Direct from Mayotte Island

Tourism and aquaculture may be the two major axes of development of the island of Mayotte said Yves Jégo, Secretary of State for Overseas France, during his fourth trip to the island in the lagoon (8 and 9 January 2009).

Mayotte, French tropical island with many natural and cultural charms, is not, contrary to what one might think, a good starting point for the rest of the Indian Ocean. The flight is direct and often not always expensive. And even more expensive than a flight Europe> Indian Ocean!

40 672 tourists came to Mayotte in 2007 (against 31 137 in 2006, 38 763 in 2005, 32 191 in 2004, 23 000 in 2003).

The adventure of Costa Cruises in Mayotte has lasted a year.
On 5 March 2008, we wrote that the group had already announced that it would return to the island in the lagoon for the next season (from December 2008 to March 2009).

In an interview with the french weekly L'Express, the Secretary of State for Overseas, Yves Jégo, confirms its intention to lower airfares between the mainland and overseas.

Jégo Yves, Secretary of State for Overseas, was on an official visit to the island on 26 and 27 September 2008, for the third time in six months. The main purpose of the visit was to update elected officials and economic and social actors of the island referendum on the future (in "March 2009" said Yves Jégo) concerning the status and place of Mayotte in the French Republic (now Mayotte is a departmental community, not a department) and the consequences of choices made by Mahorais.

Final adoption by the Council of State - or not - the Development Plan and Sustainable Development (SPSD) of Mayotte is one of the topics addressed by Yves Jégo, Secretary of State for Overseas France, in official visit to the island on 26 and 27 September for the third time in a year. The other important issue for tourism development of the island: the extension of the airport runway to allow direct flights in both directions, Europe> Mayotte.

As we announced several weeks ago, the hotel IRIS has just opened at the top of the wedding place, the principal place of Mamoudzou, "capital" of the island of Mayotte.

The Association of Naturalists offers regular screenings / lectures on the natural wealth of Mayotte and its heritage. The first of the season takes place on 5 December to film Mamoudzou and covers the Dugong, the strange and rare marine mammal, a little heavy, no dorsal fin and belonging to the group of Sirenia.

This year Ramadan starts on September 2. This is an important moment for Mayotte, the island consisting of 98% of Muslims many of whom are practitioners.