Mauritius’ Minister of Tourism, Richard Duval, has announced the appointment of Benoît Harter as Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), placing him at the helm of the institution responsible for the international promotion of the island’s tourism sector.
The appointment comes at a time when Mauritius is facing increased competition within the Indian Ocean and beyond, alongside shifting expectations from international travellers. Minister Duval described the period ahead as challenging and underlined the importance of close coordination between the executive management of the MTPA and its governance structure.
Harter will work alongside MTPA Chairman Dinesh Burrenchobay, whose appointment the minister identified as a key element in strengthening leadership at the Authority. The ministry has indicated that the focus of the new leadership team will include repositioning Mauritius in its traditional source markets, attracting new visitor segments and adapting the destination’s tourism offer to evolving trends in luxury and sustainable travel.
Tourism remains one of the main pillars of the Mauritian economy, with the MTPA serving as the primary agency responsible for shaping the country’s global tourism image. Among the challenges highlighted by the ministry are strengthening visibility in European and Asian markets, modernising digital communication tools and promoting a distinctive destination identity in a highly competitive regional landscape.
Benoît Harter brings 28 years of experience across the hospitality sector, creative industries and event management. He began his career in Mauritius’ luxury hotel industry, with professional experience at Scott, Sugar Beach Resorts and Trou aux Biches Resort, where he developed practical knowledge of high-end tourism operations and international client expectations.
According to the new director, one of his immediate priorities will be the restructuring of the organisation. He has also indicated that his first focus will be the MTPA’s promotional campaign for the first half of 2026. With January forecasts described as positive, attention will then move to sustaining performance in February and March.
The ministry has stated that the new leadership is expected to guide the MTPA through a period of transition as the tourism sector continues to adjust to post-pandemic conditions and evolving global market dynamics.
