Travel in Rodrigues Island
Rodrigues, 18 kms long by 8 kms wide, is set in the monochrome blue of a typical postcard scene representing some 200 square kilometres of lagoon. Rodrigues is remote, a part of Mauritius but 550km further east and covers 108sq km, the size of the British Channel Island of Jersey. The coral reef is as far away as 7 kms in some parts. Rodrigues is the smallest of the Mascarenes and of the most recent volcanic origin (some 1½ million years ago). It is surrounded by 14 satellite islets.
Association of Rodrigues Tourism Operators
Some 20 years ago, the first tourist structure was born in Rodrigues. It was a modest boarding house. Progression has been very slow as they now number only four. Other more sophisticated structures grew alongside them in the form of guest houses, apartments, studios, restaurants, inbound tour operators, car rental companies, craft markets and other local products.
With the opening of two quality hotels in 1990, the tourist sector got a fresh start and the need was soon evident for a specialist structure that would coordinate the conception and marketing of the tourist products.
ARTO, the Association of Rodrigues Tourism Operators, was born in 1994. As a newcomer on the international tourist circuit. ARTO members who number 20 businesses are all dedicated to the promotion of Rodrigues as a specific destination concentrating upon aspects of nature, culture, customs, cuisine and welcome. The association places a lot of emphasis upon the training of personnel and the upgrading of infrastructures and other relevant tourist aspects.
