Mauritius - Country Climate and Development Report

Overview & Synopsis

The tourism sector remains the cornerstone of Mauritius’s economy, underpinning growth, employment, and external stability. Tourism accounts for around 20 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and 14 percent of employment, concentrated in tourism-related industries, and is one of the country’s most powerful tools for generating foreign exchange, employment, and investment. Gross tourism earnings reached around MUR 93.6 billion in 2024, equivalent to about US$2.1 billion. In addition, tourism serves as a platform for economic diversification, unlocking demand for domestic agriculture, fisheries, cultural goods, construction, and transport services. Its multiplier effects ripple across the entire economy, benefiting both urban and rural communities. In 2023, the travel and tourism sector accounted for 33.7 percent of Mauritius’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with transportation being the largest contributor to the sector’s carbon footprint. This report reflects International Finance Corporation’s (IFC’s) commitment to supporting climate-smart, private sector–driven solutions in Mauritius and to fostering deeper collaboration across the World Bank Group to help build a resilient and future-ready tourism economy.