ROAD MAP FOR HOTEL DEVELOPMENT ON PRIVATE LAND IN MAURITIUS
Local authorities
Once the land has been identified, local authorities have to be consulted to check whether the land is
developable and whether the said activity can be conducted in that area.
Application for acquisition of immovable property by a non citizen
Under the Non-Citizen Property Restriction Act, a non-citizen wishing to hold or purchase or
acquire property in Mauritius must get the necessary approval to acquire the property. Approvals are
provided either by the Prime Minister’s Office or the Board of Investment
(www.investmauritius.com) , as may be the case
Acquisition of property by non-citizen
Certificate of approval Certificate of approval from
from Prime Minister’s No Certificate of approval
Board of Investment
Office
Acquisition of shares in Holding of property under a
company holding immovable Acquisition of immovable lease agreement not
property property for business purposes exceeding 20 years
Acquisition of property for
Holding of shares in
residence by pilots
companies which do not own
employed by Air Mauritius Acquisition of residential property by immovable property
holders of permanent resident permit
Holds property by inheritance or
Acquisition of immovable effect of marriage
property by non-investor
Acquisition of residential units
Holding of shares in companies
under Integrated Resort Scheme
listed on the stock exchange
Lease of immovable property
exceeding 20 years Through a unit trust scheme
or any collective investment
vehicle
EIA License
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Licence is required for hotel and an application for an
EIA licence must be made to the Ministry of Environment
(http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/menvsite) as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry.
Land conversion permit
A land conversion permit is required whenever a hotel is being developed on agricultural land. Hotel
development is exempted from the land conversion tax and for the purpose of obtaining the land
conversion permit, an application must be submitted to the Ministry of Agro Industry and Fisheries
(http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/agroind / tel: +230 2113524 / +230 2104306) .
Other clearances have to be sought from the Central Electricity Board (CEB), Central Water
Authority (CWA) and the Waste Water Management Authority (WWA)
Building and Land Use Permit
An application for a building and land use permit must be submitted to the local authority prior the
development of the hotel. The application must be in conformity to the guidelines issued by the local
authority, the Ministry of Health, the Fire Services, the Police Department. The Building and Land
Use permit is issued within 15 days as from the effective date of the application.
The Tourism Authority (Contact no. +230 213 1740 – Mr Joel Rault – General Manager)
No person is allowed to run or carry on a tourist enterprise unless he holds a valid Tourism
Enterprise License. For this purpose an application for hotel development must be submitted to the
Tourism Authority on the prescribed application form together with a detailed project plan and
feasibility study.
For the development and operation of a hotel, an application must be made to the Tourism
Authority for a Tourism Enterprise Licence and the licence issued shall be valid for 12 months as
from the date of issue.
5.3 Activities requiring a Tourist Enterprise Licence
The following activities shall require a tourism enterprise licence from the Tourism Authority to
operate within a hotel:
(a) Restaurant (including or excluding liquor and other alcoholic beverages) with or without
entertainment
(b) Nightclub
(c) Operating a boat house
(d) Golf
(e) Scuba Diving
(f) Eco tourism activities
5.4 Licence Fees
Hotels Up to 25 rooms Rs 25,000
26-50 rooms Rs 50,000
51-75 rooms Rs 100,000
76-100 rooms Rs 150,000
101-200 rooms Rs 250,000
Above 200 rooms Rs 500,000
Food and Beverage outlets Rs 10,000
(including liquor and
Alcoholic products) with
entertainment
Food and Beverage outlets Rs 5,000
(excluding liquor and
Alcoholic products) with
entertainment
Food and Beverage outlets Rs 7,000
(including liquor and
Alcoholic products) without
entertainment
Food and Beverage outlets Rs 4,000
(excluding liquor and
Alcoholic products) without
entertainment
Operating a boat House Rs 10,000
Eco tourism activities Rs 10,000
Golf -9 holes Rs 50,000
Golf-18 holes Rs 100,000
Scuba Diving Rs 10,000
Any other activities pursued Rs 10,000
by tourist
