5 - Mayotte

full steam ahead for the vanilla islands
Reunion Island / Mayotte Combinations
3
4
Mayotte, the 101st french departement
Mayotte as a Département … what’s changed ?
5
6
MAYOTTE, A PARADISE FOR DIVERS
Mayotte Marine Nature Park
7
8
OUTSTANDING BIODIVERSITY
Protected endemic species
9
10
PLENTY OF UNMISSABLE ACTIVITIES
11
NEW TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES
12
EXPLORE MAYOTTE’S CULTURE
At a glance : the “Great Weddings”
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14
CULINARY SPECIALITIES
At a glance : the “Voulé”
15
16
HOTEL RATINGS
17
WHO VISITS MAYOTTE, AND WHY?
18
USEFUL INFORMATION
19
AIR LINKS
20
KEY DATA
21
CRUISES: MAYOTTE, A STOPOFF
POINT IN THE MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL
22
MAP
23
Contacts
24
3
Officially launched in September 2011 during the Top Résa exhibition, the “Vanilla Islands” concept is supported by and developed in partnership with Ile de
la Réunion Tourisme (IRT), the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA),
the Madagascar National Tourist Office (ONTM), the Seychelles Tourism Board
(STB), the Mayotte Tourism Board (CDTM) and the Comorian Association of Tourism (ACT).
s label:
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Indian
The Concept
Accessibility, quality, unity and competitiveness are the watchwords of this initiative, which draws upon the cultural identity
of each island. The exotic atmosphere, excitement and heritage
of the Indian Ocean and the huge variety of experiences to be
shared there are all shown to best effect.
1. Attraction
• A distinctive positioning policy based on the cultural identity
of each island, encouraging responsible tourism which respects
both the inhabitants and the local environment.
• The culture and quality of the cultural heritage and all it has to
offer.
2. Visibility
• Links between coastal and inland products and a capacity to
make the most of the distinctiveness and the specific characteristics of each island, not forgetting their complimentary nature,
are all vital elements in building the Indian Ocean network.
3. Accessibility
• Building an Indian Ocean network (improving regional connections)
• Making effective use of transport connections, services and
networks
• Proposing an attractive, coherent, regional destination to forge
links between the islands
• Improving accessibility where entry formalities are concerned,
(bilateral agreements and visas)
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At the initiative of the Mayotte Tourism Board and the IRT (Ile de la Réunion Tourisme), a major publicity campaign focusing on combined visits to Mayotte/Reunion Island has been launched in the
French and German markets.
2 flagship products take pride of place : diving & hiking
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5
Mayotte recently gained the status of “Département”
On March 31, 2011, the Collectivité Départementale de Mayotte officially became the 101st French
département and the fifth overseas département (a département is the French equivalent of a county).
Following a local referendum on March 29, 2009, the “YES” camp was the clear winner (gaining more
than 95% of the votes) and Mayotte is today the 101st French department.
The 170-year history
of French Mayotte…
1841 - 1843 TRANSFER TO FRANCE
France took possession of the island of Mayotte thanks to a
treaty signed between the French king Louis-Philippe and Andriantsouli, the Madagascan Sultan of Mayotte. The colony was
officially established on June 13, 1843.
1912 ATTACHMENT TO MADAGASCAR
After the Comoros became a protectorate, a number of different
statuses were envisaged for Mayotte and the rest of the island
chain. The colony was finally attached to Madagascar in order
to reduce operating costs and to boost its economy.
1946 THE COMOROS BECOME A FRENCH OVERSEAS
TERRITORY
The Comoros suffered badly from being attached to Madagascar: funding became difficult to obtain in this “colony of
a colony”. In 1946, the island chain gradually broke free of
the larger island and gained the status of a French overseas
territory.
1956 - 1963 A TIME OF FRICTION
The capital of the colony of Dzaoudzi (Mayotte) was moved to
Moroni (Grande Comore) due to a high degree of discontent
with the Mahorais population and its representatives. Local
politicians joined forces to defend Mayotte’s special interests
in relation to the three other Comorian islands.
1964 - 1970 BEHIND THE BARRICADES
Following the actual transfer of the administrative departments
to Moroni, tension increased between the government of the
overseas territory and Mayotte. Groups of women displayed
their hostility by ambushing visiting Comorian politicians using
a very effective and non-violent method, earning them the title
“Les chatouilleuses” (the ticklers).
1971-1975 AT A CROSSROADS
The gulf between Mayotte and the other islands was constantly
increasing: the lagoon island was the only one to vote against
independence in 1974 and its representatives stated their
formal opposition to the unilateral declaration of independence
announced on July 6, 1975 by Ahmed Abdallah.
1976 A WAVE OF REFERENDUMS
Hesitating about the position it should adopt faced with the
unprecedented situation in Mayotte, France organised two referendums of its population the same year. In December, Mayotte
became a collectivité départementale (regional authority), a
transitional status which was eventually to lead to the island’s
acquisition of the title of Département.
1977 - 1999 A LONG BATTLE
Despite the refusal of the Comoros to recognise the Mahorais’
decision to remain French, the island returned to a situation of
administrative normalisation and economic and social development. There was a need to establish the conditions for the
granting of département status to the island before any change
in Mayotte’s status.
2000 - 2007 TOWARD COMMON LAW
The agreement of 2000 and the visit by President Jacques
Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin to Mayotte in 2001
saw an acceleration in the integration process aimed at transforming Mayotte into an overseas département. Significant
changes accompanied these developments, such as moves to
outlaw polygamy in 2003, and decentralisation in 2004.
2008 - 2009 THE END OF THE LINE
On March 29, 2009 the population was asked to vote on the
creation of a “single authority known as a département (…)
exercising the rights and duties devolved to overseas départements and regions”. More than 95% of the Mahorais voted
“Yes”.
2011 CONSECRATION
Following the vote in parliament confirming the creation of the
Département of Mayotte, the island finally achieved the longawaited status on March 31, 2011. Seen as a victory and a
sign of hope for the future, this date will remain forever etched
in the memory of all of Mayotte’s population.
2014 MAYOTTE, AN OUTERMOST REGION OF EUROPE
As the last stage in its full integration within France and
Europe, in 2014 Mayotte will acquire the status of «outermost
Region of Europe» which will enable it to benefit from European structural funds, thereby giving a welcome shot in the
arm to the island’s economic development.
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Social action: The successful launch of the RSA
The Revenu de solidarité active (RSA or “Active Solidarity Income”) was introduced in Mayotte via the
order of November 24, 2011 and the decree of November 30, 2011. On January 2, 2012, the people of
Mayotte became eligible for the RSA at 25% of the standard rate, i.e. €119 instead of €460 in mainland
France.
During the last standing committee meeting during which the elected representatives were asked to give
their opinion on the order concerning the extension and adaptation of the RSA in Mayotte, an amendment was voted by all of the representatives present that day, to increase the level from 25 to 85%.
The scrapping of the Qadial justice system
With common law now in force, the Qadial justice system was scrapped in favour of Republican
law. The Muslim judges known as “Qadis”, who once presided over matters of local law, are no
longer recognised. Nevertheless, the Qadis still play a major role within Mahorais society. The
Qadis have today been transformed into Ombudsmen, working on behalf of the Conseil Général
de Mayotte (Mayotte area council).
Their status of ombudsman should be officially established during the second half of 2012.
Short-term challenges
Mayotte, a Région ultra-Périphérique
LIn July 2012, the European Council approved the proposal to change the status of Overseas Country
and Territory of Mayotte to that of Région ultra Périphérique (Outermost Region of Europe) in 2014.
With this in mind, from 2012 onwards, the Conseil Général de Mayotte is implementing a development strategy aimed at bringing the island of Mayotte up to the required social, economic and environmental standards with the goal of becoming an Outermost Region of Europe by 2014.
Introduction of the ordinary rules of taxation
The 2014 deadline is approaching quickly, and with it the end of the special tax and customs
system in Mayotte. The département and district of Mayotte should benefit from the introduction of the ordinary rules of taxation, with the housing tax, land tax and the new local economic
contribution which is replacing the taxe professionnelle (local business tax).
The successful implementation of this tax system is the result of three policies which have been
underway for several years now, namely:
Improving the reliability of the register of births, marriages and deaths,
The inclusion of the new measures of the LOEDOM overseas economic development law in the
general taxation code.
The launch of a procedure for assessing the rental value of taxable properties in order to calculate the property tax.
6
7
Discover the Indian Ocean’s
largest lagoon
One of Mayotte’s main attractions is its huge lagoon,
with in some cases more than 4 km between the coast
and the reef and with depths of up to 70 m in places.
Sheltered from the raging ocean currents, this is a
haven of peace for the area’s extremely diverse fauna
and flora. Whales, dolphins, turtles and fish have
wisely taken up residence in these protective living
walls.
A genuine natural aquarium in which multi-coloured
fish live harmoniously alongside impressive pelagic
species in a fascinating environment comprised of
coral reefs; exploring this undersea world with the
diver’s bottle or with flippers, diving mask and snorkel
reveals its exuberant fauna and flora.
More than 100 white, black or ochre sandy beaches
can be discovered along the island’s coast. The lagoon is interspersed with some 30 small islands. The
tiny islands in the South or the North are themselves
worth the visit to Mayotte and perfectly represent the
image of a tropical paradise conjured up by the turquoise lagoon surrounded with white sand.
Another curiosity which never fails to delight visitors,
the mangrove swamps are the last primal forests here,
spanning a surface area of more than 700 hectares.
They provide excellent natural protection against
the effects of pollution in the lagoon and enable
numerous marine species to survive.
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Contact
M. Baker JOMA AMADA
“Administration and Communication” Project Leader
[email protected]
9
Hiking in Mayotte
A paradise for nature lovers, Mayotte is a well preserved island which has long avoided large-scale settlement and a fast pace
of growth. A strip of land between Africa and Madagascar, Mayotte boasts an abundant fauna with a large number of endemic
species and a particularly original flora.
Whether you enjoy a gentle walk or a long-distance hike, a number of themed hiking trails enable you to discover the endemic
tropical plants, the heady fragrance of the ylang-ylangs or the geological curiosities of this fascinating island. For the sportier
among you, the long-distance hiking trail leads through the heart of the forests, over the peaks and along the coasts. More
than162 km of marked-out trails await you.
Discover the Mayotte long distance hiking trail (GR) in 12 stages
N°1
Mamoudzou to Koungou
10,5 km
2h45
The governor’s house, Panoramic view over the lagoon, Padza,
the lake, bamboo plantation, farmland.
N°2
Koungou to Dzoumonyé
18,8 km
4h55
The Majimbini Forest reserve, Ylang-ylang fields, still, padza,
view across the lagoon, food crops..
N°3
Dzoumonyé to M’tzamboro
11,9 km
4h15
The Dzoumonyé hill reservoir, ylang-ylang fields, traditional
still, river, the Peak Trail, panoramic view across the lagoon
from the top of Dziani Bolé.
N°4
M’tzamboro to Mtsangamouji
10,8 km
3h25
The forest trail, Mount Hachiroungou, Padzas covered with
fern, the Hachiroungou Forest reserve, natural rainforest, the
“haricot géant” (giant bean).
N°5
M’tsangamouji to Chiconi
15,7 km
4h00
The Peak Trail, view across Soulou bay, Beach, mangrove
swamp, Soulou waterfalls, sugar cane field.
N°6
N°7
17,5 km
3h55
Viewing point across Bouéni Bay and Mount Choungui, ylangylang fields, traditional still, farming and market gardening,
padzas, bangas.
6h00
Forest of red mangroves in the mangrove swamp, mangrove
crabs, Choungui forest reserve, padzas, baobab, dry forest,
ylang-ylang fields and traditional still, egg-laying by sea turtles.
N°8
Saziley to Bandrélé
14,5 km
4h00
The Saziley beaches, baobab forest, panoramic view over the
Ilôt de Sable Blanc
N°9
Bandrélé to Tsararano
14,8 km
5h10
The southern peaks forest reserve, Padzas, view across Mount
Choungui and Bouéni bay, the forest of takamaka, the Bénara
forest reserve.
N°10
Tsararano to Vahibéni
11 km
4h00
The Sogorombili forest reserve, lemurs, drongo, padzas, the
foot of mount Combani, ylang-ylang fields, traditional still.
N°11
Vahibéni to Mamoudzou
10,6 km
2h40
Panoramic views across the interior of the island, padzas,
farming/forestry areas, the Majimbini river
Chiconi to Miréréni
12 km
Miréréni to Saziley
N°12
Dzaoudzi to Pamandzi
14 km
3h25
The Dziani-Dzaha Crater Lake, panoramic view across the
lagoon and the Jumelles de Moya, egg-laying by turtles.
10
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The maki, one of Mayotte’s most emblematic animals
An endemic species in Mayotte, the lemur (Lemur fulvus mayottensis), is an
animal protected by the Washington Convention.
Although wild, the mischievous maki can also be quite sociable if you have
some bananas for him. Their diet is comprised of fruit, berries, nuts, leaves and
sometimes insects and eggs. Active both during the day and night, the makis
enjoy a long nap around midday. During your walks in the forest, keep your eyes
peeled because they can often be seen there. It is estimated that there are currently 2,000 makis in Mayotte.
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The Souïmanga, a bird living close to man…
The Mayotte Sunbirds live in pairs and often set up home in the dense shrubs and bushes frequently found in gardens, such as the bougainvillaea, hibiscus or fast multiplying palm trees. It
is therefore possible to see them just about everywhere around the island as the Sunbird is well
adapted to contact with humans and quite happy to nest in town. Taking the form of an oval
globe, the nest is built with interwoven dried grasses and strips of spider’s web. These birds,
which live as a couple all year round, have a very elaborate reproduction strategy ensuring the
survival of the species.
11
At sea...
Scuba diving
A genuine paradise for divers, Mayotte’s lagoon is a great place to try your hand at scuba diving. France’s second-largest
marine park has plenty of outstanding diving sites including:
coral heads, dizzying faults and “must-see” nature reserves!
Discovering marine mammals
With a quarter of the global diversity of marine mammals present in Mayotte’s waters, it is possible to watch cetaceans all
year round. From July to November, Mayotte’s lagoon becomes a rearing ground for humpback whales. Definitely a sight
not to be missed! During the rest of the year, several species
of dolphin criss-cross the lagoon and for the luckiest among
you, you will possibly come across the mysterious dugong
during your trip out to sea.
Kayaking in the mangrove swamp
The ideal way to discover the mysteries of the mangrove
swamp, kayaking provides a relaxed way to make your way
between the red mangroves and to discover an original natural environment including crabs, the periophtalmus or the
Cattle Egret.
In the air...
Microlight flying
When it comes to excitement, nothing compares with discovering Mayotte by air. You’ll
need to take off early in the morning to
enjoy the best microlight flying conditions. It
takes just a few minutes to really get a taste
for the spectacular landscapes, contrasting
between the emerald green of the forests
and the turquoise blue of the lagoon.
0n land...
Mountain biking
Around the island’s interior. Easy routes, well adapted to beginners,
can be enjoyed all year round. For the more sporty among you, special
trails exist which will take you to some unusual or difficult to reach
areas. The company Mayotte VTT Excursion proposes cycle discovery days combining the natural environment and wild landscapes of
Mayotte.
Tel 06 39 29 17 73.
Horse riding
Located in the south of the island, the Hajanguoua Equestrian Centre
proposes a number of unusual treks on horseback through the bamboo
plantations, up the trails or along the beaches. Suitable for all, horse
or pony trekking trips are sure to delight both young and old alike.
12
Undersea viewing
The ideal way to discover the ocean depths in total
safety, this glass bottomed boat offers a panoramic
view of the marine fauna and flora. Two companies
propose half day or full-day boat trips:
Aquavision
Equipped with six extra-large windows, L’Aquavision provides a panoramic view of the coral
and multi-coloured fish to be seen around the
reefs of Mayotte’s Lagoon. Thanks to the Aquavision, you can see how the turtles and dolphins
live in their natural environment. Another very
original feature of this boat is the possibility to
see what’s going on beneath the waves at night:
Spotlights built into the hull light up the ocean
depths at night, enabling you to safely discover
predators such as the red lionfish or moray eels.
Excitement guaranteed! Trips last a half-day or
a full day including the discovery of the cetaceans, the small islands and the reefs. Nighttime outings by moonlight.
Contact :
Nils Bertrand to 06 39 69 00 46
[email protected]
www.aquavision.com
Aquarium
Lagon Aventure’s glass-bottomed boat L’Aquarium is a vessel designed for viewing the undersea depths, the dolphins, whales and all other
kinds of fish. This is the only undersea viewing
boat in Mayotte approved by the Maritime
Affairs Department for observing and admiring
mammals and cetaceans in their underwater
environment. It is also used to view the reefs
and their many inhabitants including the fish
and turtles, etc. Always passionate and enthusiastic about their work, Lagon Aventure’s
eco-guides ensure that you enjoy an unforgettable boat trip. Outings are organised every day
on a daily or half daily basis including undersea
viewing, dolphins, whales according to the time
of year, the small islands with their white sandy
beaches, swimming with dolphins and a meal
break at midday on a beautiful tropical beach.
Contact :
06 39 65 42 63 - 06 39 69 00 67
www.lagonaventure.fr
Luxury catamaran
ALAMANDAS BOAT
In order to help you visit the finest lagoon in the Indian
Ocean, on October 1, 2011 the company ALAMANDAS
BOAT acquired the luxury catamaran ALAMANDAS
BOAT. This vessel, a LAGOON 450 with a surface area
of approximately 120 m2, left the factory in July 2011,
and is the only one operating in the Indian Ocean. It
comprises a large lounge with huge, ultra-comfy sofas,
picture windows offering a 360° view and a solarium.
This boat has been designed down to the last detail for
maximum comfort at sea.
Contact :
Patrick VARELA to 06 39 27 59 25.
www.catamayotte.com
13
At a glance: The island’s traditional dances
The wadaha
With the aid of a pestle which they throw up in the air, the women dance around the mortar. They sing as they pass the pestle
to one another. This is a very astonishing and spectacular dance
for women.
The débah
Reserved exclusively for women, this dance combines songs
and gestures. The débah often has religious connotations. It is
practised as a form of entertainment and often forms the basis
for a competition between several women’s associations from
different villages.
The M’biwi
Extremely spectacular and festive, this dance takes the form
of a challenge between two individuals from different traditional groups. The dancing is accompanied by striking the M’biwi
together (small bamboo sticks) with the result being a rhythmic
and dynamic sound.
The chigoma
A traditional dance from Zanzibar, this is mainly practised
during the “Great Weddings”. Reserved for men wearing smart
suits, this spectacular dance requires perfect timing.
The Dahira
A religious song accompanied by dancing, the Dahira requires
no instruments. Only singing forms the rhythmic backdrop to
the dance. Reserved exclusively for men, the dahira is an event
which can bring the whole village together. Spectacular and dynamic, this dance is all the more captivating as the men appear
to be in a total state of trance.
The Moulidi
A religious song backed by an instrument such as the tari (a
musical instrument of Persian origin). This activity is reserved
exclusively for men and male children.
14
e
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“Gr
Each year, Mayotte is in a state of excitement
between June and September. From north to south,
not forgetting the centre of the island, everyone is
busily getting ready for the “Haroussi” (“Great Wedding”) ceremony of niece or a neighbour.
The Great Wedding is one of the most important
and lively customs on the island. This is a major
event which can last for more than a week with
several dozen people being invited every day to the
festivities (including family, friends, workmates and
inhabitants of the village).
The expenditure on the events can be exorbitant:
the more expensive the wedding is, the greater the
honour which goes to the families celebrating it!
The first of the “Great Wedding” festivities is the
Madjilisi, a meeting reserved exclusively for men
who sing religious melodies praising the life of the
prophet.
After a brief prayer from the Imam at the door threshold, the husband enters his new home and joins
his wife in their bedroom. Shouts of joy accompany
this stage of the custom.
In the house’s yard, mats are spread out on the
ground. In one corner the gifts of domestic appliances offered by the husband’s family to his wife are
spread out. Women from the bride’s family arrive
from all over with huge cooking pots, dishes of every
kind and bowls of fruit. A prominent citizen or the
Qadi gives a speech, provides a recap of the lineage
of the two families and announces the dowry.
This is followed by the celebrations with plenty of
singing and dancing, which go on until late into the
night. A wedding in Mayotte is a marvellous adventure which is as extraordinary as it is surprising.
room’s
g
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ide
The br ents
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15
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Kakamuku
For 4 people
Ingredients :
• 2 to 3 cloves of garlic
• Peppers
• 2 lemons
• Cumin
• Curcuma
• Hanga (a sort of Mahorais parsley)
• Salt and pepper
• 1.5 kg of fish
• 1 onion
Carefully clean, gut and scale the fish and then wash them.
Next, chop the onion and garlic and add the peppers. Then mix the lemon juice, the
curcuma and the cumin. Put all this in a large saucepan adding the previous condiment. Put this mixture on the fish and cover with water. Cook on a medium heat until
the juice has reduced. Salt and pepper should be added generously to the
mixture. Serve hot accompanied by cooked manioc or rice.
Mataba - Manioc leaf
Ingredients :
• manioc leaves
• 1 onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 L of milk
• 1 fish (any variety according to preference)
• Salt
You’ll need to peel the onions and garlic and then crush them with the manioc leaves.
Fry or roast the fish and then boil the coconut milk. Add the manioc leaves and salt
when the coconut is boiling. Stir from time to time. Wait until the coconut juice is
boiling well before adding the fish.
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The Voulé is a traditional Mahorais
art... It requires plenty of planning!
To begin with, you’ll need to agree a spot,
often a beach specially equipped for barbecues. Next, bring along enough food for all of
your guests, not forgetting the music, some
hot conversation topics and football. There
you have all the ingredients you need for a
great day at the beach. Yes, you guessed it…
it’s a huge picnic !
A traditional family gathering, the voulé is organised at weekends on the beaches around
Mayotte. A time to relax, to have fun and to
enjoy yourself in great company.
men and women each have their respective
roles including finding wood, preparing the
fire, peeling vegetables, seasoning the meat
etc. The children enjoy a great opportunity to
have fun on the beach.
Around midday, the family meets up with
the guests (friends or workmates, etc.) for a
festive gathering comprised chiefly of grilled
chicken (the famous mabawas), meat (tchak
tchak) or fish. The vegetables are cooked in
large cooking pots including manioc, bananas or breadfruit. The sauces are also very
important: you can’t have a successful voulé
without the famous “poutou”, crushed peppers
paste with spices or “Tchari”, candied
The voulé needs to be planned several days
in advance as all of the logistics must be pre- lemon, tomatoes or mangoes mixed with
pared beforehand including the food, drinks, peppers.
and the bulky items such as cooking pots,
The voulé has become a major social phenobowls, coal, etc.
menon in Mayotte. It provides an opportunity
The first people start arriving early in the
to meet up and chat and a way to strengthen
morning to reserve the best spots: near the
links which already existed between friends
sea, with easy access and above all plenty
of shade. The rest of the family arrive during and the family.
the morning and everyone gets down to work:
16
17
At the initiative of the Mayotte Tourism Board, the company OCTROI, an accredited organisation, has drawn up ratings for the island’s hotels. Following its
inspections, six hotels have been the subject of prefectural decrees confirming
the following ratings :
Hotel SAKOULI
• Hotel MAHARAJAH
• Hotel LE ROCHER
3-star category tourist hotel
Hotel JARDIN MAORE
• Hotel LE CARIBOU • Hotel IRIS
2-star category tourist hotel
•
•
The Ylang quality label
inspired by the “épis” (ear of wheat) ratings used by Gîtes de France, the “Ylang”
quality label is a specific rating system used in Mayotte. The Ylang label provides information concerning the level of comfort and the services provided in Mayotte’s gîtes
and B&Bs. In 2012, 23 were rated :
5 ylangs
1 gîte : Les Bangas
4 ylangs
11 furnished apartments and B&Bs : Les couleurs,
L’horizon, Meublé val fleuri, Villa Maora, Villa Restonica, Nourach,Banga Low, Maison Az&Ma, Villa vanille,
SCI Alizés, Le Zalifat.
3 ylangs
7 gîtes and B&Bs : Villa coco,
Anantsika, Les gîtes de Kwalé, Toît de May’hôte,
Tatagnagna, Villa Ti Ben Lagon, Les Saints Albert.
2 ylangs
3 B&Bs : Refuge tropical, Antana Kélé,
Le Santal Logis.
1 ylang
1 B&B : Le relais Forestier
18
Individuals
[ Peers ]
Groups
[ Leisure* ]
[ Business ]
* Réunion Island: the leading local visitor source:
Leisure stays, maritime activities, themed weekends
3 “visitor experience” concepts
Open-air
activities
Natural and
environmental
tourism
Leisure and discovery activities
Reasons for visiting Mayotte
African France in a
secure setting
To discover
Mayotte’s outstanding
natural heritage
To experience
To get away from it
all in a fairy-tale setting:
Lagoon and white sand
Authenticity
& Traditions
biodiversity
& discovery
Exciting sensations & discoveries
Mayotte offers visitors a host of different experiences in outstanding natural settings, in optimal safety and
security supervised by professionals who put the emphasis on contact with the local population, the local
wildlife, excellent hospitality and personal interaction.
19
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Nestling at the far north of the Mozambique Channel,
between the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn, the East
African coast and the island of Madagascar, Mayotte is located 1500km from Réunion Island and 8000 km from Paris.
Capital: Mamoudzou (53,022 inhabitants)
Surface area: 376 km2
Population: 186,452 inhabitants
To call Mayotte from:
• Mainland France: dial the local 10-figure number
• Abroad: international dialling code +262 followed by
the nine figures of the local number.
Examples: +262269…to call a landline +262639…to
call a mobile.
Transport
The island of Mayotte is comprised of two main islands,
Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre in addition to around 20
small islands geographically located in the Comoros island chain. Mayotte has 17 districts, of which 2 are on
Petite-Terre and 15 on Grande-Terre.
There is no regular transport in Mayotte. However, several bush taxis serve the main villages on the island (you
should count on approximately 5 Euros between Mamoudzou and Sada).
The barge operates services between Petite–terre and
Grand terre. The ticket price is 75 cents.
Weather
Banques
Time zone
BFCOI
(Banque Française Commerciale de l’Océan Indien)
Route de l’agriculture 97600 Mamoudzou
Tél : 02 69 61 10 91 / Fax : 02 69 61 17 40
CREDIT AGRICOLE
Im. de la Briqueterie, r. du Stade 97600 Mamoudzou
Tél : 02 69 61 12 00 / Fax : 02 69 61 16 00
BR (Banque de la Réunion)
Im. de la Palme d’Or ZI Kawéni 97600 Mamoudzou
Tél : 02 69 60 82 82 / Fax : 02 69 60 82 83
BRED Banque Populaire
ZI Kawéni RN1 97600 Mamoudzou
Tél : 02 69 60 51 51 / Fax : 02 69 60 51 10
Characteristics
Mayotte has a tropical maritime climate divided into two
seasons: a dry and temperate season from May to October (average 24°C) which corresponds to the austral
winter, and hot season more generally referred to as the
“rainy season”, from November to April, (average 27°C)
which corresponds to the austral summer.
: GMT+3.
The time difference between mainland France and
Mayotte is 2 hours in winter and 1 hour in summer.
Telecommunications
Mayotte’s local operators for fixed telephony: France
Télécom, STOI, XTS. For mobile services: SFR, ONLY,
ORANGE.
The currency used in Mayotte is the Euro.
20
Inter-regional and
international airline operators:
AIR AUSTRAL / AIR France
AIR MADAGASCAR / KENYA AIRWAYS
AIR MAURITIUS / AIR SEYCHELLES / Interiles air
Agence IssoufaliAgence IssoufaliInterîles Air
place du marché
97600 Dzaoudzi
Tél 0269 60 21 21
97600 Mamoudzou
Tél 0269 60 10 52
GSM 0639 03 75 53
Tél 0269 61 36 36
[email protected]
www.interilesair.fr
Entry formalities for citizens of:
France: valid identity card or passport
European Community: valid passport
All other countries: valid passport with consular visa and a
ticket for a return to your home country or another country.
4 airline companies serve Mayotte, departing from Paris and other major French cities.
Frequency
Daily flights
3 flights per week
3 flights per week
3 flights per week
Departure
Paris CDG 2A
Marseille, Lyon,
Nantes, Bordeaux,
Toulouse
Orly
Paris CDG 2
Paris CDG 2F
Réunion
Direct Paris / Mayotte
Tananarive
on return
Tananarive
Nairobi
www.air-austral.com
www.corsairfly.com
www.airmadagascar.com
www.kenya-airways.com
Tel : 01 56 93 47 64
Via
Contacts for
Reservations
Contacts
in Mayotte
N°Indigo
08 25 013 012
(0.15€/mn)
Tel : 08 20 042 042 Tel : 08 92 680 014
Agence commerciale
Mayotte Vacances
Air Madagascar
Rogers Aviation
Place mariage
Place du marché
Place mariage
Place du marché
97600 Mamoudzou
97600 Mamoudzou
97600 Mamoudzou
97600 Mamoudzou
Tel : 02 69 60 90 90 Tel : 02 69 61 25 50 Tel : 02 69 61 01 53 Tel : 02 69 64 19 30
21
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17%
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% of tou
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They
y
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o
t
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s
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the value
tourist
riends
family
or f
Graph 1: Changes in tourist numbers based on reason to travel
60000
50000
Total number of tourists
40000
Leisure tourism
30000
Visit to family and friends
20000
Business tourism
10000
Other reasons
0
2008
2009
2010
• 53% of the tourists live in mainland France, i.e. 25,700 visitors
from mainland France in 2011. This
figure has been rising continuously
since 2004.
• 40% of visitors are from Reunion
Island, marking a fall of 18% compared to the previous year.
• 7% came from the neighbouring
islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, etc.
2011
7%
France
Réunion island
40%
53%
Neighbouring
island
22
Mayotte : A stop-off point in the Mozambique Channel
With the creation of the Cruise Club in 2010, corporate and professional partners of the tourism
industry joined forces with the Mayotte Tourism Board to guarantee cruise companies a highquality welcome for cruise passengers when stopping off at this lagoon island. With this goal in
mind, the Tourism Board has introduced a number of special reception measures to make life
easier for cruise passengers:
1. Effective and efficient organisation involving all local professionals involved in
the arrival of cruise liners.
In Mayotte, ensuring minimum reception standards for cruise ships is a priority, based on four
criteria for success:
•
•
•
•
The
The
The
The
quality of the port area and the associated services
quality and relevance of signposting and documents
efficiency and good interpersonal skills of the information centre
information and activities proposed for crew members
2. A personalised welcome for individuals and trippers
A flyer in three languages (French, English, Italian), a taxi rank also including selected private
carriers, with a “Caribou Maoré” sticker, a craft village offering a chance to taste local delicacies
and to discover demonstrations of local skills, shops and restaurants prepared to try their hand
at English, three information teams, the presence of surveillance, security and traffic services,
folklore and entertainment activities, plus ancillary services and activities for individuals, etc.
3. Technical resources
• Three pontoons : Mamoudzou plaisance / Dzaoudzi / Mamoudzou Marché
• One quay : Longoni commercial port
During the 2011-2012 season, four cruise ships stopped off in Mayotte, with
some 1170 passengers visiting Mayotte.
Hanseatic
Nautica
Clipper Odyssée
Clipper Odyssée
[
[
[
[
197
667
135
179
passengers
passengers
passengers
passengers
]
]
]
]
28
31
05
03
novembrer 2011
decembrer 2011
february 2012
march 2012
Press contacts at the Tourist Board
TOURIST BOARD
Public relations / Promotion / Press department
Tel : (+ 262) (0)269 61 09 09
Fax : (+ 262) (0)269 0269 61 03 46
Press relations assistant
Nassulati AHAMADA
[email protected]
Promotion / Communication / Press Manager
Chloé REMONDIERE
[email protected]
Manager
Michel AHAMED
[email protected]
The Mayotte Tourism Board office
The Mayotte Tourism Board office in Paris
33, Avenue de l’Opéra
75002 Paris
Tél : 01 55 03 03 03
Email : [email protected]
On Reunion Island – New address
19, rue Sainte-Anne
97400 St Denis
Tél : 02 62 56 62 90
Email : [email protected]
Publication and editorial management : Comité Départemental du Tourisme de
Mayotte. September 2012
Graphical design : Caméléon création
CD-ROM version : Giga services
Photographic credits : Catherine Théral / Sandrine Debiesse / Jean Philippe Aiglehoux Cassandra Caméo / A. Hulnet / cowboy5434. Fotolia