10 Reasons Why Mauritius Should Be On Your Travel Bucket List

Here are ten reasons why the time is right for travelers to add Mauritius to their travel bucket list and discover this island nation, recommended by the island's newest resort, the Outrigger Mauritius Resort and Spa, which opens on January 30, 2014.

1. The People

Mauritius is a friendly, ethnic melting pot of diverse heritage. Indians such as Tamils and Marathis mix with Muslims and people of Creole lineage from Madagascar and African origins as well as Chinese-Mauritians from Asia. There are Franco and Anglo-Mauritians reflecting Mauritius' former colonial ties with France, Britain, Holland and Portugal. English, French and Creole are the main languages. Mauritius sets high standards of tolerance and cultural plurality.

Mauritius is an example to the world. Church, mosque, pagoda and temple sit side by side.

2. The Scenery

Mauritius hits all the marks as a tropical paradise with coral reefs (the world's third largest), white sand beaches, dramatic green mountain scenery, sugar plantations and extinct volcanoes. The south of the island is often acclaimed as the ‘authentic' Mauritius as it is more rural and wild. Mauritius won the World's Leading Beach and Island Destination in the World Travel Awards in 2011.

3. The Food

With a diverse ethnic mix, great cuisine follows. Discover new sensations: vindaye poisson (fish vindaloo), rougaille saucisses (wild boar sausages in a spicy tomato sauce), chicken kalya (poultry cooked with yogurt and spiced with saffron), smoked marlin and palm heart salad. The capital, Port Louis, is a great place to taste gajaks (street snacks) such as daal puri (flatbread with split peas), samosas or gateaux piments (chilli bites). Fancy swordfish steak? Follow your chef to the beach where the pirogue fishing boats come in and pick the choice of the catch for dinner. Mauritian cooking lessons are easy to arrange. Mauritius is also famous for its rum and has more than seven distilleries on the island.

4. The Music

Mauritius has its own sega sound with roots dating back to native dances of the 18th century. Today, African and Creole sounds mix. The sega sound has also been mixed with reggae to produce segae – the ultimate Mauritian dance mix for the beach.

5. The Shopping

Mauritius has multiple duty free outlets around the island and is acclaimed for its low prices. Photographic equipment, watches, cellular phones, paintings, antiques, sunglasses, leatherwear, jewels, and engravings are all duty free. Also, taxes have recently been reduced on perfumes and cosmetics.

6. The Festivals

Mauritius' festivals reflect its multicultural make up. The major festivals in 2014 include Chinese Lunar New Year (Jan 31), Maha Shivaratree (Feb), Cavadee (by Indians of Tamil origin, Jan/Feb), Mauritius National Day (Mar 12), Crossroads of Flavours (culinary celebration, May), Eid-Ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan, June 28/29), Kiteival (annual kite surf fest, August), Mauritius Open Classic (surf ski, Sept), and the Festival International Kreol (Creole culture, Nov-Dec).

7. The Golf

There are eight 18-hole Championship golf courses and three nine-hole courses dotted around the island, all offering world-class courses to play on. Mauritius was the International Association of Golf Tour Operators Golf Destination of the Year for Africa, Indian Ocean and Gulf States in 2008.

8. The Romance

Mauritius was voted the World's Leading Honeymoon Destination in both the 2012 and 2013 World Travel Awards.

9. The Access

Air Mauritius provides direct flights between the island and Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai.

10. The Visas

Mauritius has a liberal approach to tourist visas. Most foreign nationals (including the US and Canada) don't need visas. Many nationals are entitled to a 60-day visa on arrival. Only a few countries need to arrange visas before travel. There are no charges for a visa for those who need them.

Visitors staying at the Outrigger Mauritius Resort and Spa can consult with the Outrigger Guest Service team in Mauritius before or during their holiday for advice and personalized tours to experience the activities, sights, sounds and tastes of Mauritius.

For further information and bookings visit www.outriggermauritius.com or email resa.mauritius@outrigger-mu.com

For general information on Mauritius, visit the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority website, https://www.tourism-mauritius.mu/