Mauritius is a democratic state based on the Westminster model and enjoys political and social stability, which attracted foreign investment to develop the Export Processing Zone (EPZ).
Tourism, Sugar, Textile and Services are the main contributors to the Mauritian economy, but there are new key sectors emerging like Finance, Information Communication Technology and Telecommunications.

The economic performance of Mauritius over the last decade is seen as one of the soundest economies in Africa. The country ranked 2nd in the Africa Competitiveness Index according to the Africa Competitiveness Report 2000.

Language
Most people in Mauritius are fluent in English and French. Creole and French are the main languages in the everyday environment and several oriental languages are also spoken.

Local Time
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.

Population
Mauritius counts 1.2 million inhabitants with a literacy rate of 82.9%. Mauritius is a blend of diverse cultures and religions. The population consists of Indians, Creole, Chinese and Europeans.

Health
No vaccinations are required. However a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers over 1 year of age arriving from areas where yellow fever cases are reported.

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.

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.

Currency
The monetary unit is the Mauritian Rupee (Rs.) which is divided into 100 cents (cs). You can exchange your foreign currencies in all Mauritian banks, hotels as well as at the 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.

Credit Cards
Major Credit cards are accepted by banks, hotels, restaurants and tourist shops. Automatic Teller Machines are also available in all major towns.

Banking Hours
Monday to Friday : 9.15 am -3.15 pm. Banks at the International Airport are also open to coincide with the arrival and departure of international flights.

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. Drug trafficking is illegal and carries very heavy penalties.

Driving
People in Mauritius drive on the left-hand side of the road and give way to the right. Foreigners with a valid driving license are allowed to drive during their stay in Mauritius.

Electricity
All rooms are supplied with electricity on 220 volts. British and French power sockets are available. Adaptors are on hand at reception.

Shopping
Shopping hours in our main cities range from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm (Monday-Saturday). Some shops are open till noon on Sundays and public holidays. Many duty free shops and 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.