Reunion Country & Tourist Information

Location
Due east of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean.

Area
2507 sq km (968 sq miles).

Population
777,000 (UN, 2005).

Population Density
309.9 per sq km.

Capital
Saint-Denis.
Population: 131,557 (1999).

Government
Réunion is an Overseas Department of France and as such is an integral part of the French Republic.  
Recent history: The most recent elections to the Regional Council and the General Council, held in 1998 and 2000 respectively, were won by a right-wing coalition and the left-wing alliance of Communists and Socialists.
Reunion is an Overseas Department of France. As such, it is an integral part of the French nation and its citizens are able to vote in French national elections. It also enjoys a measure of autonomy in its legislature which comprises the 49-member General Council and the 45-member Regional Council. Both of these bodies are directly elected to serve six year terms.

Language
French is the official language. Local Creole patois is also spoken.

Religion
The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, with a Muslim minority.

Time
GMT + 4.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Nassimah Dindar, President of the General Council.

Head of State
President Jacques Chirac since 1995, represented locally by Prefect Laurent Cayrel since 2005.

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 262. There are no area codes.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies.

Internet
There are Internet cafes in towns throughout Réunion.

Media
TV and radio services are provided by the French public overseas broadcaster, RFO.


Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes up to three weeks.

Press
The two biggest dailies are the Journal de l’Ile de la Réunion and the Quotidien de la Réunion. Weekly periodicals include L’Economie de la Réunion and Témoignages. There are no English-language dailies.

Radio
RFO Réunion is a public service that operates radio stations.

As for France (see France section).

Contact Information:

Diplomatic representation
Réunion is a Département d’Outre-Mer (Overseas Department) of the Republic of France, and is represented abroad by French Embassies – see France section.

Maison de la France in the UK
178 Piccadilly, London W1J 9AL, UK
Tel: 0906 824 4123 (consumer information line; calls cost 60p per minute) or (020) 7399 3520 (travel trade only).
Website: www.franceguide.com

Comité du Tourisme de la Réunion
Place du 20 Décembre 1848, BP 615, 97472 Saint-Denis, Cedex, Réunion
Tel: (262) 210 041.
Website: www.la-reunion-tourisme.com


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