Volume: 2  Number: 2  Page: 94–109  doi:10.2167/jht032.0

Developing Mauritianness: National Identity, Cultural Heritage Values and Tourism

Anne K. Soper Bloomington, Indiana, USA

Mauritius is a nation of immigrants who have harmoniously come together, working to make their new homeland an economic success story. To continue this unprecedented economic growth Mauritius is consciously aware of the need for diversification in all its industries, including tourism. Known for being a quintessential beach vacation destination, Mauritius desires to expand the tourism sector to include aspects of cultural heritage tourism. To accomplish this task several questions must be answered about the meaning of Mauritianness and its relationship to tourism. Here it is argued that in order to further develop cultural heritage tourism in Mauritius, the understanding of Mauritian national identity must also be advanced.

Keywords: Mauritius, tourism, cultural heritage, national identity

© 2007 A.K. Soper

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