Gibraltar Country & Tourist Information

Location
Western entrance to the Mediterranean, southern tip of Europe.

Area
6.5 sq km (2.5 sq miles).

Population
27,928 (2006).

Population Density
4,343.23 per sq km.

Capital
Gibraltar.

Government
British Crown Colony since 1713.

Language
English is the official language. Most Gibraltarians are bilingual in English and Spanish.

Religion
Roman Catholic majority, also Church of England, Church of Scotland, Jewish, Hindu and other minorities.

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-style three-pin plugs are in use.

Head of Government
Chief Minister Peter Caruana QC since 1996, re-elected in 2003.

Head of State
HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Sir Francis Richards since 2003.

Recent History
Gibraltar is a British Crown Colony, where the British monarch is represented by a governor, currently Sir Francis Richards who assumed the post in 2003. The chief minister, currently Peter Caruana, presides over the Council of Ministers which administers domestic affairs. The ex-officio members are the attorney general and the financial and development secretary. Britain is responsible for defense and foreign affairs. Peter Caruana, the leader of the Gibraltar Social Democrats, won a third term in office in elections in November 2003. Mr Caruana strongly opposes the idea of shared sovereignty with Spain and oversaw a 2002 referendum that roundly rejected the concept.

Telephone
Country code: 350.

Mobile Telephone
Coverage spans the whole of Gibraltar and a large part of the sea around. Handsets can be hired.

Internet
Internet cafes are available. 

Media
Television and radio services are operated by the Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). The broadcaster’s services are partly funded by TV license fee revenues. Radio and TV stations based in Spain, and broadcasts for British forces in the territory, can be received.


Post
Airmail within Europe takes one to five days. Airmail flights are usually daily.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1630 (0900-1415 in summer), Sat 1000-1300.

Press
• Newspapers are in English; some have Spanish sections.
• The New People, Panorama (website: www.panorama.gi) and Vox are published weekly.
• The Gibraltar Chronicle (established 1801) is the only daily (website: www.chronicle.gi).

Radio
• The local radio station is Radio Gibraltar.
• BFBS Radio Gibraltar is for British forces.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
9 Mar Commonwealth Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday. 
13 Apr Easter Monday. 
4 May May Day.
25 May Spring Bank Holiday. 
15 Jun Queen's Birthday.
24 Aug Summer Bank Holiday.
10 Sep** Gibraltar National Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
8 Mar Commonwealth Day. 
2 Apr Good Friday. 
5 Apr Easter Monday. 
5 May May Day.
26 May Spring Bank Holiday. 
14 Jun Queen's Birthday.
30 Aug Summer Bank Holiday.
10 Sep** Gibraltar National Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

Note
** Observed on the following Monday if falls on a weekend.

Contact Information:

Diplomatic representation
Gibraltar is a British Crown Colony, and is represented abroad by British Embassies – see United Kingdom section.

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Overseas Territories Department, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH, UK
Tel: (020) 7008 1500 (general enquiries) or 8457 (visa enquiries) or 0210 (services for Britons overseas) or 0845 850 2829 (travel advice).
Website: www.fco.gov.uk
Handles Gibraltar’s foreign affairs. All other enquiries should be made to the Gibraltar Tourist Board.

Identity and Passport Service in the UK
London Passport Office, Globe House, 89 Ecclestone Square, London SW1V 1PN, UK
Tel: 0870 521 0410 (24-hour national advice line).
Website: www.ukpa.gov.uk
Opening hours (appointment only): Mon-Fri 0745-1900, Sat 0915-1515.

Gibraltar Tourist Board and Gibraltar Government Office in the UK
Arundel Great Court, 178-179 Strand, London WC2R 1EL, UK
Tel: (020) 7836 0777.
Website: www.gibraltar.gov.uk

Gibraltar Government Office in the USA
1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Tel: (202) 452 1108.
Website: www.gibraltar.gov.gi


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