Mauritius, a picturesque island, plans to attract over 100,000 Indian tourists within the next five years, more than doubling the number from existing 40,000, officials said.

Currently, the share of Indian tourists visiting the island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean is six to seven per cent, they said, adding the target is to increase it to 11-12 per cent within the next five years.

Most Indians visit Mauritius for six nights and seven days and the average spend is USD 150 per person per day, a local tour operator promoting Indians tourists told a news agency.

Some 36,255 Indians visited Mauritius for the nine months ending 30th September, a 30 per cent increase compared to last year, said a statement issued by Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.

MTPA is also focusing on attracting the Indian wedding market to the country.

Tourism Minister Nandkumar Bodha recently led a business delegation comprising 30 companies to India and met the travel trade people in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.

Bodha said that Mauritius is offering a red carpet welcome to these groups and is providing all infrastructure and facilities.

Indian tourists’ arrivals rose 32 per cent to 3,670 for the month of September 2010, from 2,772 the same period last year, according to MPTA figures.

At the end of September last, 646,656 tourists travelled to Mauritius.