While hope and positivity still prevail, the fact remains that the arrivals are very minimal and the available hotels are barely being filled since the first phase of reopening of our borders. “At the last count on 31 July, there was a total of 2327 arrivals with 1027 tourists and 1300 Mauritians“, announced the director of the MTPA, Arvind Bundhun.
Between Rs 200,000 and Rs 300,000
The resort bubble costs the vaccinated tourist a lot of money where “a tourist couple has to budget between Rs 200,000 and Rs 300,000 for their air tickets, the resort bubbles for the 14 days of quarantine, the transfer from the airport to the hotel and their various PCR tests before travelling, on their arrival to Mauritius, on the 7th and 14th day and before getting back on the plane… And should the couple decide to extend their stay to enjoy the country, they will need a bigger budget. Given the considerable sum, this cannot be incurred by a large number of people,” says Daniel Saramandif, the President of the Association of Tourism Professionals, as he explains the low rate of tourist arrivals.
The concept did not work
The same goes for the Mauritians, who nevertheless, numbered 1300 people. “The Mauritians were more motivated because they came for their families. But, this experience is just as expensive for them as it is for a tourist,” he adds. For the latter, the Resort Bubble has not produced the expected result yet “In view of the current situation, this concept has not worked. The hotels have a low occupancy rate with 30% for some and 50% for others. Even the small hotels, guest houses, estates, villas, flats, bungalows and all those with accommodation permits that have had the flexibility to open to local customers since 23 July are struggling and are working only on weekends,” he says.
Optimism in Phase 2
Therefore, much hope is placed on the second phase which will take effect on 1st October when the vaccinated travellers will be allowed to enter without restrictions upon presentation of a negative PCR test carried out within 72 hours prior to their departure. Unvaccinated or positive travellers will be subjected to a 14-day quarantine in their hotel rooms.
