4 ms·

Having visited Mauritius a few years ago as a tourist, I'd say they're probably missing out on an opportunity in tourism and maybe immigration. Outside the gene

Having visited Mauritius a few years ago as a tourist, I'd say they're probably missing out on an opportunity in tourism and maybe immigration. Outside the generic, polished beachfront hotel complexes, they seem to treat their otherwise beautiful island as a landfill. I don't think I've seen so much rubbish strewn around the countryside anywhere else. There's plenty there for tourists to explore, but (at least for us) the way the natives seem to treat their countryside was a major turn-off for future visits and recommending the place to others. Admittedly, this was a few years ago, and they may have since cleaned up their act. (I realise that attracting tourism can be a double-edged sword)

borism 16y ago
I've been there in 2007 too and I think you're wrong. If anything I think they're too dependent on tourism. And actually they seem to understand it by trying to diversify into tech and other industries. Regarding rubbish and immigration, the largest population group there are indians, the most disregard to rubbish seems to come from their culture (have you been to India?). But they're also the largest contributors to growing tech sector for example.
- biaxident 16y ago
  The country is very dependent on tourism. However, the money generated isn't being pumped back into the country. People who visit on holiday say how wonderful the place is, beautiful beaches and clear blue seas. But move to other areas of the island and it's a completely different place. Walk 5 minutes down the road from the fanciest hotel and there's a shanty town. Mauritius certainly has a great opportunity and is probably better than a lot of the other African countries, but it still has a long way to go.
  - borism 16y ago
    well, I've been all around the island by car and sure the places locals live in are not posh, but far from being "shanty towns" you'll see in India (where many mauritians are coming from) or Brasil or most of Africa for that matter. But that's the "freedom" Mises Institute applauds - freedom for foreigners to invest in local industries but not contribute much back besides employment.

borism 16y ago

I've been there in 2007 too and I think you're wrong. If anything I think they're too dependent on tourism. And actually they seem to understand it by trying to diversify into tech and other industries. Regarding rubbish and immigration, the largest population group there are indians, the most disregard to rubbish seems to come from their culture (have you been to India?). But they're also the largest contributors to growing tech sector for example.

biaxident 16y ago
The country is very dependent on tourism. However, the money generated isn't being pumped back into the country. People who visit on holiday say how wonderful the place is, beautiful beaches and clear blue seas. But move to other areas of the island and it's a completely different place. Walk 5 minutes down the road from the fanciest hotel and there's a shanty town. Mauritius certainly has a great opportunity and is probably better than a lot of the other African countries, but it still has a long way to go.
- borism 16y ago
  well, I've been all around the island by car and sure the places locals live in are not posh, but far from being "shanty towns" you'll see in India (where many mauritians are coming from) or Brasil or most of Africa for that matter. But that's the "freedom" Mises Institute applauds - freedom for foreigners to invest in local industries but not contribute much back besides employment.