Mauritius has dropped the requirement for visitors to take a pre-travel PCR test with a negative result, as a condition of entry to the country.
The move will undoubtedly drive more leisure and business tourism to the island state. It follows a post-pandemic trend emerging globally and in Southern Africa for the removal of COVID-19-related barriers to tourism, such as expensive PCR testing.
The removal of this type of pre-travel testing removes a lot of the expense of travel to a destination, making every country that has taken the leap a much more attractive and affordable proposition.
The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) says demand from tourists and business travellers has soared following the reopening of borders to international travel.
“Travellers are choosing Mauritius for its beaches, mountains, lagoons and business opportunities but also for its safety and security. As it stands, 90% of Mauritius’s adult population are fully vaccinated and our booster-dose campaign is in full swing,” said Arvind Bundhun, Director of MTPA. He added that the Tourism Authority was delighted that the Ministry of Health and Wellness had reviewed the sanitary protocol for visitors to Mauritius. “Automatically this renders experience of travelling to Mauritius far easier and more streamlined. We expect a further boost to tourism numbers as demand for travel to Mauritius is currently ramping up.”
