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Once
upon a time, the islands of the Indian Ocean were virtually
unknown as a tourist destination. Most people's thoughts of
palm trees and trade winds, white sands and blue seas conjured
images of the South Pacific or the Caribbean. Not anymore.
The seventh sea is finally coming into its own, and travellers
will be cheered to note that prices are actually coming down
to honour it, enticing visitors of every budget to see what
they've been missing. Mauritius is making a name for itself
as the most accessible island in the region, boasting as much
tropical paradise as Maui or Martinique and, better still,
offering it at a bargain. Well, a bargain once you get there,
anyway.
Though
nestled up alongside eastern Africa, Mauritius is actually
more influenced by its British and French ties and massive
Indian workforce than by the African mainland. Here, you can
enjoy a dish of curried chickpeas or a nice Yorkshire pudding
on the terrace of a French café, sipping imported wine
or a thick malty ale while listening to Créole music
and the conversation of locals in any number of lingoes. Mauritius'
range of visitors' facilities runs the gamut from pamper-happy
beach resorts and organised excursions to locals who'll put
you up in their homes and rent you their cars for daytrips.
If you're looking for a lazy beach vacation, you could certainly
do worse, but don't forget the rambling interior and the multicultural
capital Port Louis.
Full
country name: Republic of Mauritius
Area: 1860 sq km (725 sq mi)
Population: 1.2 million
Capital city: Port Louis (pop 150,000)
People: Indo-Mauritian (68%), Créole (27%), Sino-Mauritian
(3%), Franco-Mauritian (2%)
Languages: English, Créole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,
Bojpoori
Religion: Hindu (51%), Christian (30%), Muslim (17%)
Government: Parliamentary democracy
President: Karl Offmann
Prime Minister: Sir Anerood Jugnauth
GDP:
US$11.7 billion
GDP per head: US$10,300
Annual growth: 5%
Inflation: 6%
Major industries: Sugar, textiles, tea, tobacco, tourism
Major trading partners: EU, US, South Africa, India
Mauritius
Flight from UK
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