The Republic of Mauritius has commenced the vaccination of employees in the tourism industry in the preparation of resuming its’ borders later in 2021. 

Notably, Mauritius is the first country in the world to classify staff who work in the tourism sector as frontline to ensure they are fully protected when travel restrictions are lifted. The roll-out of the vaccination drive for tourism employees includes hotel staff, Air Mauritius and Airports of Mauritius staff and other front line tourism staff.

With the vaccine now being distributed across the country to health care warriors and citizens with underlying health conditions which began last week, the government is giving priority to the tourism sector so as to enable Mauritius to get a safe and secure reopening of the border for international visitors. 

The Government is monitoring the rollout of the vaccine and working with public health professionals, scientists and tourism stakeholders with a view to amending arrival protocols as soon as possible to welcome further international tourism arrivals.

The chairman of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Agency (MTPA), Nilen Vencadasmy said: “Mauritius is looking forward to welcoming back visitors to our Indian Ocean paradise island safe in the knowledge that we are a luxury Covid secure destination. Mauritius is vaccinating front-line tourism staff as they are essential to the safe reopening of our borders. 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone within the tourism sector and we are working closely with operators, airlines, hotels and other stakeholders at home and internationally to ensure that we can reopen safely and securely in 2021.”

The first batch of 100,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, produced by the Serum Institute of India, arrived from Mumbai on 22 January and were a donation from the government of India.

The first vaccination on the island was administered on 26 January 2021. Initially, 50,000 people are being vaccinated with two doses throughout January and February 2021 with two weeks between the first dose and the second dose. Further vaccinations will be delivered from March onwards.

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