Mauritius intensifies tourism promotion efforts in Saudi Arabian market

The Minister of Tourism, Mr Christian Harold Richard Duval, received, today, at his office, in Port Louis, a delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The delegation comprised the Founder of Taiba Flocks Travel, Mr Ahmed Salah Balala; the General Manager of Comfort Season Alkhobar, Mr Adel Alyousef Ibrahim; the General Manager of RICHE Experience Taif, Mr Aljuaid Ahmed Fahad; the Ambassador of Mauritius to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Riad Parvez Hullemuth; as well as Saudi travel agents, marketing professionals and digital content creators.

In a statement, Minister Duval explained that the delegation was on a Familiarisation (FAM) Trip to Mauritius from 16 to 22 July 2026. The visit aimed to provide the delegation with first-hand experience of the country's diverse tourism products, enabling them to more effectively promote Mauritius as a premier luxury holiday destination in the Saudi Arabian market.

The Minister underlined the Government's objective of attracting a larger share of visitors from the Gulf countries as part of its strategy to diversify source markets. He highlighted the importance of increasing tourist arrivals from Saudi Arabia, particularly during the low season from April to August, in order to help sustain visitor numbers throughout the year.

Minister Duval recalled that Mauritius welcomed a record of 1,436,250 tourists in 2025, generating revenue of Rs 103 billion. He stressed that expanding into the Saudi Arabian market would further support the country’s positive growth trajectory and contribute to the achievement of its long-term tourism objectives.

For his part, Ambassador Hullemuth stated that the FAM Trip was designed to strengthen the delegation's knowledge of Mauritius as a tourism destination and encourage the promotion and sale of Mauritian holiday packages in Saudi Arabia. He noted that the delegates had been impressed by the island's natural beauty, warm hospitality, cultural diversity, as well as the peace and harmony that characterise the country. He expressed confidence that the visit would further position Mauritius as a preferred luxury and family destination for travellers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

As for Mr Balala, he thanked the Minister, highlighting that the Trip had enabled the delegates to experience the unique attractions of Mauritius and gain a deeper appreciation of its tourism potential. He observed that Mauritius offers far more than a honeymoon destination, with a diverse range of experiences catering to families as well as travellers seeking luxury and relaxation. He reaffirmed the Saudi travel trade stakeholders’ commitment to working closely with the Mauritian authorities to further promote Mauritius in the Saudi Arabian market.

22 July 2026

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Topics: Tourism