Juicy Punishment – Dream Island Nightmare: Trouble Due to Mask Requirement

The island nation in the Indian Ocean, known for its fantastic beaches, is considered a travel paradise. “Since July, guests no longer have to self-test or self-isolate to enjoy their vacation,” it says officially. However, the interpretation of the mask regulation sometimes seems to be subject to official arbitrariness.

mask detached
A guest from Neusiedl am See had to make this bitter experience. When the 74-year-old went to the hotel in Grand Baie, a city in northern Mauritius, he was suddenly targeted by the police for having briefly removed the mask on his face. “Three officers in a jeep stopped abruptly and ran towards me as if I were a criminal. Surrounded by law enforcement officers, I was told not to take off my mask,” says the pensioner.

He was promptly fined 2,000 Mauritius rupees, the equivalent of €44. “I just took off my mask to wipe my sweat at 35 degrees Celsius. And all this only on the sidewalk, there was no one on the street for miles around”, explains the Burgenlander.

fine not paid
The incident happened in March. However, the fine has not yet been paid. Because the Austrian consul has intervened. He wrote to the island state’s tourism minister to waive the fine. The minister forwarded the request to the police. Since then, the request has been there and no response has been forthcoming so far.

Nuisance instead of relaxation: The holidaymaker from Neusiedl am See does not understand the “corona slump”: “No one has informed about the mask obligation. Only tourists pay. Because the locals who don’t wear masks leave the police alone.”