Reopening
This Thursday 15th marks the start of the first phase of reopening our borders. One Emirates Airline flight with 180 passengers on board and two Air Mauritius flights with 480 passengers apportioned landed on Thursday. They made their way to their respective hotels after their check-in as per the respective corridors for vaccinated and unvaccinated. Taxi drivers expressed their disagreement at the entrance to the airport.
If on the one hand, an air of positivity reigned with the satisfaction of Arvind Bundhun the director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority and Lindsay Morvan, director of the Tourism Authority, on the other hand, the members of the General Taxi Owner Union SSR Airport Taxi Association were making their voices hear loudly.
MTPA: “Mauritius stays a safe destination”
Arvind Bundhun could not be more optimistic when he says: “This is a crucial step. This is a preparatory phase for the grand reopening of our borders in October. We are set for a good recovery; we have worked hard over the last 16 months to make this possible. Mauritius remains a safe destination. What was not possible in 2020 is now possible thanks to the good outcomes of the national vaccination campaign. The sanitary protocol is literally observed. 70% of the tourists will go to hotels and the remaining 30% will be directed to quarantine centres.”
TA: “Dig themselves out of the hole”
For Lindsay Morvan, “We can hope for a more normal and less restrictive life. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this first step in the reopening of our borders will take place in better conditions.” He remains hopeful in this revival which will help all operators “dig themselves out of the hole” by quoting all executives, taking from hotel groups to beach hawkers. Concerning the transfer operators at the safe hotels which, created a misunderstanding and a rage among taxi drivers, Lindsay Morvan explained “there was a tender that circulated, and two operators accustomed to these types of transfers were retained. The vaccination cards of the drivers of these vehicles were checked by the police present today,” he concluded.
GTOU: “Do not walk on our flower beds”
As promised, they made themselves heard. They were rebelling with their banners at the entrance to the airport. Those who constitute the General Taxi Owner Union and SSR Airport Taxi Association, which bring together over 72 concerned, deplored the injustice shown by Steeve Obeegadoo, the Minister of Tourism towards their operations by having “preferred” these two approved transport operators. Asraf Ali Ramdin, secretary of the General Taxi Owner Union did not hide his feelings when he said “respect us, do not walk on our flower beds, let us live. I ask the Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Transport and the Prime Minister that we set up a round table discussion to settle this matter before we have to seek help elsewhere and from the International.” They are also looking for the right to make transfers between the airport and Safe Hotels and Quarantine hotels.
Will our luxury destination reach its goal of 650,000 tourists in ten months with the current Covid situation? Is this July 15th a good omen for our tourism revival? What will be the fate of these Taxi operators? To be continued.
If we considerate the MTPA’s words, we should have 6000 arrivals per week and which will also be served by Turkish Airlines, Air France, Air Austral and British Airways.
