Mauritius has decided to do away with the visa system for Indian tourists in the island country from October 2004 to give a fillip to tourism.
''We have taken this very important decision to abolish the visa system for all bonafide Indian nationals willing to visit Mauritius and this law will be effective from October'', Mauritius Tourism and Leisure Minister Anil K. Gayan told reporters in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Gayan, who was in Kolkata to inaugurate Mauritian Food festival, said his country held India "in high esteem" so far as the traditional bilateral ties were concerned.
''Abolition of the visa system for Indian tourists, will go a long way not only in further promoting tourism but also strengthening bilateral ties with New Delhi," the Mauritius minister said, adding tourism fetches bulk of the revenue for the island country and the innumerable islets are visited by Indian honeymooners 'in a big way' over the years.
Acknowledging Indian assistance to Mauritius in its development process, Gayan said ''we are grateful to India for what it has done to us'.
The minister said the Mauritius Government was keen to further promote relations with India, adding, ''our cordial ties with New Delhi will remain unchanged even with the change of government''.
''We have many things in common with India from social and religious points of view, and particularly when 60 per cent of our population is of Indian origin that helps in developing our bilateral relations'', he said.
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