Mauritius opens to holidaymakers

Holidaymakers relax at Trou aux Biches in Mauritius.

Mauritius has confirmed this week that it will be opening its borders to holidaymakers from next month.

International visitors will be able to access the Indian Ocean sunshine destination from July 15 as part of a phased re-oopening. This first stage runs from July 15 to September 30 and means fully vaccinated tourists will be able to enter quarantine-free.

However, there are restrictions; visitors must stay within their resort for the first two weeks and only after 14 days and a negative PCR test will they be allowed to leave the resort and explore the resort’s island.

All facilities within the resort, including pools and private beaches, will be available for guests to use during the initial 14 days. Visitors will also be free to leave the resort to travel home if their stay is for less than two weeks. A list of pre-approved resorts will be available from June 20 online.

The country has also unrolled a cautious set of arrival regulations. Adults must be fully vaccinated to enter Mauritius without quarantine and must take a PCR test between five and seven days prior to departure. A second test will be carried out on arrival at the airport in Mauritius and there will be further tests on days seven and 14.

Phase two will start on October 1 when vaccinated travellers will simply require a Covid test taken within 72 hours of departure.

Unvaccinated arrivals will remain subject to a 14 day in-room quarantine period for both phases.

Mauritius has accelerated its vaccination programme and is aiming for herd immunity by the end of September. Two emergency batches of the Sinopharm vaccine have been flown to the country from China in recent months.

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