The best of Africa’s NDC project development initiative and investment for sustainable businesses, NGOs, government and professionals met for a dazzling event ; the first edition of the African NDC Investment Awards at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Mauritius was revealed as the proud recipient of the Best Tourism NDC Initiative of the Year for its innovation and breadth of impact across the tourism and hospitality industry that help build a more sustainable and better future for the island.
Since 2018, Sustainable Island Mauritius (SIM), a project co-funded by the European Union under the SWITCH Africa Green programme, aims to green activities of Tour Operators and their subsequent value chains in Mauritius.
To achieve this, the implementing agency, the Tourism Authority, has left no stone unturned in developing capacity building programmes, networking activities, co-creation event and sensitisation campaigned to encourage operator to adopt the best sustainable and green practices.
The Director of Tourrims Authority, Mr. Lindsay Morvan accompanied bu H.E. Mr D. Goburdhum, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mauritius in Egypt, accepted the prestigious award from Dr. Hubert Danso, the Chairman of Africa Investor Group, and the Chair of the NDC Awards Adjudicating Panel.
According to the EU Ambassador to the Republic of Mauritius, Mr. V. Degert;
The EU is particularly pleased to be associated with this prestigious award which is a recognition of the commitment of the Mauritius government to environmental stewardship. It could not be otherwise. Mauritius is world renowned for its pristine beauty, its white beaches, its turquoise lagoons and its green mountain – which explains why it is so attractive to tourists, in particular European tourists. Today, more than 50% of tourists come from Europe. The EU funded SIM project has been particularly opportune and timele as it helped the Mauritius tourism sector to bounce back – from the covid pandemic – by focussing on sustainable tourism. That already earned the SIM project the Silver Awards earlier this year by World Tourism Market African the category, ‘Destinations Building Back Better Post-Covid’. This is a vivid illustration of the strong EU-Mauritius partnership which dates back 50 years in the environment and climate change fields which keeps consolidating.’
On the part, the Director of the Tourism Authority stated;
The Tourism Authority has committed itself into achieving the deliverables as set in the Sustainable Island Mauritius programme, despite having been halted by the pandemic. We take much pride to acknowledge this award from the African NDC Investment during this highly symbolic event which is the COP27. We are proud to have been able to position Mauritius on the world map for green tourism through our ongoing activities. It goes to the constant efforts being thrived by Government, the team at the Tourism Authority and the Operators that are adopting the best practices.