Mauritius Country & Tourist Information

Location
Indian Ocean, off southeast coast of Africa; due east of Madagascar.

Area
2,040 sq km (788 sq miles).

Population
1.25 million (Mauritius Government 2006).

Population Density
613 per sq km.

Capital
Port Louis.
Population: 150,000 (2006 estimate).

Government
Republic established in 1992. Gained independence from the UK in 1968.
Head of State: President Sir Anerood Jugnauth since 2003.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam since 2005.
Recent history: Post-independence Mauritian politics have been dominated by the Ramgoolam family (Navin being the son of the revered Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the first prime minister following independence) and by the two principal figures of the Mauritian Left, Paul Bérenger and (later Sir) Anerood Jugnauth. After over a decade of dominating Mauritian politics, Jugnauth handed the premiership over to Bérenger in 2003 (who became the first non-Hindu to hold the post), and the leadership of the Socialists to his son, Pravind. In the most recent election in 2005, Navin Ramgoolam won his second non-consecutive term.

Language
The official languages are English and French (with French being the most dominant), the most commonly used are Creole (pidgin French with other languages added to the mix), Hindi and Bhojpuri. Urdu and Chinese are also spoken.

Religion
48% Hindu, 32% Christian (mainly Roman Catholic), 17% Muslim, 2% Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism, 1% other.

Time
GMT + 4.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-type three-pin plugs are commonly used in hotels.

Telephone
Country code: 230. There are no area codes. There are a limited number of public telephone booths, mainly at the airport and in major hotels. Mauritius Telecom (website: www.mauritiustelecom.com) offers a good, reliable service and payphones are found in their customer service centers in towns around the island.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements with international mobile phone companies are available and coverage extends over the entire island. Local mobile calls are the same as the price of landline calls, so it may be worth renting one if doing business here.

Internet
There are Internet cafes in both main towns and tourist centers such as Grand Baie and Port Louis. Most hotels offer high-speed Internet access. 

Media
Mauritius has a free press, which means the media is full of colorful debate. The main language is French, but all the languages are represented in a variety of media, from Chinese newspapers to Bollywood movies.

Post
Airmail to Western Europe usually takes seven days; by sea, mail takes four to six weeks.

Post office hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0815-1115 and 1200-1600, Sat 0815-1145.

Press
• Of the 10 daily newspapers, two are published in Chinese and the remainder in French.
• L’Express, Le Mauricien and Le Matinal have the highest circulation.
• News on Sunday is the weekly English-language newspaper.

Radio
• MBC stations include Radio Maurice 1 and 2, Kool FM, Taal FM and One World FM.
• Other stations include Top FM, Radio One and Radio Plus.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1-2 Jan New Year.
1 Feb Abolition of Slavery Day.
1 Feb Thaipoosam Cavadee.
15 Feb Maha Shivaratri.
18 Feb Chinese New Year.
12 Mar National Day.
20 Mar Ougadi.
1 May Labor Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
16 Sep Ganesh Chathurthi.
13 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
2 Nov First Laborers’ Day.
9 Nov Diwali (Festival of Lights).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2008
1-2 Jan New Year.
Jan or Feb Thaipoosam Cavadee.
1 Feb Abolition of Slavery Day.
16 Feb Maha Shivaratri. 
7 Feb Chinese New Year.
12 Mar National Day.
Mar or Apr Ougadi.
1 May Labor Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
Sep Ganesh Chathurthi.
2 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
Oct/Nov Diwali (Festival of Lights).
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
2 Nov First Laborers’ Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
(a) Hindu festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon. The dates given above are approximations. (b) There is a diversity of cultures in Mauritius, each with its own set of holidays. (c) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr may last from two to 10 days, depending on the town or region. (d) Chinese festivals are declared according to local astronomical observations and it is often only possible to forecast the approximate time of their occurrence.

Contact Information:

Mauritius High Commission in the UK
32-33 Elvaston Place, London SW7 5NW, UK
Tel: (020) 7581 0294-6.
E-mail: londonmhc@btinternet.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1200 (consular section); 0930-1700 (general enquiries).

Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority in the UK
32 Elvaston Place, London SW7 5NW, UK
Tel: (020) 7584 3666.
Website: www.mauritiustourism.co.uk

Embassy of Mauritius in the USA
4301 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 441, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 244 1491/2.
Website: www.maurinet.com/embasydc.html
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600 (consular section); 0930-1630 (general enquiries).
 


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