Riviere du Rempart District

Rivière du Rempart is where tourism transformed Mauritius—Grand Baie, the district's coastal hub, concentrates resort development, yacht marinas, and the nightlife that positions northern Mauritius as the island's entertainment center. The name references fortifications built along the river during French colonial rule, defensive infrastructure long since replaced by hospitality infrastructure generating the foreign currency that sustains the modern economy. Cap Malheureux, the island's northernmost point, provides views to Coin de Mire island and the distinctive red-roofed church photographed by virtually every visitor to Mauritius. The district's beaches—Pereybère, Mont Choisy, Trou aux Biches—rank among the island's most developed, with resorts, dive centers, and water sports operators concentrated along a coastline that colonial planners once considered marginal compared to the sugar-growing interior. The transition from agricultural hinterland to tourism destination accelerated after independence in 1968, as development policies deliberately targeted hospitality to diversify beyond sugar dependency. Tourist arrivals recovered to 1.3 million by 2023, approaching pre-COVID levels, with northern beaches absorbing disproportionate share of that traffic. Sugar cane fields persist inland, the agricultural heritage visible from coastal roads, but the economic center of gravity shifted decisively to the sea. By 2026, Rivière du Rempart faces the familiar challenge of mature tourism destinations: maintaining appeal while managing the environmental and social impacts of intensive hospitality development.