GOVERNMENT Your role is to argue for the expansion of the tourist industry.

The key arguments are related to: The growing importance and success of the tourism industry. The target is 200 000 visitors and 2000 rooms by 2020. The decline in relative importance of textiles and sugar. o Alchemias economy suffered recently as longstanding trade preferences in textiles and sugar were phased out. o Sugar cane is grown on 80% of land and accounts for 30% of exports but is vulnerable to bad weather eg. droughts and cyclones. o Textile industry is hit by strong competition from production in countries like China The potential of the tourism industry to contribute to GDP and earn foreign exchange.

Government action to support the tourist industry To provide locals with access to imports at lower prices and attract more tourists, Mauritius is working towards becoming a duty-free island within the next four years. Taxes have been eliminated for several products and decreased for more than 1000 products such as jewellery, food, photographic equipment and clothing. The government is investing in a new airport so that super-jumbos can land. The government will build dams to meet the increasing demand for power and water. Encourage upmarket tourism, attracting wealthy tourists and the use of Alchemia for conferences.