PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - Mauritius's Sun Resorts pre-tax profit jumped 159 percent to 308.1 million Mauritius rupees for the first half of 2007 from 118.8 million for the same period previously, the firm said.

Its post-tax profit including exceptional items more than tripled to 633 million Mauritius rupees from 196 million rupees, the announcement, seen by Reuters on Tuesday, said.

The first-half profits were boosted on a one-off basis by the group's separation from Kerzner International. As part of the deal, Kerzner acquired full ownership of properties in Mauritius and the Maldives.

Sun Resorts, one of Mauritius' largest companies, also said profits grew after recovery from last year's fears of Chikungunya, a mosquito borne disease which saw tourist numbers from Mauritius' key market, France, collapse.

"The group achieved an attributable profit of ... Rs 633 million for the half year," the announcement, received from Mauritius's stock exchange, said.

"Exceptional items for the quarter (and the half) amounting to 294 million rupees relate to the net gain on the transactions with Kerzner International Ltd and a provision of 400 million rupees for write off of buildings in respect of Le Coco Beach," the firm said, referring to one of its hotels.

Sun Resorts owns four hotels on the Indian Ocean island.

The group's average occupancy rate had "bounced back from last year's Chikungunya scare" to 72 percent for the first half, the resort group said.

"Trading conditions continue to remain favourable in terms of tourist arrivals to the island although there is constant pressure on operating costs and exchange rates," the announcement said.

Mauritius expects 900,000 tourist arrivals this year, growth of 14.2 percent on last year, and aims at welcoming two million visitors per year by 2015.

Courtesy: Reuters

Published in : The News, Travel & Business

Keywords : News, Travel & Business, Mauritius Sun Resorts H1 pretax profit up 159 pct

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