Mauritius Tourism - Seeing Is Believing

By Author: Derec Smith
Total Articles: 4
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Mauritius is an island nation off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean which has worked in recent years to develop its tourism and international business sector. This has led to increasing interest in the island, the real estate sector and tourist offerings; the island’s tropical location and natural beauty have much to offer those who want to visit or settle here.

The tropical island, which lies about 900 kilometers east of Madagascar, has approximately 2,000 square kilometers of land and 177 kilometers of coastline. The nation also has several smaller islands and groups, include the Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues, and is part of the Mascarene Islands, which also include Reunion Island. The volcanically formed island’s highest point is the peak of Mount Piton at 828 meters and the island is almost completely surrounded by coral reefs.

The climate of Mauritius is tropical and affected by southeast trade winds. The winters, which run from May to November, are dry and warm, while the summers are hot and humid, with frequent rains. The population is just ...
... over 1.2 million residents, with the largest city and capital being Port Louis, located on the northwest coast. Other major cities and towns include Grand Bay, Curepipe, Vacoas, Phoenix, Quatre Bornes, Rose Hill and Beau-Bassin.

Until recently, the island’s economy was based mainly on agriculture, with nearly 90% of arable land devoted to sugar cane. Since independence in 1968, and more noticeably in recent years, the government has worked to expand the economic base of the country. Tourism, textiles and a financial sector have all grown by substantial amounts in recent years, leading to a diversified economy and steady growth rate. Port Louis is the major port for the country, and it, like the rest of the country, has undergone major changes in the past several decades. The skyline is now filled with a number of high rise buildings, home to offshore banks, condominiums and hotels. The currency is the Mauritian Rupee.

There are two ways to get to Mauritius – by boat or plane. Most people who come by boat are cruise ship passengers who only visit for a few hours or days after docking in Port Louis, Mauritius Island. Airline traffic is handled by Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU), also known as Plaisance International Airport. The airport is near the town of Plaisance, about 25 kilometers southeast of Port Louis.

The national airline, Air Mauritius, is headquartered here and handles the most traffic to the island with flights to cities in India, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe, including London - Heathrow. Other airlines that fly to Mauritius include Air France, Air Italy, British Airways, Emirates and Virgin. The flight from London takes approximately 12 hours. You can know about Mauritius Tourism and Mauritius Map at http://mauritiustourism1.blogspot.com

Authour Bio:

Derec loves travelling and adventure. He also loves reading and writing. He has written a few small books and many trip reports. You can know about Mauritius Tourism and Mauritius Map at http://mauritiustourism1.blogspot.com