Mauritius Hotels
Mauritius Information
General information on Mauritius
Location
Indian Ocean, off southeast coast of Africa; due east of Madagascar
Time
GMT + 4.
Area
2,040 sq km (788 sq miles).
Population
Approximately 1.2 million.
Population Density
613 per sq km.
Capital
Port Louis. Population: 150,000.
Geography
Mauritius, a volcanic and mountainous island in the Indian Ocean, lies 2,000km (1,240 miles) off the southeastern coast of Africa, due east of Madagascar. The island state stands on what was once a land bridge between Asia and Africa called the Mascarene Archipelago. From the coast, the land rises to form a broad fertile plain on which sugar cane flourishes and beyond, crater edges form a mountainous backbone. Some 500km (310 miles) east is Rodrigues Island, while northeast are the Cargados Carajos Shoals and 900km (560 miles) to the north is Agalega.
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.
Language - English is the official language of the island and therefore is widely understood. However, French and its Creole derivative predominate in everyday life.
Religion - 48% HINDU, 32% Christian (mainly Roman Catholic), 17% MUSLIM, 2% Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism, 1% other.
Electricity - 220 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-type three-pin plugs are commonly used in hotels..
Social Conventions - Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. Visitors should respect the traditions of their hosts, particularly when visiting a private house. The type of hospitality the visitor receives is determined by the religion and social customs of the host, which are closely related. It is appropriate to give a gift as a small token of appreciation if invited for a meal. Dress is normally informal although men will need to wear a suit for particularly formal occasions.
Customs -Passengers of 16 years of age and over are allowed the following duty free items: 250g of tobacco (cigars and cigarettes), 2 litres of wine, ale or beer, 1 litre of spirits and about 25cl of Eau de Toilette and a quantity of perfume not exceeding 10 cl. Plants and seeds, fresh fruits and flowers must be declared to Customs upon arrival and are subject to examination. An import permit must be obtained from the Minister of Agriculture prior to their introduction. The same procedures apply for animals, which must also undergo a quarantine period.
Currency - the monetary unit is the Mauritian Rupee (Rs), which is divided into 100 cents (cs). Coins: 5cs, 20cs, 50cs, Rs1, Rs5, Rs10 Notes: Rs 25, Rs 50, Rs100, Rs 200, Rs 500, Rs 1000, Rs 2000
