Friday, May 23, 2025
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has proudly inaugurated its innovative Travel Store in Port Louis, Mauritius, marking a significant advancement in delivering superior travel experiences while strengthening its partnership with the Mauritian tourism sector. This launch underscores Emirates’ commitment to blending seamless travel solutions with immersive, technology-driven customer engagement.
Located within The Docks 2 at the United Docks Business Park in Caudan, the spacious 1,895-square-foot Travel Store offers visitors an interactive space where technology meets personalized service. Travelers can explore Emirates’ extensive global route network and the latest in-flight offerings through advanced digital displays. Expert staff are available to assist with flight bookings, itinerary planning, and membership support for the Emirates Skywards loyalty program, ensuring a tailored customer journey from start to finish.
The opening ceremony featured Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim, alongside Mauritius’ Honourable Minister of Housing and Lands Shakeel Mohamed and Saeed Mohamed Saeed Baomran, Acting Head of Mission at the UAE Embassy. Also present were senior Emirates leaders, tourism partners, and media representatives, highlighting the importance of this milestone for both the airline and the island.
At the official opening of the travel store, Adnan Kazim said: “We have been operating in Mauritius for 23 years, and launching our travel store demonstrates our commitment to growing our presence on the island nation. Here, our customers can discover and enjoy the convenience of our innovative products and digital services. Our staff is trained to offer personalised service, enhancing the customer experience at every stage. This store will enable Mauritian travelers to experience the essence of Emirates before they even begin their journey.”
Innovative features enrich the store experience, including self-service kiosks for easy booking and a selfie mirror with dynamic backdrops showcasing Emirates’ key destinations worldwide. Travelers can also browse and purchase exclusive Emirates-branded travel accessories, combining practicality with inspiration for their journeys.
Strengthening Ties with Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority
Emirates reaffirmed its strong collaboration with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) by signing a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reinforcing joint efforts to elevate Mauritius as a top destination in the Indian Ocean region. This agreement demonstrates mutual dedication to expanding Mauritius’ reach in key international markets.
The MoU was formalized by Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Senior Vice President for Commercial West Asia & Indian Ocean, and Claire Le Lay, Chairperson of MTPA, in a ceremony witnessed by Minister Shakeel Mohamed. Since 2012, the partnership has driven targeted campaigns in crucial source markets such as France, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Germany, contributing to visitor arrivals surpassing 1.3 million in 2024.
Together, Emirates and MTPA have developed customized travel packages featuring accommodations, excursions, and cultural experiences tailored to a variety of traveler interests and budgets. These initiatives have played a vital role in raising Mauritius’ profile as a premier holiday destination on the world stage.
Showcasing National Pride and Enhancing Connectivity
In celebration of Mauritius’ 57th Independence Day, Emirates operated a special A380 flight staffed exclusively by Mauritian crew members, symbolizing the airline’s respect for the nation’s growing international presence and the significance of Mauritius within its route map. Emirates currently operates two daily nonstop A380 flights connecting Mauritius with its global network, ensuring excellent accessibility and convenience for travelers.
The launch of the new Travel Store combined with the extended partnership with MTPA exemplifies Emirates’ strategic approach to fostering tourism growth in Mauritius while offering customers cutting-edge, technology-enhanced service. This dual focus reinforces Emirates’ position as not only a world-leading airline but also a key partner contributing to Mauritius’ economic vitality and cultural prominence.
Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial West Asia & Indian Ocean said: “Since 2002, Emirates has been proudly serving Mauritius with our award-winning services and premium offerings which appeal to a global audience. By drawing on our extensive network of travel partners, we continue to succeed in bringing holidaymakers to Mauritius to enjoy what the island has to offer. Our double daily A380 services have been a major contributor to the growth of the country’s tourism industry and lifeblood of the local community.”
The Minister of Tourism, The Honorable Richard Duval added: “We are delighted to renew and further strengthen our valued partnership with Emirates – a relationship that has played a pivotal role in positioning Mauritius as a world-class tourism destination. Over the years, this collaboration has helped increase our connectivity in key markets and contributed directly to the growth of tourist arrivals.
“This renewed Memorandum of Understanding is a testament to our shared vision of sustainable tourism development and our continued commitment to showcasing the rich cultural, natural and experiential offerings of Mauritius to a global audience.”
“I would like to express my gratitude to Emirates for their continuous support. I have no doubt that we will continue to work hard together hand-in-hand to ensure that Mauritius remains a top-of-mind destination for travellers worldwide.”
Claire Le Lay, Chairperson of the MTPA said: “The MTPA is delighted to renew this strategic partnership, which highlights Emirates’ commitment to supporting our efforts in promoting Mauritius as a premier tourism destination. Emirates’ unparalleled connectivity through Dubai has opened new horizons for us, enabling strong growth from markets such as the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. We are confident that this collaboration will continue to play a vital role in our tourism development.”
