships with travel sellers.

Harter said the organisation continues to value this “human touch” and one-to-one interaction with industry partners.

Mauritius expands global trade engagement

India is only one part of Mauritius’ wider source-market strategy.

Harter said the destination continues to work across traditional markets including France, the UK, Germany, South Africa and India, while also pursuing emerging markets.

He specifically mentioned South Korea and Russia, as well as negotiations concerning the China market.

The strategy therefore combines maintaining established markets with developing new sources of international visitors.

Trade events remain part of the strategy

The MTPA also plans to maintain its presence at major travel trade events.

Harter said Mauritius attended OTM and intends to be present again next year. Beyond India, he mentioned upcoming participation at ATM, as well as other international events, including WTM in the UK and events in France.

However, the roadshow and workshop programme remains important because it provides direct interaction with travel professionals.

For Mauritius, this trade-focused approach is designed to move beyond visibility and create practical commercial relationships that can translate into business.

Mauritius seeks to reassure Middle Eastern partners

Harter also addressed the Middle Eastern market ahead of the destination’s participation at Arabian Travel Market (ATM).

He said the objective is to rebuild connections with partners in the region and reassure them that Mauritius is safe for travel.

Harter offered his own travel experience as an example, noting that he flies between Mauritius and Dubai.

“I myself flying from Mauritius to Dubai, Dubai Mauritius, it’s safe.”

The message comes as Mauritius seeks to maintain confidence among international travel partners while continuing to develop its presence across global markets.

A broader Mauritius proposition for Indian travellers

The central message from Benoit Harter’s interview is that Mauritius wants Indian travellers to see the destination differently.

The country is not abandoning its beaches or luxury resort proposition. Instead, it is attempting to place those attractions within a much broader tourism offering that includes nature, trails, golf, gastronomy, wellness, culture and different levels of accommodation and service.

For India, the MTPA is combining market development, trade workshops, roadshows and a renewed focus on weddings and MICE. Mumbai and Delhi remain important, while Pune is showing strong momentum and other Indian cities offer potential for further engagement.

Mauritius is also maintaining its traditional European and African markets while exploring opportunities in South Korea, Russia and China.

The strategy ultimately comes down to one proposition: Mauritius does not want to be viewed simply as a beach destination. As Harter put it, visitors can experience the beach in the morning, a trail in the afternoon and Creole cuisine in the south on the same day. That combination of experiences is what the MTPA believes can define the next phase of Mauritius tourism growth, particularly in the increasingly important Indian market.

Anup Kumar Keshan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Travel And Tour World

“Mauritius has a compelling opportunity to show Indian and international travellers that its appeal goes well beyond beaches. Its culture, history and gastronomy can add depth to the visitor experience, while the island’s natural beauty remains a draw. This broader positioning is important because travellers increasingly seek experiences that feel authentic, varied and memorable. Mauritius can offer relaxation alongside discovery, giving visitors more reasons to explore the destination. By highlighting local flavours, heritage and experiences alongside its coastline, the destination can strengthen its identity as a diverse holiday choice. This is a direction for Mauritius tourism and its market appeal.”

Mauritius is changing the way travellers can look at an island holiday. Beaches remain a major attraction, but the destination offers much more beyond the shoreline. Its culture reveals local identity and traditions, while history adds context to the places visitors encounter. Gastronomy brings another layer, allowing travellers to experience Mauritius through Creole flavours and wider culinary influences. Together, these experiences give travellers more reasons to explore beyond their resorts. The result is a destination that can combine relaxation with discovery in one trip.

Visitors can enjoy the coast, then seek nature, heritage, food and local experiences. This broader proposition also creates opportunities for Mauritius to appeal to travellers seeking richer and more varied holidays. Ultimately, Mauritius shows that an island escape does not have to revolve around beaches alone. It can become a deeper journey filled with experiences, flavours, stories and memorable discoveries for travellers from around the world.

The reason Mauritius can broaden its appeal is simple: the destination has experiences that extend beyond its beaches. Culture connects visitors with local life, history adds meaning to places and traditions, while gastronomy turns meals into part of the journey. The answer is not to replace the beach, but to place it within a wider holiday experience. Travellers can relax by the coast and then explore heritage, nature, food and communities. This combination gives Mauritius greater depth and variety. Consequently, the island can attract curious visitors who want relaxation and discovery together, rather than a beach break alone, as well.