What is the scuba diving industry worth to Mauritius today?
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Estimated at USD 224 471 739.00
Numbers from 2020 MSDA
In 2020, during the height of our isolation for COVID I assisted Jean Lincoln President of the Mauritian Scuba Diving Association. We calculated the value of the Scuba Diving Industry to the economy of Mauritius. His figures were taken from the MSDA registration forms, at were compulsory for all registered divers in Mauritius at that time.
We included the contributions that scuba divers make to other tourist aspects. Diving at that time was charged at MUR 1000 for independent diving centres and MUR 2500 for resort diving centres.
At the time of that calculation the Euro was 39:1
Today the Euro is 56:1. And diving prices are now MUR 2000- MUR 3500.
In today’s terms this is now
MUR 10 325 700 000
The Maldives estimates that diving contributes USD 227.30 million to its economy- thats a massive archipelligo that takes its diving industry very seriously indeed. Yet Mauritius has steadfastly ignored scuba diving as a valid contributor to the economy.
Diving tourism has increased with the introduction of PADI to the affiliations now available in Mauritius, yet incredibly there appears to be no mention of Scuba Diving as a serious contributor to the Mauritian economy. Maldives has reported their calculations in the link below
Picture copyright DIVE Magazine
Perhaps its time to assist the diving industry in Mauritius with a few subsidies- freedom from VAT, as few diving centres can afford the complex administration needed.
Assisted Insurances, equipment, boat repairs and maintenance, and most of all MQA registrations for PADI Scuba Diving Courses.
The Ministry of the Blue Econopmy and Fisheries is doing a great job assisting fishermen with subsidies to discourage net fishing, lafoon fishing and cage fishing.
In Pereybere we are seeing positive results.
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