With its population of just over 1,228,000(as at end 2003), Mauritius is remarkable in its ethnic diversity. Mauritian society is woven from multi-cultured threads: Indian, African, Chinese, and European. This has produced a mix of races, languages, and religions.
Mauritius is an all-year-round holiday resort saved from extreme temperatures. In the summer months, from November to April, the temperature varies from 20oC to 28oC on the central plateau and from 25oC to 33oC on the coast. From May to October, the average temperature is 19oC in the centre of the island, rarely falling under 13oC at night. On the coast, all temperatures are about 5oC higher.
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. Firearms must be declared on arrival.
| Port Louis |
| Tel: (230) 240-9702 |
| Fax: (230) 240-0434 |
| Head Office |
| Réduit |
| Tel: (230) 454-1091 |
A visitor must be in possession of a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. A visitor's visa is normally granted for one month, but can be renewed for a further period upon request. Visas may be obtained from Mauritian Embassies and High Commissions.
An international vaccination certificate against yellow fever is needed if arriving from an infected area. There is no risk of malaria in Mauritius. Any Application or extension of stay can be made at:
| Port Louis |
| Tel: (230) 210-9312 |
| Fax: (230) 212-2398 |
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The monetary unit is the Mauritian Rupee (Rs) which is
divided into 100 cents (cs).
- Coins : 5cs, 20cs, 50cs, Rs1, Rs5, Rs10,
Rs 20
- Notes : Rs 25, Rs 50, Rs100, Rs 200, Rs 500, Rs 1000, Rs
2000
English is the official language, but almost everyone speaks and reads French.
Many oriental languages are also spoken, mainly Bhojpuri(a sort of Creole Hindi), but Creole remains the
lingua franca.
Power supply throughout the island is 220 volts.
Mauritius is a left-hand drive country, with priority to the right. Parking zones exist in the main towns.
- Religions: Hinduism, Catholicism, Islamism, Protestantism and Buddhism.
- Political Institutions: Parliamentary democracy
- Time Zone: UTC + 4 hours
VAT: 15 % added on all the bills relevant to purchase of goods and services, including restaurant and hotel bills. Nudism is prohibited in Mauritius. It is recommended not to swim topless on the public beaches. It is advisable to withdraw his/her shoes before entering the mosques and the temples. It is also recommended to be decently dressed inside religious areas (covered shoulders and legs and no low neckline). The introduction of drugs and psychotropic is prohibited. Drug traffic is severely punished by the Mauritian law.
| Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority |
| 4-5th Floor, Victoria House, |
| St Louis Street, |
| Port Louis |
| Republic of Mauritius |
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