The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority has issued health and safety guidance for tourism businesses as part of the country’s coronavirus recovery strategy.

The guidelines are designed to ensure a uniform approach as businesses begin to reopen and have been endorsed by the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Measures include recommendations on cleaning and disinfection, social distancing, providing contactless options and protocols to follow for suspected cases of Covid-19.

The authority has also committed to regular inspections to ensure the measures are being implemented correctly and has partnered with Mauritius Telecom on a ‘Safe Travels’ app which all tourism operators are required by law to download.

The app outlines specific recommendations for different types of business, and generates a ‘Safe Travel Certificate’ endorsed by the WTTC and the tourism authority to act as an official accreditation.

Arvind Bundhun, director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority said: “The safety of visitors to Mauritius and staff working in the leisure, tourism and hospitality sector is of utmost importance to our organisation and so we felt it was important to provide a list of sanitary guidelines for businesses to follow as they plan to resume operations.

“We are working closely with our private sector and stakeholder partners to prepare for the return of visitors to the destination so that we are ready to welcome them back to Mauritius as soon as travel restrictions are lifted.”