The tram arrives at Curepipe
Since October 10, it is possible to go from Port-Louis to Curepipe in forty minutes by taking the “express metro”, thanks to the commissioning of a new 13 km section of the rail network. Between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., a train runs every ten minutes between the two cities. The price of the Port-Louis-Curepipe ticket is 55 rupees, environ 1,30 euro. The “Mauritian tram-train”, entered service at the beginning of 2020 on a first section of 13 km, benefited from Indian financing of more than 500 million euros.
Still gradual increase in tourist arrivals
Mauritius welcomed 81,000 foreign visitors in September, figure still 20% lower than the same month in 2019, before the health crisis. Over the first nine months of the year, 636,000 tourist arrivals by air were recorded, compared to 948,000 in 2019. To her only, Europe represents almost half of this total, with a French clientele that remains, from afar, the most important (145,000 arrivals). The United Kingdom remains the second largest source market (96,000 arrivals), ahead of Germany (66 000) and South Africa (65 000). After the late reopening of the border in the first half of the year, Reunion Islanders are gradually returning to their sister island : nearly 37,000 arrivals since the start of the year, compared to more than 98,000 in 2019. The destination is still suffering from the collapse of the Asian market. It welcomed half as many Indian tourists as in 2019, and Chinese customers, still confined in her country, has almost disappeared.
The trade deficit is widening
Mauritius' trade deficit could approach 190 billion rupees (environ 4,3 billion euros) at the end of 2022, up nearly 43% compared to 2021. According to the latest figures from Statistics Mauritius, this deficit increased by 44% between July 2021 and July 2022. On this month, exports increased in one year by 7,3 to 9 billion rupees, but the cost of imports increased from 17,8 to 24,2 billion. The oil bill has almost doubled in one year, going from 2,7 to 4,8 billion. In total, Mauritius is expected to import 290 billion rupees worth of goods this year, against 215 billion last year.
Inflation estimated at 10,7 % pour 2022
Inflation slowed slightly in Mauritius to reach 9,4% at the end of September year-on-year, against 11,5% at the end of August. According to the latest estimates from Statistics Mauritius, it should be 10,7% in 2022, against 4% in 2021 and 2,5% in 2020. Particularly significant increases were recorded in the prices of certain products between June and September : 70% for oil, 23% for milk and 22% for grains. Globally, the prices of food products and non-alcoholic drinks increased by 6,3% over the period.
