Travel to Mauritius and Seychelles, so popular with South African holidaymakers, has been off the cards for 18 months. But now they are both welcoming South African guests back again without quarantine. Travel agents are reporting that their clients are raring to go.
Nicki Bramley, a consultant at Sure Giltedge Travel, is elated that Mauritius and Seychelles are back. “It is fantastic news. We’ve had so many disappointed clients over the last 18 months wanting to travel to the islands and I have had to learn to be patient and wait for updates. I have had lots of interest in Mauritius and I am expecting the same for Seychelles as well.” Bramley says she is waiting for more flights to be added on those routes and hopes that SAA will reintroduce the Mauritius route.
Jareen Schoeman, owner of Sure Outeniqua Travel, says she has had several enquiries for Mauritius, but has found that clients are carefully looking at costs. “Initially, the cost looks amazing and affordable, but once you add all the COVID-19 tests on to the final price, it adds up. COVID-19 tests for a family of four to go to Mauritius and then to return to South Africa are expensive. I have several bookings and credits for clients who should have travelled in 2020. They want to rebook but they are aware they must be vaccinated, and of the additional costs of travelling.”
Leigh Myles a private travel client, told Travel News that her family could not wait to get back to Mauritius. “We were evacuated from the island just three days into our holiday last year due to COVID-19 and it was very stressful,” she says. Myles and her family had a 10-day booking on the island, when they were told by hotel management two days into their holiday that they had to leave immediately as Mauritius was preparing to close its borders. “When we left the hotel we had no absolutely no idea how long the island would be closed,” says Myles.
Joanne Visagie, Sales and Marketing Director at Beachcomber Tours, is absolutely delighted that South Africans are allowed to travel to Mauritius without having to go into quarantine. “Our hotels are geared to handle visitors safely; they are experts at this already. Remember, Europeans have been travelling there since July. They work with government protocols and have excellent systems in place.” Visagie confirms that Beachcomber hotel guests can request a PCR test directly at the hotel and C-Lab will come to the hotel to do the test. “The cost per test is MUR1 800 (R603). We will include this information and other relevant COVID-19 information in our protocols document. Travel agents can be assured that we will have clear instructions that will accompany quotes, confirmations, and travel documents.”
