Is it not high time for our leaders to give some thought about the daily aggressions on tourists in this country ? Indeed, the Tourism Authority has started to show some concern for the safety of tourists here with a piece of advice as reported by l?express.

« Antivol bientôt obligatoire », « La Tourism Authority veut mettre les propriétaires de bugalows en garde? si cette tendance perdure, cela risquait de faire tort à l?image du pays comme destination touristique. »

One should bear in mind that tourists travel miles to enjoy the destination far from their stressful routine and would refuse to stay in a country where they cannot move around freely or bound to confine themselves within four walls of their hotel rooms or bungalows surrounded with « antivol » and barbed wire. Only recently, l?express dated 16th october 2007 reported that « Des Réunionnais cambriolés à Grand-Baie », et « Des vacances de rêve qui se transforment en cauchemar. »

In the wake of challenges facing the sugar and textile sectors, government should strive to promote our tourism sector which has become one of the major pillars of our economy in terms of revenue generation and job creation.

However, it is « L?industrie des vo-leurs » which is being fostered at the expense of a booming tourist industry. How far will the use of « antivol » in bungalows act as a deterrent to thefts when we are being committed into professional burglars who constantly well-prepared to achieve their aims.

Our Honorable Prime Minister made an optimistic statement at the plenary session of the « Assises du Tourisme » last year when he said that « Mauritius has the capacity socially and physically to receive over 2 million tourists a year ? almost 3 times the number received in 2005 ».

One should realize that a successful tourism strategy is not only based on the modernization of the physical infrastructure or the promotion of an open air access policy. Govern-ment intervention should gear at shaping the environment for making Mauritius a tourist haven.

Unfortunately, we are all helplessly witnessing a disintegrating society fuelled by a breakdown of law and order. This deplorable state of affairs will never improve unless leaders of this country awake from their profound lethargy and initiate course of actions most appropriate to address this processing issue.

As far as the police is concerned, I wonder whether they are not being diverted from their supreme duty of ensuring our protection and safety. In the meantime, criminality is flourishing amazingly. Up to now, « Police Du Tourisme » has not shown themselves effective enough. On the other hand, how are criminals to be blamed when there are loopholes in the law itself and enforcement has become difficult? This would definitely encourage criminals to make the most of it.

What is required is a review of our policy regarding the security of people and their properties. It is crystal clear that the political will to strengthen and enforce laws and regulations is lacking.

If the authorities concerned do not give this matter its due importance, it might be too late for our island to restore its tarnished reputation, if it has not already been branded as an insecure destination.

Vishnu APPADOO