Mauritius
in Brief
Banking hours
Monday to Thursday
: 9.15 am -3.15 pm, Friday: 9.15 am -3.30 pm , Saturday
:9.15 am -11.15 am
(Some banks only). Banks are also open to coincide with the
arrival and departure of international flights at the Sir
Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport.
Climate
The temperature on
the coastal areas varies between 22°C in winter and 34°C in
summer. The sea temperature varies between 22°C and 27°C. In
the central part of the island, the maximum daytime
temperature varies from about 19°C in August to about 26°C
in February. The western and northern regions are warmer and
relatively drier than the East and the South.
Conferences
Almost all of our
large hotels are equipped and ready to cater for
conferences. The number of people that can be accommodated
varies from 30 to 500. The
International Conference Centre in Grand Bay and the
Freeport Exhibition Centre in Mer Rouge can easily
accommodate 600 and 1,000 people
respectively.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are
normally accepted by banks and most hotels, restaurants and
tourist shops.
Culture
Mauritius is a
blend of diverse cultures and religions. The population
consists of Hindus,
Creole, Chinese, Muslims and Europeans.
Currency
The monetary unit
is the Mauritian Rupee (Rs.) which is divided into 100 cents
(cs). At the latest exchange rate, one Euro is worth around
Rs. 30.
Customs
-
Passengers over
18 years of age may import the following duty-free items:
250 grams of tobacco (including cigars and cigarettes), 1
liter of spirits, 2 liters of wine, ale or beer, one quarter
liter of Eau de Toilette and perfume not exceeding 100 ml.
-
A plant import
permit must be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture,
prior to the introduction of plants and plant material
including cuttings, flowers, bulbs, fresh fruits, vegetables
and seeds.
-
It is prohibited
to introduce sugarcane and parts thereof, soil
micro-organisms and invertebrate animals.
-
All imported
animals including animal products need an import permit from
the Ministry of Agriculture and a health certificate from
the country of origin.
-
Drug trafficking
is illegal and carries very heavy penalties. Firearms and ammunition need
import permits and must be declared on arrival.
Driving
People in Mauritius
drive on the left-hand side of the road and give way to the
right. Foreigners with a
driving license issued by a Competent Authority in their
respective countries are allowed to drive during their stay
in Mauritius.
Economy
The Mauritian
economy is based on four sectors: Textile, Tourism,
Sugar and Services.
Electricity
220 volts.
Emergency
Police (ambulance )
:999, Police : 208-7018/20
Fire : 995, Samu :
114
Flights from
Europe
Air Mauritius
operates over 30 weekly flights to and from all the European
major cities including 15
combined flights with Air France to and from Paris. British Airways
operates four weekly flights, Emirates Airlines three and
Condor one.
(Also see
http://www.mauritiustourism.co.uk/gettingto/default.asp
)
from
http://www.go2africa.com/mauritius/getting-around.asp
There are five airports in Mauritius, two of
which are paved. The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
international airport is located at Plaisance, 4 km from
Mahebourg.
Air Mauritius operates over 30 weekly flights to
and from all the major European cities, including
15 combined flights with Air France to and from Paris. Other
international airlines operating in Mauritius include Air
Austral, British Airways, Condor, South African Airways, Air
Seychelles, Emirates and Singapore Airlines.
Geography
Mauritius is
located approximately 2000 kilometres to the south eastern
coast of Africa and lies east of Madagascar on 20°5, 57.5E.
The country covers an area of 1865km_ with 330 kilometres of
coastline. Mauritius is 45km in width and 65km in length.
Government
Mauritius is a
democratic state based on the Westminster model and enjoys
political stability.
Health
No vaccinations are
required. However a yellow fever vaccination certificate is
required for travelers over 1 year of age who arrive from
areas where yellow fever cases are reported.
History
Of volcanic origin
and generally sheltered by barriers of coral reefs forming
natural, safe, crystal clear lagoons, Mauritius has long
been a dream destination. Known to the Arabs as early as the
10th century, but officially «discovered» in 1505 by the
Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas, the island was
occupied successively by the Dutch (1598-1712) and the
French (1715-1810), and was ceded to Great Britain in 1814
through the Treaty of Paris. On 12 March 1968, Mauritius
became Independent. Republic Day was proclaimed on 12 March
1992.
Language
Most people in
Mauritius are bilingual and are equally fluent in English
and French. Creole
and French are the main languages in the everyday
environment and several oriental languages are also spoken.
Medical services
Free public medical
facilities are widely available. Private clinics provide
medical services for a fee.
Newspapers:
Besides a wide choice of local
papers, the pick of the European and American press is
available.
Nudism
Nudism and topless
sunbathing are frowned upon on our public beaches. No hotel
permits nude sunbathing on beaches. Topless sunbathing is
sometimes tolerated.
Population
1.2 million (Year
2003)
Population
literacy rate
82.9%
Public holidays
There are 15 public
holidays every year. Seven of them are fixed holidays:
January 1st & 2nd, 1st February, 12th March, 1st May, 2nd
November and 25th December. The remaining public holidays
are religious festivals whose dates vary from year to year.
Security
A tourist police
service has been set up to ensure security in tourist zones.
An anti-terrorist
law has also been proclaimed. A specific law relating to all
tourist activities and corrupt practices has also been
voted.
The following
essential pieces of advice are meant for you :
-
Keep an eye on
all personal belongings at all times.
-
Be careful when
withdrawing money from a cash point.
-
Avoid wearing
expensive jewelry.
-
Do not leave
anything inside your car.
-
(For trips or
purchases) use only recognized operators or suppliers.
-
Keep your
passports, plane tickets, jewelry of value and large sums
of money in safe custody.
-
For sea
excursions, do not rent boats with inadequate security
standards.
-
During individual
sea trips, always notify the person responsible for the boat
house.
-
Do not go
swimming in areas where it is forbidden.
Shopping
Shopping hours in
our main cities range from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm
(Monday-Saturday). Some shops are open till noon on Sundays
and public holidays. Many duty free shops and modern
shopping centres (Caudan, Curepipe, Floréal Square, Happy
World House, Orchard Centre) offer a wide choice of
products. Please note that
there are no shops open in Rose-Hill, Curepipe and
Quatre-Bornes on Thursday afternoon.
Tipping
Tipping is not
compulsory.
Time &
Telecommunications
Mauritius is four
hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and three hours ahead (2
hours in summer) of mid-European Time. Mauritius has
international direct dialing facilities to most parts of
the world as well as high speed fax and internet services.
TV channels
Satellite TV and
local tv & radio are available in most of the
hotels.
VAT
A value added tax
of 15% is payable on goods and services including hotel and
restaurant bills.
Visa & entry
requirements
A visitor must be
in possession of a valid passport and a return or onward
ticket. A visitor’s visa is normally granted for a period of
two weeks to one month upon arrival, to almost all holders
of a valid passport, with one or two exceptions. Visitors
are strongly recommended to contact the Passport and
Immigration Office in Mauritius or the nearest Mauritian
Embassy or Consulate. The visa can be extended upon request
at the Passport and Immigration Office, Sterling House,
11-19 Lislet Geoffroy Street, Port-Louis, Tel :
(230) 210-9312 to 210-9317 Fax
(230)210-9322
What to wear
Take your best
beach and casual wear. In the winter months (June
-September), carry some light woollen clothing for the cool
evenings.
Please show due
respect when visiting religious places. Wear appropriate
clothing (and remove leather shoes and belts) when entering
the premises.
Working Hours
Private Sector :
Monday to Friday: 8.30 am - 4.15 pm Saturday : 9am -noon
(Some offices) Public Sector :
Monday to Friday: 9 am - 4 pm
Saturday : 9 am -
noon (Skeleton service).
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