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Overview
This idyllic island of white sandy
beaches, shallow blue lagoons, colourful coral reefs, lush sugar cane fields and
picturesque mountains is a land so beautiful that you will fall in love
at first sight. Mauritius is at the
'crossroads' of Africa, Asia and European influence and therefore the island
is home to an enchanting blend of
cultures, religions and cuisine. The hotels are of world-class standard
and more energetic holiday-makers will
enjoy the array of land and water sports, including superb golf and
scuba diving. It's quite a journey from Bangkok but well worth the
hassle.
A bit of History
Although Arab and
Malay sailors have visited Mauritius as early as the 9th century, the
island was first explored
by the Portuguese in 1504. Later, the small island was held by the Dutch,
French, and British before reaching autonomy in 1968. A fairly stable
democracy with regular free elections and a liberal economy policies, the
island was able to attract considerable foreign investment. Today,
Mauritius has one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent
unusually poor
weather spells and declining world sugar prices have slowed some of the economic growth, leading
to some localized protests about the standard of living, particularly in the Creole community.
Mauritius is also a well-knows Tax haven. Surely the Thaksin clan has a
few bank accounts there.
How to Get There
Getting to Mauritius from
Bangkok is quite tricky. Air Mauritius does not fly into Bangkok but
offers connecting flights via Kong Hong or Kuala Lumpur. Another
alternative is with
Emirates via Dubai although this takes a little longer.
The Highlights
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Relax and daydream
at the fantastic sandy beaches |
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Go snorkeling or
diving off the northern coast |
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Hunt for the best
bargains at the downtown market in Port Louis |
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Walk around the
beautiful botanical gardens at Pamplemousses |
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Take a daytrip to
the Black River Gorges National Park |
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Country Profile
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Country Name |
Mauritius |
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Capital City |
Port Louis |
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Major Gateways |
Port Louis (MRU) |
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Population |
1.2 million |
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Languages |
English, French, Creole |
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Main Religions |
Hindu, Christian ,
Muslim |
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Currency
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Mauritian Rupee (MUR) |
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Time Difference with Thailand |
-3h |
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Calling Code |
+230 |
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Best Time to Visit |
May - September |
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Visa Requirement for Thai Citizens |
Visa on arrival |
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Travel Time from
Bangkok |
10h (via Dubai or
Kuala Lumpur) |
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More info |
www.mauritius.net
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Map |
Click here
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National Flag |
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