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TOURISM

Under the co-ordinates of Amrita Craig , and overseen by Director Arvind Bundhun and Chairman Nilene Vencadasmy , MTPA hosted 102 guests comprising travel agents , tour operators , and media , from 12 different source markets to an action packed fam trip that showcased the Tourism Product that is Mauritius in what obviously converted many into automatic brand ambassadors for the destination .

Different countries were pooled together in different teams and assigned varying group activities throughout the stay culminating in exciting competitions between teams with sizzling prizes to boot . The Kenyan Crew comprised myself , Simon Kabu of Bonfire Adventures , Rakhee Shah of Holiday Bazaar ( team leader ), Florence Njau and Martin Juma of Kenya Airways .

Team Kenya was pooled together with Team South Africa comprising 12 comrades from different fields , under the leadership on Philippa Piguet of Meropa . Although Kenyans were outnumbered , we were not out foxed and courtesy of Simon our slogan for the whole group synonymously became Jambo Jambo !

With a back to back program , the tour was without doubt mind boggling as well as heavily physical as we covered numerous kilometers walking and running in the food tasting foray , the treasure hunt , and nature walk among other activities assigned to our team .

Our group was hosted at Heritage Awali for one night the first day , with crew checking in at around 11:00pm and out at 8:00am for Port Louis on the food tasting spree . Sugar Beach Hotel housed us on the 2nd and 3rd day with Ramesh Jeenarian and team hosting us to one of the very best dinners we had across the trip , and a dance deejayed by our most polite looking crew member . It was an Ulaah laah experience .

After a daylong workshop on Wednesday 17th and a major sundowner cocktail for all the guests , our team moved to Sunrise Attitude the 4th night where the team nearly drowned in the tempting allinclusive package .

On our last night ( Kenyan crew ), C Mauritius Resort under the leadership of Mevin Ramasamy took over the hosting mantle and they did not disappoint . We were once again given outstanding hospitality starting with a cocktail by the beach and perpetuated by the greed easily played upon by the all-inclusive temptation .

It was perhaps at C Mauritius that it became obvious that the team spirit and attendant bonding had created what seemed a solid family that culminated into emotional connection that induced some sort of family accountability . This bug might have erupted out of the sad realization that time was indeed nigh for all of us to depart Mauritius !

This aspect was loudly demonstrated when the prodigals detoured to a ‘ casino ’ and had to be sat down to a kangaroo court to fully account for the hours spent in utopia . The accused gang of four masqueraders fumbled with fundraised explanations that fell on deaf ears and were out-rightly ridiculed by the feared self-appointed court martials for being incoherent .

All said and done , it was an enriching experience that left lots of fond memories that have the power to coerce a craving for a repeat expedition even to the most unwilling of souls . In Kenyan speak , we shall definitely revisit and drown Phoenix Beers on a fireside soon !

Our very humble appreciation to our video and photography crew led by David St Felix and our guide Jeff Emillien for loading us with tons of information on Mauritius .

I will conclude by quoting Nidhi Lyall who puts it aptly thus : “ The boundless beauty and soul enriching charm of Mauritius - a gem in Africa - magnetizes tourists from far and wide . This vacationer ’ s paradise is a flamboyant and fragrant bouquet of everything that takes your trip - whether family , honeymoon , or leisure , to the top .” ■

William Kalombo is the Chief Executive Officer , Marketing Africa Limited and publisher Marketing Africa Magazine . You can commune with him on mail at : Wkalombo @ marketingafrica . co . ke .

MAL 45 / 21 ISSUE 47