Mauritius has, after much delay and widespread condemnation, lifted the travel ban on South Africa and eight other countries from the southern African region.
Mauritius lifts South Africa travel ban
It was only last week that the island famous for its resorts and holiday accommodation, drew ire over its decision to extend the travel ban.
Originally, South African flights to Mauritius were expected to be banned until the end of January 2022. This resulted in backlash, with the Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA) one of the many organisations that publicly condemned the decision.
“The high infection rates in more than 50 countries means a person is as likely to catch the Omicron variant in Port Louis, Berlin, Brussels or Paris as they are in Johannesburg or Cape Town. Travel bans have become redundant,” Asata CEO Otto de Vries said in a statement to Times Live.
It seems the Mauritius government, after France reopened the skies to South African flights, folded on its original stance and opted to lift the ban on South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
“We are very pleased that South Africans can once again travel to Mauritius. Covid-19 has placed significant pressure on all nations to do the right thing and we thank South Africans and the South African travel industry for theirpatience in this regard,” director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority Arvind Bundhun said.
South African flights to Mauritius can be booked from Friday 7 January 2022.
Mauritius entry requirements
As frustrating as it was to be locked out of one of the world’s best getaway islands, the unbanning will be welcomed by South Africa’s holidaymakers.
These are the latest Mauritius entry requirements:
Vaccinated guests:
- must have COVID-19 insurance health cover;
- must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure;
- must note that mandatory antigen test is required on arrival at your hotel (day 0) and again on day 5 of your stay. These will be chargeable subject to your hotel policy;
- are free to explore the island after receiving a negative result from antigen test on day 0; and
- must fill out the mandatory health forms before or during your flight to Mauritius. These must be handed to immigration and health officials on arrival at Mauritius airport.
Unvaccinated guests:
- must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure;
- must book a 14-night quarantine stay in an official quarantine hotel, including meals and transfers;
- must arrange COVID-19 insurance health cover;
- will be required to stay in your hotel room for 14 nights and meals will be delivered to your room;
- will have a PCR test on arrival (day 0), day 7 and day 14 of your stay (est. cost of tests R12 000);
- can freely explore the island and move to new accommodation or go home after a negative PCR test on day 14; and
- must fill out the mandatory health forms before or during your flight to Mauritius. These must be handed to immigration and health officials on arrival at Mauritius airport.
