Madagascar : Tourism professionals and the reopening of borders

The Council of Ministers of 23 February announced the total reopening of Madagascar's borders for 5 last March, sous conditions. The Ministerial press release of 05 Last March announced these conditions and the opening of Toamasina and Nosy-Be airports. Tourism professionals from across the big island demand a real reopening of borders with adequate conditions and measures..

Businesses demand a “real” reopening of borders

The CTM, GEM and FIVMPAMA also held a press conference on 09 March 2022.

To save the tourist season 2022, they demand the lifting of restrictive measures for the opening of borders and especially quarantine, and that all airlines can return.

Thus, the private sector urges the government to take into consideration 4 following points :

• The opening of Madagascar to all airlines,
• The reopening of all international airports in Madagascar, including Mahajanga,
• Lifting the PCR test on arrival and compulsory confinement until the result,
• The urgent renovation of roads including the RN4 which serves Antananarivo to Mahajanga

Effective opening with adequate conditions and measures

Northern axis tourism operators are calling for an effective opening of borders with adequate conditions and measures..

They sound the alarm to signal the precariousness of their situation. They reiterate the recent call from the Madagascar Tourism Confederation (Ctm), of the Madagascar Business Group (GEM) as well as the Madagascar Employers’ Group (Fivmpama - Association of entrepreneurs in Madagascar).

These operators in the North of Madagascar believe that other specific provisions should also be considered by the State.

Save Madagascar tourism

Tourism is one of the most important economic activities for Madagascar. It is one of the first sources of currencies of the countries. This is why tourism professionals across the big island are demanding a real reopening of borders..

• Antsiranana (Diego – Suarez)

Antsiranana tourism operators raise the need to rehabilitate the national road that connects it to Ambanja (RN6) according to the deadline. They also request the return of direct flights Antsiranana-La Réunion, Antsiranana-Mayotte. Which, however, requires the renovation of Arrachart airport. The implementation of systems allowing the safe reception of liners is also requested..

• Nosy Be

For Nosy-Be, these operators request that the resumption of operations for the companies that previously served this city. They also hope for the expansion of national air services, including the one departing from Nosy-Be, towards Sambava and Antsiranana.

For the moment, only the airline Neos Air, chartering charter flights linking Italy to the Perfume Island is authorized to land in Nosy Be.

• Sambava

Pour Sambava, operators demand that the prices of Tsaradia's domestic flights be lowered.

This goes hand in hand with the request for expansion of its airport. On the other hand, relief from taxes to pay, strengthening tourism infrastructure and skills for local stakeholders, or even the revision of the price of electricity are all points to consider for the revival of tourism.

• Majunga

As for the tourist operators of Majunga, they gathered on 07 March faced with the announcement of the reopening of Madagascar's borders : “We have been ignored once again, no decision has been taken for the town of Majunga”.

“We have been confined for two years between a closed airport and an increasingly damaged road from Tana” they say.

Also, Majunga tourist operators demand the opening of regional flights to and from Mayotte : “Save Majunga – Open Mayotte” these are their demands.

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