Mauritius

ASSINGMENT

COUNTARY: MAURITIOUS

Submitted To: Prof. AMNA SHAFQAT

Submitted By: HASEEB IFTIKHAR L1F07BBAM0208 ABDULLAH ISHFAQ L1F07BBAM0201

REHAN AKRAM L1F07BBAM

MAURITIOUS

CONTENTS

* THE COUNTRY

1. LAND AND CLIMATE 4-5 2. HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT 6-10 3. ECONOMY 10-11 4. EDUCATION 11-15 5. TRANSPORTATION 16 6. HEALTH 16-18

* THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY

1. POPULATION 18-19 2. LANGUAGE 19 3. RELIGION 20 4. HOLIDAYS 20-21 5. ATTITUDES 21

* LIFE STYLE OF THE COUNTRY

1. SOCAL AND ECONOMIC LEVEL 22-25 2. FOOD 26 3. SPORTS 27

* CULTURAL CUSTOM

1. Mauritius Culture 28-29 2. Festivals 29-30

THE COUNTARY

LAND AND CLIMATE

LAND

Mauritius – Land and People provides information on the location and climate of the country, the lifestyle and habits of the people living there. Mauritius is surrounded by innumerable coral reefs. There is a central plateau, which is enveloped by a series of mountains belonging to the volcanic origin.
Mauritius is a South African country and is located as an archipelago over the eastern borders of Madagascar. The country is situated between 19º59' S and 20º32' S latitude and between 57º18' E and 57º49' E longitude. The total land area of Mauritius is 2,040 square kilometers. The natural resources of Mauritius are fish and the arable land. The land of Mauritius experiences a moderate climate, typical of the tropical regions. The climate remains warm and dry during winter between the months of May and November, while the summer stretching between November and May remain hot and humid.

The total number of people residing in the land of Mauritius is approximately 12,50,882 according to the statistics taken in July 2007. Among the people of Mauritius, 68% are of Indian origin. 27% of the population comes from Creole, with mixed African and French background. Remaining 3% are Sino-Mauritian and 2% are Franco-Mauritian. As per the 2000 census, the major religions observed at Mauritius are Hinduism (48%), Roman Catholicism (23.6%), Islam (16.6%) and Christianity (8.6%). The official language of Mauritius people is English. However, the language of Creole is also extensively spoken. Other major languages of Mauritian people are Hindi, French, Urdu, Bhojpuri and Hakka.

Mauritius is a parliamentary democracy, where parliament is given supreme authority in governing the country. The president is the chief of the state of Mauritius, who is elected by the national assembly. The president is elected for a span of 5 years. The prime minister is the head of the government and is appointed by the president. The unicameral legislature of Mauritius comprises of a national assembly with 70 seats, among which 62 are elected members, while 8 are representatives of the ethnic minorities.

CLIMATE

Mauritius is not far from the Capricorn. That means that the sun is longer at its highest point than anywhere else. We are a tropical island and it is very green here. For sure, there must be some rain coming down here as well…
Usually in winter (means May to October) the highest temperatures vary between 20°C and 26°C in the coastal regions. In summer (November to April) it’s slightly higher, meaning 26°C to 32°C .The water temperature of the Indian Ocean can go up to 28°C. Usually wind is blowing quiet steady from easterly directions.
Important to know: Mauritius has a micro-climate: it could rain cats and dogs where you are. Only a few kilometers away sun is shining and no cloud in sight.
If you wake up in the morning with a gray sky, don’t worry. Go for your shower, have breakfast and after the sky will be blue.
Just for a better understanding we have enclosed some average data about the climate here in Mauritius: MEAN TEMPERAURE | | | | | |

| Temperature | Rainy Days | Sun | Sea | | Month | ~max | ~min | more then >5 mm | ~Hour | Temperature | Humidity |

January | 27.6 | 20.5 | 9 | 7.3 | | 83 | February | 27.5 | 20.7 | 12 | 6.9 | | 85 | March | 27.4 | 20.4 | 9 | 7.3 | | 84 | April | 26.3 | 19.6 | 9 | 6.9 | | 85 | May | 24.8 | 17.7 | 6 | 7.4 | | 83 | June | 22.9 | 16.0 | 6 | 7.2 | | 82 | July | 21.9 | 15.3 | 7 | 7.3 | | 82 | August | 21.8 | 15.1 | 7 | 7.2 | | 82 | September | 22.8 | 15.4 | 4 | 7.3 | | 80 | October | 24.1 | 16.5 | 4 | 7.6 | | 80 | November | 25.8 | 17.8 | 4 | 7.9 | | 80 | December | 27.1 | 19.4 | 6 | 7.2 | | |

HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT

HISTORY

Mauritius, a volcanic island of lagoons and palm-fringed beaches in the Indian Ocean, has a reputation for stability and racial harmony among its mixed population of Asians, Europeans and Africans.
The island has maintained one of the developing world's most successful democracies and has enjoyed years of constitutional order.
It has preserved its image as one of Africa's few social and economic success stories, being a sugar and clothing exporter and a centre for up market tourism. But Mauritian exports have been hit by strong competition from low-cost textile producers and the loss of sugar subsidies from Europe. Mauritius was uninhabited when the Dutch took possession in 1598. Abandoned in 1710, it was taken over by the French in 1715 and seized by the British in 1810.
It gained independence in 1968 as a constitutional monarchy, with executive power nominally vested in the British monarch. It became a republic in 1992. The island of Rodriguez and other smaller islets also form part of the country.
Mauritius claims sovereignty over the Chagos islands, which lie around 1,000 km to the north-east. The British territory, which was separated from Mauritius in 1965, is home to the US military base on Diego Garcia. The British government oversaw the forced removal of the Chagos islanders to Mauritius to make way for the base. * Full name: The Republic of Mauritius * Population: 1.3 million (UN, 2007) * Capital and largest city: Port Louis * Area: 2,040 sq km (788 sq miles) * Major languages: English, French (both official), Creole, Indian languages * Major religions: Hinduism, Christianity, Islam * Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 76 years (women) (UN) * Monetary unit: 1 Mauritian rupee=100 cents * Main exports: Sugar, clothing, tea, jewellery * GNI per capita: US $5,450 (World Bank, 2007) * Internet domain: .mu * International dialling code: +230

GOVERNAMENT

Mauritius became the twenty-ninth republic under the British Commonwealth on March 12, 1992. Even during the transition period, the varied and lively social and political forces of the country manifested themselves. The former governor general, Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo, a Hindu, was appointed first president for three months to appease Hindu voters. On July 1, in accordance with an electoral pact between the ruling parties, the MSM and the MMM, the MMM obtained the post of president for Cassam Uteem, a Muslim and former deputy leader of the party. His appointment aroused widespread opposition from MSM politicians and from the island's Hindu majority, the source of much MSM support. Critics feared that Uteem, formerly minister of industry and industrial technology, would unduly politicize his office and promote a strongly pro-Muslim agenda. Upon taking office, Uteem tried to assuage these misgivings by stating that he would look after the interests of all Mauritians, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or politics. He also said that he would play an active (not merely ceremonial), impartial role in the political life of the country.
Although the MLP and PMSD suffered heavy electoral losses in the September 1991 general election and were faced with internal weakness, they attempted to act as an assertive and contentious opposition. The PMSD lost its veteran leader Sir Gaetan Duval at the end of 1991 after his retirement. The MLP's leader, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, has been attacked by his own political allies for his inexperience in high office and frequent overseas travels. The opposition was quick to criticize the prime minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, for issuing a new MR20 bank note with the image of the prime minister's wife in mid-1992. In addition, the opposition and the ruling coalition have taken each other to court over charges of fraud in the 1991 election.
A particularly acrimonious row developed over Ramgoolam's absence from parliament beginning in July 1992 in order to pursue a law degree in London. The speaker of the National Assembly claimed that the MLP leader violated rules relating to absences by members of parliament. The case was referred to the Supreme Court. The Ramgoolam affair not only has prompted grumbling within the MLP but also has highlighted the tension within the ruling coalition, namely, the continuing friction between Paul Bérenger, external affairs minister and secretary general of the MMM, and Prime Minister Jugnauth. Bérenger criticized Jugnauth for calling the National Assembly out of recess while Ramgoolam was out of the country, claiming that the prime minister was merely creating another pretext for stripping the MLP leader of his seat.
Matters came to a head in August 1993 when the prime minister dismissed Bérenger because of his continuing criticism of government policy. The ouster led to a split in the MMM between members of the party who remained allied with the government of MSM Prime Minister Jugnauth, led by Deputy Prime Minister Prem Nababsing, and those MMM parliamentary members who supported Bérenger and went into opposition. Bérenger declined to become opposition leader, although his group was the largest single opposition element; he allowed the leader of the Labor Party, Navin Ramgoolam, to continue as opposition leader. In April 1994, Bérenger and Navin Ramgoolam reached an electoral agreement according to which the two groups were to cooperate.
MEDIA

The constitution guarantees freedom of expression and of the press. State-owned Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) operates radio and TV services and generally reflects government thinking. It is funded by advertising and a TV licence fee. Private radio stations were introduced in 2002.
Daily newspapers and weeklies offer balanced coverage in several languages. They are often critical of both the government and the opposition parties. Two media groups - Le Mauricien Ltd and La Sentinelle Ltd - dominate the press scene.
Television is the most-popular medium. Multichannel TV is available in Port Louis. Internet access is widely available, especially in urban areas.
BBC World Service radio is available via a mediumwave (AM) relay. Radio France Internationale is relayed on FM.
The press * L'Express - daily * Le Mauricien - daily * Le Matinal - daily * Mauritius Times - English-language weekly
Television
* MBC - state-run, operates three channels and a service for Rodrigues Island
Radio
* MBC - state-run, broadcasting in English, French, Indian languages and Chinese. MBC stations include Radio Maurice 1 and 2, Kool FM, Taal FM, One World FM and Radio Rodrigues. * Top FM - private FM station, Bollywood music and Western pop * Radio One - first private radio station * Radio Plus - private * President: Sir Anerood Jugnauth * Prime minister: Navin Ramgoolam

ECONOMY

The Mauritian economy has undergone remarkable transformations since independence. From a poor country with high unemployment exporting mainly sugar and buffeted by the vagaries of world demand, Mauritius has become relatively prosperous and diverse, although not without problems.
The 1970s were marked by a strong government commitment to diversify the economy and to provide more high-paying jobs to the population. The promotion of tourism and the creation of the EPZs did much to attain these goals. Between 1971 and 1977, about 64,000 jobs were created. However, in the rush to make work, the government allowed EPZ firms to deny their workers fair wages, the right to organize and strike, and the health and social benefits afforded other Mauritian workers. The boom in the mid1970s was also fueled by increased foreign aid and exceptional sugar crops, coupled with high world prices.
The economic situation deteriorated in the late 1970s. Petroleum prices rose, the sugar boom ended, and the balance of payments deficit steadily rose as imports outpaced exports; by 1979 the deficit amounted to a staggering US$111 million. Mauritius approached the IMF and the World Bank for assistance. In exchange for loans and credits to help pay for imports, the government agreed to institute certain measures, including cutting food subsidies, devaluing the currency, and limiting government wage increases.
By the 1980s, thanks to a widespread political consensus on broad policy measures, the economy experienced steady growth, declining inflation, high employment, and increased domestic savings. The EPZ came into its own, surpassing sugar as the principal export-earning sector and employing more workers than the sugar industry and the government combined, previously the two largest employers. In 1986 Mauritius had its first trade surplus in twelve years. Tourism also boomed, with a concomitant expansion in the number of hotel beds and air flights. An aura of optimism accompanied the country's economic success and prompted comparisons with other Asian countries that had dynamic economies, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea).
The economy had slowed down by the late 1980s and early 1990s, but the government was optimistic that it could ensure the long-term prosperity of the country by drawing up and implementing prudent development plans. According to Larry W. Bowman, an expert on Mauritius, four development aims of the country into the 1990s will be "modernizing the sugar sector, expanding and diversifying manufacturing infrastructure, diversifying agriculture, and developing tourism." In addition, because of the threats to agriculture resulting from Europe's common agricultural policy and the potential effects on textiles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), Mauritius hopes to transform itself into a center for offshore banking and financial services. A stock exchange opened in Port Louis in 1989. Another sector needing attention is that of housing because increased family incomes have raised the demand for housing. Overall, Mauritius had a 1993 gross domestic product (GDP) estimated at US$8.6 billion, with a growth rate of 5.5 percent, and a 1993 inflation rate of 10.5 percent.

Education

Background
Mauritius has a population of about 1.2 million inhabitants of whom the majority are from Indian origin. The population of African origin is the second largest population in Mauritius, and small sections of the population are of Chinese and French origins.
When it comes to the field of education, the media of instruction at school is inevitably English, since the impact of colonialism is still very present. English is the official language of Mauritius but the paradoxical situation is that the majority of the population speaks French Creole in their everyday interactions. However, the teaching of some Asian languages (Hindi, Urdu, Mandarin and Arabic) is also included in the curriculum. The education system consists of the Primary and Secondary sectors.
[edit] Primary sector
Children are enrolled in primary school from the age of five and enter Standard I and move automatically up to Standard IV. As the child reaches Standard IV, there is a streaming process that follows. The system is highly competitive and a two-year preparation starts since Standard V up to Standard VI for the end of primary school examinations, the CPE (Certificate of Primary Education). The CPE is a national examination carried out in all the schools of the island following a grading system. Five subjects are compulsory and taken into account for the ranking process; English, French, Mathematics, Science, and History and Geophaphy. The Asian languages are included in the grading process.
This examination was like a bottleneck from primary to secondary schools, when the ranking system was in force (expounded in the next paragraph). For instance, out of 25,629 candidates in 1996, 16,737 passed all grades included (Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, 1998). Among them, only about 8,000 were admitted to secondary schools, both State and Private of the island, and some 3,000 found their way to Basic Prevocational or technical school. Over 14,000 students are said to be, ‘left without a future’. On the whole, the CPE examination was basically like a kind of streaming at the national level.
[edit] Secondary sector
Before 2001, children were admitted to secondary schools or colleges solely on the basis of national ranking. That created an enormous disparity among the different colleges of the island. For instance, some colleges were deemed to be "star" schools whilst others were regarded as low-performing schools. This played an important role in the development of the adolescents who very often tend to identify themselves with the external image of the college.
In 2001, the government in power — with Steven Obeegadoo acting as minister of education — decided to abolish this system. Instead, a grading system, like that of most developed countries was introduced. Moreover, it was coupled with a regionalisation system which advocates obtaining a school near one's residence. The system is still in use today but is menaced to be changed yet once more for an "A+" system by the end of this year. This system is very similar to the ranking system of pre-2001. In this system, children have to go through 2 examinations at the most; one to merely give them a low-performing school and another, which is optional, to compete for a much coveted star-school seat. The system has been qualified as inhumane and starkly inappropriate for a country such as Mauritius, even by foreign experts.[citation needed]
As has been mentioned earlier, the CPE determines admission to a secondary college. Most of the colleges whether they are State owned or privately owned are like English-style grammar schools. The child enters college in Form I and progresses through to Form VI, requiring seven years of schooling since there is two years preparation for the A-Level examinations. From Form I to III, there is no major nationally devised curriculum since each school has to plan its work according to the level of the students. However, some subjects are compulsory, like English, French, Mathematics, Sciences and Social Studies (including Geography and History).
When students reach Form IV, they have to choose at least six major subjects for their O-Level examinations. Then students have to specialise in 3 main subjects and 2 subsidiary ones for the A Level examination. The O-Level and A-Level examinations are carried out by the University of Cambridge through the Cambridge International Examinations, which devises the syllabus; prepares and prints the examinations papers and does the correction for a few subjects only.
[edit] Statistics * ‘’’Enrolment ratio’’’: Number of students enrolled per population aged * 6-11 years for primary level * 4-5 years for pre-primary level * 12-19 years for secondary level | 2000 | 2003 | 2004 | Pre-primary | Schools | 1,087 | 1,092 | 1,070 | Enrolment | 39,232 | 38,620 | 37,483 | Male | 19,677 | 19,433 | 19,120 | Female | 19,555 | 19,187 | 18,363 | Enrolment ratio | 96 | 99 | 96 | Teaching staff | 2,448 | 2,508 | 2,474 | Pupil/teacher ratio | 16 | 15 | 15 | Primary | Schools | 291 | 291 | 289 | Enrolment | 135,237 | 129,616 | 126,226 | Male | 68,711 | 65,624 | 64,019 | Female | 66,526 | 63,992 | 62,207 | Enrolment ratio | 104 | 102 | 102 | Teaching staff (1) | 5,178 | 5,620 | 5,741 | Male | 2,326 | 2,219 | 2,195 | Female | 2,852 | 3,401 | 3,546 | Pupil/teacher ratio (2) | 36 | 31 | 29 | Cert. of Primary Education (% pass) | 66.4 | 62.6 | 63.0 | Male | 61.2 | 56.6 | 57.9 | Female | 71.8 | 69.1 | 68.4 | Secondary – Academic | Schools | 134 | 175 | 176 | Enrolment | 95,448 | 103,847 | 105,988 | Male | 46,399 | 49,946 | 50,910 | Female | 49,049 | 53,901 | 55,078 | Enrolment ratio | 60 | 66 | 66 | Teaching staff | 5,140 | 5,938 | 6,396 | Male | 2,658 | 2,871 | 2,994 | Female | 2,482 | 3,067 | 3,402 | Pupil/teacher ratio | 19 | 17 | 17 | School Certificate (% pass) | 76.6 | 75.5 | 77.5 | Male | 74.7 | 73.0 | 75.4 | Female | 78.3 | 77.7 | 79.4 | Higher School Certificate (% pass) | 72.3 | 75.1 | 76.2 | Male | 67.4 | 70.9 | 72.5 | Female | 76.9 | 78.6 | 79.4 | Public expenditure on education as a % of (Year ending 30th June) | 00/01 | 03/04 | 04/05 | Total public expenditure | 15.0 | 14.6 | 15.7 | GDP at market prices | 3.5 | | |

TRANSPORTATION

Airports:
5 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 2,020 km paved: 2,020 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2005)
Merchant marine: total: 5 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,417 GRT/19,700 DWT by type: bulk carrier 2, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 foreign-owned: 2 (India 2) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Port Louis

HEALTH

The Ministry of Health in Mauritius looks after the Mauritius - Health & Safety issues. The health and safety rules not only cover the Mauritius citizens but also the travelers coming from across the world to enjoy the beauty of the tropical island. Tourists aiming to visit the beautiful land of Mauritius should possess a rudimentary knowledge about diseases they can possibly contract and their remedies Mauritius Institute of Health (MIH) is an institution where health research activities and trainings are provided in order to improve the quality of health-care services of the country.
Mauritius Health Regulations
There are certain Mauritius health regulations, which a traveler must keep in mind before traveling to Mauritius. Generally there is no requirement of vaccination certificates for tourists traveling to Mauritius. Persons arriving from yellow fever infected zones or yellow fever vulnerable areas are required to produce vaccination certificates at the point of disembarkation. The travelers are advised to wear shoes before venturing out for aquatic activities. Public Mauritius hospitals treat the patients free of cost but treatment in private hospitals requires medical insurance as the cost of treatment is expensive.
Hospitals and Health Centers in Mauritius
There are several public as well as private hospitals and medical clinics located in different parts of the country. All these hospitals offer high quality services and a wide-range of health-care facilities. Some of the major Mauritius hospitals are: * Dr. A G. Jeetoo Hospital * Queen Elizabeth Hospital * Flacq Hospital * Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital
Some of the clinics in Mauritius are: * Clinique Darne * Clinique du Bon Pasteur * City Clinic

THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY

POPULATION

Mauritius carried out its last census in 1997. The outcome was as listed below.

About 1.2 Million people live on Mauritius, which is composed of the following main ethnic groups :
Indo-Mauritians: 68.0 %
Creoles: 27.0 %
Chinese-Mauritians: 3.0 %
French-Mauritians: 2.0 %
The religions on Mauritius are as diverse :

Hindus 50.6 %
Catholics 27.2 %
Moslems 16.3 %
Others 5.9 %

TOTAL POPULATION: - 1,274,189 million CONSISITING OF:- 1. Hindu Indo-Mauritian 51%; 2. Creoles 27%; 3. Muslim Indo-Mauritian 17%; 4. Others 5%

LANGUAGE
English is the official language of Mauritius. Nearly every mauritian is afluent with the english language. Most mauritians talk Kreol and French. Hindi and other oriental languages are also widespread among the oriental descendant population.

1. English 2.French 3.Creole

RELIGION

* Hinduism 52% * Christianity 28%

* Islam 17%

HOLIDAYS

Holiday is a contraction of holy and day, holidays originally represented special religious days. This word has evolved in general usage to mean any extra special day of rest (as opposed to regular days of rest such as the weekend). Countrywide Holidays stands for when everybody plans for holidays or a break. Under many belief systems, days of rest are necessary for ritual or spiritual rejuvenation Holy days originated in the Bible as 7 annual Holy Days the Jews or children of Israel were commanded to keep as instructed by Moses (who received it from the Lord or Yahweh (the Eternal One)). Outlined in Leviticus 23 are the 7 annual Holy Days that were to be kept. The word holi-day has replaced "Holy-Day" in todays english.

New Year | January 1st | | Yaum un Nabi | January | Day of death of prophet Mohammed. | Cavadi | January / February | Bodies are pierced with needles, tongues and cheeks with pins, devotees in a trance carry the ‘Cavadi’ on their shoulders as a penitence. | Spring
Festival | February | The Chinese New Year is celebrated each year on a different date, owing to the differences between the lunar and the solar calendars. | Eid-Ul-Fitr* | February | The Id-El-Fitr festival signals the end of the Ramadan - the fasting period for Muslim people. | Maha Shivaratree* | February | Hindus make a pilgrimage to the sacred water of Grand Bassin | Holi | March | A festival of joy during which men and women throw coloured water and powder on each other and wish one another good luck. | Independence Day | 12 March | Republic Day | Ougadi | March | Ougadi is the Telugu New Year. | Ganesh Chaturthi | August / September | Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the 4th day of the lunar month of August/September by Hindus in honour of the birth of Ganesha, God of wisdom. | Father Laval | September | Mauritians of all faiths walk or drive towards the tomb of the Blessed Jacques Désiré Laval, the «Apostle of the Black People» at Ste-Croix, Port-Louis. | Divali | September / October | The Festival of Lights is celebrated in a spirit of pure joy, in the month of October or November. Small clay lamps line the walls, balconies and yards. | All Saints' Day | November | | Ganga Asnan | November | Hindus go to the sea to take a holy bath | Teemeedee | December | Highlight of this Hindu feast is the run over glowing coals. |

ATTITUDES

The Mauritians are a friendly, hospitable people who believe that the magical ingredients that makes the island nation's destination stand out from all of the rest is the refinement and courtesy of its people which many a foreign visitor will recall with great fondness

LIFE STYLE OF THE COUNTRY

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LEVEL

Gross Domestic Product, 2000 | Mauritius | Sub-Saharan Africa | World | GDP in million constant 1995 US dollars | 5253 | 362493 | 34109900 | GDP PPP (million current international dollars) {a} | 11882 | 1053452 | 44913910 | Gross National Income (PPP, in million current | | international dollars), 2000 {a} | 11793 | 994240 | 44458520 | GDP per capita, 2000 | | in 1995 US dollars | 4523 | 617 | 5632 | | in current international dollars | 10231 | 1797 | 7416 | Average annual growth in GDP, 1991-2000 | | Total | 5 % | 2 % | 3 % | | Per capita | 4 % | 0 % | 1 % | Percent of GDP earned by: | | Agriculture, 2000 | 6 % | 17 % | X | | Industry, 2000 | 32 % | 31 % | X | | Services, 2000 | 62 % | 53 % | X | | | | | | International Trade | Trade in Goods and Services (million current $US) | | Imports, 2000 | 2888 | 80986 | X | | Exports, 2000 | 2801 | 78438 | X | Exports as a percent of GDP, 2000 | 64 % | 33 % | X | Balance of Trade, 2000 (million current $US) | -153 | 1213 | X | | | | | | Official Development Assistance (ODA ) and Financial Flows | ODA in million US dollars, 1998-2000 {b} | 35 | 8040 | 59073 | ODA per capita in US dollars, 1998-2000 {b} | 30 | 17 | 10 | Current Account Balance (million $US), 2000 | -33 | X | X | Total external debt, million $US, 1998-2000 {b} | 2440 | 224885 | X | Debt service as a % of export earnings, 1995-97 {b} | 9.1 % | X | X | Foreign Direct Investment, net inflows | | (million current $US), 2000 | 266 | 6664 | X | International Tourism Receipts, | | 1995-1997 (million $US) | 464 | X | X | | | | | | National Savings (as a percent of Gross National Income) | Gross National Savings, 2000 | 23 % | 13 % | 23 % | Net National Savings, 2000 | 12 % | 5 % | X | Adjusted Net Savings, 2000 | 15 % | -1 % | X | | | FOODThe local food is very rich in variations, it's served fried or cooked with the right hygienic conditions. Mauritian menus vary from Indian, Chinese, Kreol and European cuisines. On the streets you get lots of Chinese and Indian snacks or fast foods. We also do have the western fast foods such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and some South African brands like Spur Steak Ranches etc. Tap water is clean and can be consumed.Sports The water sports in Mauritius are the best way of spending your holidays in the beautiful island of Mauritius. The lovers of water sports will have a nice time here. A large number of water sports as well as adventure tour packages are provided by various travel agents as well as travel companies. The water sports in Mauritius have thus become an important tourist activity here. | | There are a large number of hotels in this island country of Mauritius which will provide you with all the facilities of water sports in Mauritius. Most of these hotels are located near the beaches. The various water sports in Mauritius will help you have an excellent view of the breathtaking marine life found in the underwater of the island Because of the large number of marine life available here, scuba diving and wind surfing has been the two favorite water sports in Mauritius. When you in for these two you will have a look at the Indian Ocean which looks magnificent from here. The deep blue sea as well as the coral reefs is the major attractions of the place.

A large number of sea excursions are also arranged by the various travel agents as well as travel companies. This will take you for a visit to the various islands near Mauritius. They will at times arrange for glass bottomed boats which will also help you to have a look at the marine life underneath the sea. | |
CULTURAL CUSTOM | | Mauritius culture | European, Indian, Chinese and African cultures converge together to make up the colorful, vibrant culture of Mauritius that is replete with some of the most fascinating and years-old customs and traditions. Each aspect of Mauritian culture-its cuisine, religions, festivals, language and literature is a living proof of the myriad Asia, African and Western influences. | | | | The Mauritian culture's rich diversity is evident in Mauritius' landscape where churches, temples and mosques jostle each other for space. Chinese pagodas and Buddhist temples are also a common sight in Mauritius. The people of Mauritius celebrate various festivals belonging to different religions with equal gusto and fervor such as Mahashivratri, Diwali, Ganesh Chathurti, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Christmas, Easter and Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) among others. The Tamil festival of Cavadee that celebrates Lord Muruga is a penitence ritual that involves spectacular feats like the fire-walking ceremony. The multi-ethnic characteristics of Mauritius make it a multi-lingual country with ethnic languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Urdu, Mandarin and Cantonese being commonly used. But the real lingua franca of the island is Creole. The Creole language emerged as a result of interaction between French settlers and African slaves. The use of the Creole language transcends all ethnic, religious and class barriers. Creole does not have a definite written form, as mostly English or French are the languages of choice for education, media, government, law and business.

The Creole language is the medium of the indigenous music and dance form of Mauritius- the Sega. Sega is the music, songs and dances of choice played to tourists as a taste of the local culture. Its origins are said to be that of African. The Sega is based on three basic instruments: the ravanne, the maravanne and the triangle. The dancers wear colorful blouses and skirts with flower motifs and swaying their hips to the rhythmic music. Bhojpuri songs of Indian origin are also quite popular, especially in the interiors.

Mauritius is also well known for its handicrafts. The handicraft tradition of Mauritius dates back to the colonial period of the East India Company and the local handicraft is a fusion of French and Afro-Asian cultures.

When it comes to food, Mauritian cuisine is an exotic synthesis of myriad continental and oriental influences where Indian-style curries go hand in hand with French gateaux and Creole rougailles. The variety of spices used in Mauritian dishes lend a subtle and a aromatic flavor that goes a long way in making Mauritian cuisine an unique culinary experience. | | | Mauritius - Festivals | The feasts and celebrations in Mauritius are celebrated all year round and are as varied as the origin of those who live in Mauritius and their respective faiths and religions. More on Mauritius Festivals. | | This rich diversity is found in every aspect of the Mauritian life. Churches can be found next to a mosque, Indian temples next to Chinese pagodas. Various Indian believes, Buddhist, Christian and Muslim festivals are celebrated with much fervour and devotion all year round by the different communities. Some of these celebrations can be quite spectacular like the fire-walking ceremony that is performed on the Cavadee day. | | | Another proof of this rich diversity is in the variety of Mauritian dishes (cuisine). There are traditional western dishes coming from the colonial past of the island; alongside someone can discover delicate new taste and aromas of the more exotic, oriental dishes brought by the Indian and Chinese migrants. Some are unique to Mauritius, as various delicacies have also been adapted to suit the Mauritian taste, which combines the flavours of the East and finest of the West. | | | Mauritian folklore is another living tribute to the variety and depth of the islanders' culture. This is illustrated by the many different sound and rhythm. See and hear the beautiful sophisticated Indian dances or the Chinese spectacular lion and dragon ones. Or dance to the frantic rhythm of the Sega, the most typical folkloric dance of Mauritius. | | | | | |