Sustainable Tourism 2017

1. Les Assises du Tourisme
Sustainable Tourism Development
Henessy Park Hotel – 02 June 2017
Venee Kowlessur
Principal Tourism Planner
Ministry of Tourism

2. "Tourism that takes full account of its current and future
economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing
the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and
host communities" (UNWT0, 2005)

3. • Government should provide an environment that enables and
encourages the private sector, tourists and other stakeholders
to respond to sustainability issues.
• This can best be achieved by establishing and implementing a
set of policies for tourism development and management that
place sustainability at its centre.

4. • However, the principles of sustainable development
should be placed within a supportive national policy
framework. If significant progress is to be achieved in
making tourism more sustainable given the fragmented
and cross-cutting nature of the industry.

5. Urban Planning – Findings (1 of 2)
• The Planning Policy Guidance is being reviewed.
Consultations are being carried out.
• Planning is being undertaken to avoid over densification
of our coastal areas by controlling height, plot coverage,
setback from High Water Mark and roads
• Mauritius suffers from a lack of physical planning.

6. Urban Planning – Findings (2 of 2)
• Areas of high sensitive value are being developed.
• Planning is being carried out in respective sectors
without taking into account impacts on other sectors
• The National Development Strategy and the
Morcellement Act are being reviewed.
• New buildings have a relatively short lifespan, as
opposed to stone buildings. Yet, ancient stone buildings
are being used as stores.

7. Urban Planning –
Recommendations (1 of 3)
• The Planning Unit of the Ministry of Housing and Lands
should take the lead by becoming the champion of
sustainable urban planning and management in line
with the Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority
• The Ministry of Housing and Lands should be
responsible for the monitoring and control of
development, in close collaboration with local
authorities.

8. Urban Planning –
Recommendations (2 of 3)
• Ensure that physical plans reflect principles of
sustainability and resources constraints
• Prepare and disseminate development guidelines.
• Use incentives and other instruments to support
sustainable projects

9. Urban Planning –
Recommendations (3 of 3)
• Inter-linkages among sectors to be given due
consideration by the Ministry responsible for planning
• Documents related to physical planning to be reviewed
in consultation with relevant stakeholders
• Ancient stone buildings to be rehabilitated for proper
use.

10. Quality Standards – Findings
• Most development has not been carried out in a
sustainable manner.
• MSB is working with TA on a Standard for Sustainable
Tourism (MS165) with respect to small and medium
enterprises (guesthouses, restaurants, etc). The
Standard has already been gazetted.
• Recognition from the Global Sustainable Tourism
Council (GSTC) is being sought.

11. Quality Standards –
Recommendations
• Early implementation as soon as recognition from GSTC
is obtained.
• Major development, including Government buildings
should be LEED Certified.
• Being given that tourism is a cross-cutting sector, there
is a need for all other sectors to follow international
sustainable benchmarks/standards.

12. Handicraft – Findings (1 of 3)
• One of the main principles of sustainable development - the
community should benefit from the industry. Handicraft is
one sector which could provide opportunities for the
unemployed.
• Mauritian handicrafts should be made in Mauritius as far as
possible.
• Creative Mauritius Portal promotes local products including
handicraft - MTPA will have a link to the e-catalogue.

13. Handicraft – Findings (2 of 3)
• The “Genuinely Mauritius” label is being reviewed.
• A hologram has been developed to be affixed to local
products.
• Duty Free Shopping Paradise is sourcing products from
SMEDA since 3 to 4 months.
• A Ministerial Committee on the Handicraft Sector is
being chaired by the Honorable Minister of Tourism.

14. Handicraft – Findings (3 of 3)
• The MRA is not authorizing typical Mauritian
handicrafts such as the dodo, 7-couloured earth, etc.
manufactured abroad to enter Mauritius.
• Safe products, e.g. leadless paints to be used in
handicraft products.
• Funding is being sought by SMEDA to embark on a
quality certification for at least 20 products. MSB will
work with SMEDA thereon.

15. Handicraft – Recommendation
• There is a need for a product specialist to work with
artisans to respond to tourist demand for quality
products and to provide innovative ideas.
• Artisans should improve on the traditional way of doing
things, i.e in terms of techniques, designs, authenticity,
etc
• The MSB proposed to work out standards for handicraft
products.

16. Food Safety and Security –
Findings (1 of 2)
• The Government has a Strategic Plan dealing with the
issue of food quality and safety.
• The Maurigap standard(Good Agricultural Practice) has
been developed in collaboration with the MSB.
• The Ministry of Agroindustry has set up a body
(Mauritius Agricultural Certification Body) to train and
certify farmers.

17. Food Safety and Security –
Findings (2 of 2)
• The uptake of farmers is very slow.
• Private sector stakeholders are unwilling to participate
due to conflict of interest.
• Hotels and restaurants should look for the Maurigap
Certification.

18. Food safety and Security –
Recommendations
• Certification should be carried out by MSB to avoid
conflict of interest and for the sake of credibility.
• There is a need to:
Ø create awareness among tourism stakeholders
Ø promote the Maurigap certification
Ø ensure that all tourism stakeholders buy products
that are Maurigap certified, as far as practicable.

19. Cultural Heritage – Findings (1 of 2)
• A proper buffer zone should be observed for any
development near heritage sites.
• Authorities should carry out consultation prior to
allocation of sites

20. Cultural Heritage – Findings (2 of 2)
• Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) for Heritage Sites which
has been prepared since 5 years is yet to be approved
by Government.
• Degradation of Blue Bay Marine Park has been
observed and it risks being delisted from the Ramsar
Sites list.

21. Cultural Heritage –
Recommendations
• Inter-sectoral consultations should be carried out prior
to allocating sites.
• PPG for Heritage Sites to be updated in line with new
circumstances and submitted to Government for
approval.
• There should be constant dialogue between relevant
partners to avoid further degradation and to take
necessary steps for urgent rehabilitation.

22. Guidelines / Codes of Conduct
– Recommendations
• All activities under the Tourism Authority Act will have
corresponding guidelines/codes of conduct/criteria/
standards based on the principles of sustainability.
• Work is in progress.

23. Thank you
Keep Calm
And
Embrace
Sustainable Tourism

24. The
Circular Economy
in the
Asia Pacific Region
www.keepasiabeautiful.org