Aviation is to tourism what water is to flowers. Stakeholders are expected to meet very soon to review the whole strategy of air access in relation to tourism. The debate, often brought up, has been revived with the expected end of the joint monopoly Air France-Air Mauritius on the Paris-Plaisance route and the choice of a second French airline. The latter has led to much speculation lately, as two companies are in the running: Corsair and Star Airlines. The issue, however, has further implications than the choice between the two airline companies.

One weekly flight by any of the two will not solve the problem of filling the 4000 additional bed places in the hotels. The question which arises is who will occupy those beds: high-class tourists or a new type of holidaymakers?

Major stakeholders resent the choice of Corsair as they see it as a charter airline, which would pave the way to a mass of spendthrift backpackers and mar the image of Mauritius as an exclusive destination. The general director of Naïade Resorts, Patrice Hardy thinks ?it would be suicidal for Mauritius to allow such experiments on our main markets because we would kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.?

Coherent policy needed

Other stakeholders, like Kishore Beegoo, former director of Air Mauritius cargo department, disagree. Even if Corsair operates a few chartered flights, it is far from making it a charter airline. It could ?introduce new actors with a proven track record? and solve the problem of expensive tickets and unavailability of seats, even in off-peak periods. They think there is room both for exclusive tourists and less wealthy ones.

Anyway, the French will be the ones to make the decision. In that connection, Ambassador Henri Vignal has officially announced that ?French authorities have not decided of the company yet?. Prime Minister Paul Bérenger has responded that he would not ?rush into anything?.

Nevertheless, well-advised observers feel that the French airline issue must not hide a more comprehensive outlook of the situation. Air access policy and tourist market strategy should be coherent. Even if France has been our prime market, it has been stagnating lately while constant progress has been noted on the British market and other European ones are expanding. Ten additional weekly flights will be needed to meet our hotel capacity right now.

The advent of a new French airline is not a Mauritian initiative but rather a consequence of EU regulations. It could well prove a blessing in disguise if it leads to a real debate on air access policy. Both government and private sector seem to be on the same wavelength. They are conscious that tourism cannot flourish as a pillar of national growth if it is not properly backed by air travel.