Tourism emerges biggest winner in Mauritius air deal

Signed last week, the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) will see the introduction of three weekly flights between Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and Plaisance Airport in the Mauritian capital, Port Louis. The agreement specifies Air Mauritius and Air Botswana as the airlines to exploit the arrangement. Once the airlines introduce the flights, tourists will conceivably be able to view the Okavango Delta in the morning and watch the sunset on Mauritius' world-renowned beaches.

Besides tourism however, the BASA is expected to boost trade between the two countries, which traditionally lead Africa in terms of economic performance. Transport and Communications minister, Nonofo Molefhi said the flights would also cater for passengers connecting to the European and Asian markets.