I've been there in 2007 too and I think you're wrong. If anything I think they're too dependent on tourism. And actually they seem to understand it by trying to diversify into tech and other industries.
Regarding rubbish and immigration, the largest population group there are indians, the most disregard to rubbish seems to come from their culture (have you been to India?). But they're also the largest contributors to growing tech sector for example.
The country is very dependent on tourism. However, the money generated isn't being pumped back into the country.
People who visit on holiday say how wonderful the place is, beautiful beaches and clear blue seas. But move to other areas of the island and it's a completely different place. Walk 5 minutes down the road from the fanciest hotel and there's a shanty town.
Mauritius certainly has a great opportunity and is probably better than a lot of the other African countries, but it still has a long way to go.
well, I've been all around the island by car and sure the places locals live in are not posh, but far from being "shanty towns" you'll see in India (where many mauritians are coming from) or Brasil or most of Africa for that matter.
But that's the "freedom" Mises Institute applauds - freedom for foreigners to invest in local industries but not contribute much back besides employment.
Regarding rubbish and immigration, the largest population group there are indians, the most disregard to rubbish seems to come from their culture (have you been to India?). But they're also the largest contributors to growing tech sector for example.