6 reasons why Mauritius is the ultimate recovery destination

It’s been a tough year for the global population and now more than ever we could all do with some well – deserved rest and recreation.

Amidst the pandemic, depression was rife with the younger generation reporting a 24 per cent rise in anxiety up by 13 per cent in pre-pandemic waves. Depression and anxiety amongst the general population saw a peak in early April with 25 per cent of people reporting feelings of depression due to lockdown.

Countries such as Mauritius are now looking at recovery strategies, particularly in the tourist trade – with a focus on the wellness industry. Mauritius, along with other countries such as New Zealand, responded early to COVID-19 with stringent lockdown restrictions. For Mauritius, these strict measures led to an 80 per cent reduction in the coronavirus transmission rate.

This preparedness resulted in Mauritius being assigned the highest score on the Stringency Index by a team of researchers in Oxford, whose responsibility is to track the interventions and responses of different governments.

The ‘hard lockdown’ measures implemented by the Mauritian authorities at the beginning of the year are commendable, and in May 2020, Mauritius declared that the country was COVID free with 322 people recovering from coronavirus out of the 332 confirmed cases at the time.

Mauritius at a glance

The Republic of Mauritius is known as an Island Nation in the Indian Ocean, located about 2,000 kilometres off the SouthEast coast of the African continent. It includes the main island of Mauritius and Agalega, St. Brandon and Rodrigues. There are many reasons why Mauritius is known as the ‘’ultimate recovery destination’’ – some of which are highlighted below:

#1. A Tropical Paradise

The beauty of Mauritius is undeniable with its trademark turquoise warm waters, blue lagoons, endless white sandy beaches and coconut trees that stretch for miles. The wealth of beauty that Mauritius offers to travellers and tourists alike is second to none.

Those travelling to Mauritius can expect a warm welcome from the friendly multi-ethnic and cultural population as well as being at one of the world’s top luxury tourist destinations. Several unique tourist attractions set Mauritius apart from anywhere else in the world, including:

The 7 coloured Earths of Chamarel
Two UNESCO World Heritage Status Monuments
The Black River Gorges

#2. Access to Activities

Sporty types can enjoy a variety of water sports including deep-sea fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and kite-surfing. The idyllic greenery and surrounding nature on the island offer hikers the opportunity to trek the breathtaking forests. For explorers, there are a variety of markets and nearby villages to be explored on foot or by bicycle.

Dozens of local shopping centres sell locally made jewellery and textiles and the deep colonial history of this colourful island offers fascinating cultural insight and a variety of exotic religious festivals.

#3. Holistic Health

Mauritius is renowned for its holistic health practices and with the biggest holistic wellness festival in the Indian ocean – it’s no wonder Mauritius is the perfect destination for recovery.

The 360 Holistic Health Approach refers to the wholeness of body, mind and spirit; an approach that seeks to treat the person as a ‘’whole’’ rather than a single set of symptoms.

Holistic Wellness is used to treat a wide range of addictions, depression and other co-occurring disorders. This method offers a synergy of healing to help awaken and rejuvenate the spirit within. The 360 Holistic Wellness approach includes:

Reiki
Acupuncture
Ayurveda
Yoga
Meditation and Mindfulness
Hammam
Abhyanga Body Massage
Nutritional Therapy

Individualized treatment programs offer a complete rehabilitation plan with tailor-made treatments designed to treat addiction and other mental health disorders.

Not only does Mauritius offer breathtaking surroundings in which to heal and recover, but Holistic Wellness Programs put a strong emphasis on the importance of nutritional therapy to help cleanse the system from any substance misuse.

Fresh fruit, vegetables and organic plantation are part and parcel of the Mauritian experience and lifestyle, which makes gaining access to the right nutrition much easier.

#4. The Warm Climate

The Mauritian population enjoys a year-round warm tropical climate, where the winter months are usually warm and dry (May to November) and the summer months are hot and humid (December to April). The best time to travel to Mauritius is between the months of April and June and September and December. Since Mauritius is located in the Southern hemisphere, summer and winter seasons are opposite to Europe.

During November to April, the weather tends to be humid and hot with a peak in December. The months between December to March are perfect for deep-sea fishing and scuba diving. May to October is usually the cooler months with the lowest temperatures felt in August. According to reports, June through to August are the best months for surfing.

#5. Easy Accessibility

A visa is not required when travelling to Mauritius – once you arrive your passport is stamped allowing you entry into the country for 60 days. However, if you intend to work in Mauritius, you are required to get a work permit before you travel. Your passport needs to be valid throughout the length of your stay, and no other validity is required beyond this.

#6. Mauritius is a Safe Destination

Mauritius is currently COVID free, and in a report by Tourism Mauritius, the country was labelled as a ‘safe destination.’ In June 2020, the same report remarked that the people of Mauritius were ‘’looking forward to welcoming visitors once again as they hope to reopen their borders soon.’’ The current quarantine rules for entering Mauritius is 14 days which means that anyone entering the country will be placed into a quarantine centre.

Mauritius has been highly commended in the fight against Covid-19, due to imposing early lockdown restrictions and continuing to practice ongoing hygiene and precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus – it is also the second African country to declare a ‘virus-free’ status after infection. Fortunately, there is also no risk of contracting Malaria or Yellow Fever in Mauritius. However, all travellers should ensure that they are up to date with routine vaccinations such as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio and Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

Mauritius has been the ‘go-to’ destination for tourists for decades with an estimated 140,000 British tourists visiting the country every year. These figures are not surprising given its friendly and welcoming reputation.

In more recent times, Mauritius has focused on promoting tourism in the health and Wellness and medical sectors, to maintain it’s up-market reputation. The global healthcare hierarchy residing in the country has positioned Mauritius to be the hub of global high-technology medicine due to the outstanding medical facilities and highly specialized practitioners, making Mauritius the ultimate recovery destination.

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