Réunion — Country and Tourist Information
Country Facts
- Location
- Due east of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean.
- Language
- French is the official language. Local Creole patois is also spoken.
- Area
- 2,507 sq km (968 sq miles).
- Time Zone
- GMT + 4.
- Electricity
- 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
- Population
- 777,000 (UN estimate 2005).
- Population Density
- 309.9 per sq km.
- Capital City
- Saint-Denis. Population: 178,000 (UN estimate 2003).
- Government
- Réunion is an Overseas Department of France and as such is an integral part of the French Republic.
- Head of Government
- Nassimah Dindar, President of the General Council.
- Head of State
- President Nicolas Sarkozy since 2007, represented locally by Prefect Laurent Cayrel since 2005.
- Religion
- The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, with a Muslim minority.
Recent History
The most recent elections to the Regional Council and the General Council, held in 1998 and 2000 respectively, were won by a right-wing coalition and the left-wing alliance of Communists and Socialists.
Communications
Telephone
Country Code: . There are no area codes.
Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies.
Internet
There are Internet cafes in towns throughout Réunion.
Media
TV and radio services are provided by the French public overseas broadcaster, RFO.
Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes up to three weeks.
Press
• The two biggest dailies are the Journal de l'Ile de la Réunion and the Quotidien de la Réunion.
• Weekly periodicals include L'Economie de la Réunion and Témoignages.
• There are no English-language dailies.
Radio
• RFO Réunion is a public service that operates radio stations.
Public Holidays
As for France (see France section).
Contact Information
Diplomatic representation
Réunion is an Overseas Department of the Republic of France, and is represented abroad by French embassies.
Maison de la France in the UK
178 Piccadilly, London W1J 9AL, UK
Tel: 0906 824 4123 (information line; calls cost 60p per minute).
Website: www.franceguide.com
Comité du Tourisme de la Réunion
Place du 20 Décembre 1848, BP 615, 97472 Saint-Denis, Cedex, Réunion
Tel: (262) 210 041.
Website: www.la-reunion-tourisme.com
