Pour une différenciation des déplacements dans l'espace touristique : l'analyse des excursions à l'île Maurice

Abstract

This contribution deals with a distinction of possible practices of trip in tourist spaces. Several forms can be spotted (excursion, stroll, walk...). Excursion is then studied, with a theoretical definition and an empirical clarification with the case of Mauritius Island. Mauritius Island, whose tourism is dominated by stays, establish its fréquentation on representations dominated by the local setting of accommodation (tropical beach, hotel) ; several documents show this setting. Nevertheless, 91 per cent of tourists practice at least one excursion during their stay, appealed to local companies. Those, which are the real actors of the excursion in the Mauritian case, are integrated to the tourist sector, reproducing his main trait : the dualism of the tour operators structures ("big" and "small")... The Mauritian State, which less promotes the resources visited during excursions, plays a small part in this sector of the tourism system. The study continues then with the analyse of the places which are visited by excursionists ; those are presented under the form of a typology, distinguishing high places and territories of excursion, secondary places or places not visited.