Mauritius to fully reopen international borders
Mauritius is set to fully reopen its borders on 1 October, when vaccinated international travellers will be welcomed in without restrictions. Visitors who present a negative PCR test taken in the 72 hours before their departure will then be able to explore the island freely from the moment they arrive. Unvaccinated travellers will still be subject to a mandatory in-room quarantine for 14 days until 31 December.
Mauritius has adopted a two-phased reopening strategy. In the initial phase, from 15 July to 30 September, it has been accepting vaccinated travellers to enjoy holidays within 14 dedicated ‘resort bubbles’. Only those visitors staying for more than two weeks have been able to visit other parts of the island and only after taking a PCR test on day 14 of their holiday.
As part of the second phase, starting in October, vaccinated travellers will be able to travel freely around the island from arrival, provided they can present a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours of travel, upon arrival.
The reopening is being attributed to the acceleration of the island’s vaccination programme. The Mauritian government took the decision in January to prioritise tourism workers and hotel staff in the vaccine rollout to ensure visitors can enjoy a safe and secure environment in Mauritius.
Mauritius has one of the highest fully vaccinated rates in Africa, currently standing at over 60% of the overall population (82% of the local adult population). This vaccination programme is ongoing, and the rollout will also include those below 18-years-old as from the end of September.
Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), said: “Mauritius is delighted to see the world opening up again for travel. We have been welcoming international visitors to our island since the middle of July and the ‘resort bubbles’ have proven a great success. We are looking forward to the next stage of our reopening on 1 October, when vaccinated visitors will be able to explore the island without restriction from the moment of their arrival.”
For full details of entry requirements and safety protocols, visit www.mauritiusnow.com
