The “Vanilla Islands” project: giving new impetus to regional tourism in the Indian Ocean
After a mixed decade, the “Vanilla Islands” project is once again attracting the interest of regional decision-makers in the Indian Ocean. Launched in 2011, this initiative aimed to transform the islands of the region into a common tourist destination. The islands concerned are Mauritius, Madagascar, Reunion, Seychelles, Comoros and Mayotte, all sharing the same exotic wealth, vanilla.
However, the project did not really take off, in particular due to the poor connectivity and the high cost of tickets between the different islands of the region. The players in the region have become aware of the importance of developing a concerted approach, in particular drawing lessons from the pandemic. Regional tourism remains limited, while Mauritian tourism, the leader in the region, is experiencing a resurgence with more than one million visitors expected this year.
Thus, regional decision-makers see in the “Vanilla Islands” project an opportunity to revitalize regional tourism. Camille Vital, Ambassador of Madagascar to Mauritius and the Seychelles, affirms that the project will be open to all and underlines the current enthusiasm of tourists for Mauritius since the reopening of the borders.
The development of an “indianoceanic” label is also envisaged to promote this regional cooperation. Donald Payen, President of the Mauritius Tourist Board, underlines the importance of short circuits and exchanges between people in the post-pandemic era.
To attract tourists, the region is focusing in particular on a new model of luxury cruise tourism, favoring smaller boats that respect the environment and have higher purchasing power.
However, for the “Vanilla Islands” project to really take off, it is necessary to improve connectivity between the islands and reduce ticket costs. Currently, flights between Mauritius and the other islands are limited, with varying frequencies depending on the destination.
In conclusion, the “Vanilla Islands” project offers new hope for tourism development in the Indian Ocean. By focusing on regional cooperation, the diversification of tourist offers and the improvement of infrastructure, the players in the region hope to attract more and more visitors and thus boost the local economy