Mauritius has recently decided to significantly increase its HH entry tax for travelers, from 35 $ to 60 $ per adult and from 17.5 $ to 30 $ per child. This surprise decision not only affects future travel, but also applies retroactively to bookings already made.
The reasons given by the Mauritian authorities
The increase in the Mauritius entry tax can be attributed to 2 main factors:
- The need for financing reconstruction after cyclone Belal last January, which caused extensive damage on the island.
- The desire toincrease the tourism sector's contribution to the national budgetgiven the island's dependence on this sector.
While these reasons are understandable, the increase was implemented without prior warning or consultation with key players in the tourism sector, such as travel agencies, airlines or hoteliers.
What's in it for tourism professionals and travellers?
The sudden and retroactive increase of the HH entry tax in Mauritius has a significant impact on tourism professionals and travelers:
- Travel agencies and tour operators must now incorporate this increase into their current quotations, but do not wish to assume this additional cost for bookings already made.
- Many customers may be unhappy with this sudden increase, especially if it is applied retroactively to trips they have already paid for.
Here are a few tips for travelers and tourism professionals affected by this increase in the HH entry tax to Mauritius:
- Travelers who have not yet booked their stay in Mauritius should take this new tax into account when drawing up their budget. It may be useful to check with your travel agent or airline whether the tax is included in the price of your ticket or package.
- For those who have already booked and paid for their trip, contact your travel agency or airline to find out about theretroactive application of this tax and possible measures to deal with them.
- Tourism professionals may consider contacting the Mauritian authorities to express their concerns and suggest solutions to minimize the impact of this increase on their business.
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