Luxury Indian Ocean No1 Édition 2014

DR © Dominic Sansoni/Three Blind Men Introduction We could talk of its fine sandy beaches, its turquoise lagoon, its cane-fields that stretch as far as the eye can see, its five-star hotels―but you are already familiar with this paradisiacal image of Mauritius. We would rather tell you of the formidable human laboratory that exists here, unique of its kind, on these 1,865 square kilometres lost in the Indian Ocean. For this island at the end of the earth lives a daily life that many countries might envy: a peaceful co-existence between communities of European, African, Indian and Chinese origin, each with its culture, religion and traditions, insecurities and dreams. There was no guarantee of success. In fact all the experts forecast the opposite at the time of independence in 1968! Now, 45 years later, Mauritius is Africa’s star pupil, winning all the prizes for democracy, good governance and economic freedom. And even if things are far from perfect and many challenges remain, Mauritius owes its prosperity to this cultural diversity which has enabled it to make its way in thirty years from the status of under-developed country to that of emerging nation. The secret of its success lies in its population which was able to overcome the darker side of French and later British colonisation, proving wrong all the pessimistic predictions, putting its faith in education and overcoming its lack of raw materials. A population which diversified its activities rather than lamenting over the loss of its preferential agreements with Europe (the Sugar Protocol and the Multi-Fibre Agreement). In short, a population driven by a pioneering spirit, industrious, aiming for a better future for its children, insular―with the inevitable touch of conservatism that comes with it―yet at the same time outward looking. You will rarely hear a Mauritian say a word against foreigners. The legendary sense of welcome is not just a ploy of the tourism industry but a tradition deeply anchored in the island’s history. After all, in the end, everyone came from somewhere else! And this is, perhaps, the reason for the openness found here. So Mauritians today are all a bit European, African, Indian and Chinese, which explains their adaptability and the feeling a foreigner has of being at home here. So you see, you will love Mauritius because Mauritius already loves you! Photos extraites des livres « Mauritius colour » et « Incognito », Éditions Vizavi. Luxury Mauritius 13

Luxury Indian Ocean No1 Édition 2014 | Page 13