Madagascar Country & Tourist Information

Location
Indian Ocean, 500km (300 miles) off the coast of Mozambique.

Area
587,041 sq km (226,658 sq miles).

Population
18.4 million (UN, 2005).

Population Density
31.34 per sq km.

Capital
Antananarivo (formerly Tananarive).
Population: 1.5 million (estimate, 2003).

Government
Republic since 1992. Gained independence from France in 1960.
Head of State: President Marc Ravalomanana since 2002.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Jacques Sylla.
Recent history: Marc Ravalomanana secured a second presidential term in December 2006, beating former prime minister Norbert Lala Ratsirahonan. Ravalomanana came to power in 2002 following a bitterly fought election in which then-incumbent Didier Ratsiraka refused to accept defeat. The country came close to civil war before Ratsiraka sought exile in France and Ravalomanana took power.

Language
The official languages are Malagasy (which is related to Indonesian) and French. Local dialects are also spoken. Very little English is spoken.

Religion
51 per cent follow animist beliefs; about 43 per cent Christian; remainder Muslim.

Time
GMT + 3.

Electricity
Mostly 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are generally two-pin.

Telephone
Country code: 261, followed by a two-digit number for an access provider, but a standard dialing code is expected to be introduced soon. After the international and access codes, numbers should be seven digits including two initial digits for the geographical area. The cheapest way to make phone calls is to use a telephone card and call from a telephone booth. Telephone cards can be purchased at post offices and most hotels.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage reaches major cities and main roads.

Internet
Public Internet access exists in large cities; there are a few Internet cafes in Antananarivo.

Media
Ravalomanana owns the private Malagasy Broadcasting System, which operates the MBS TV and Radio MBS networks. Although nationwide radio and TV broadcasting remain the monopoly of the state, there are hundreds of private local radio and TV stations.


Post
Airmail to Europe takes at least seven days and surface mail three to four months.

Press
• There are no English-language newspapers.
• Six dailies are published in French and/or Malagasy.
• The main papers include La Gazette de la Grande Ile, Madagascar Tribune and Midi Madagasikara.

Radio
• Many private radio stations in the capital are owned by pro-Ravalomanana politicians. However, a boom in privately-owned FM radio stations and more critical political reporting by the print media followed 1990’s law on press freedom.
• Malagasy National Radio (RNM) is state owned.
• Privately-owned stations include Radio Don Bosco (Roman Catholic FM station), Radio Tsioka Vao and Radio Korail.
• Radio MBS is commerical and owned by Ravalomanana.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
29 Mar Commemoration of the 1947 Rebellion.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
17 May Ascension Day.
26 Jun Independence Day.
15 Aug Assumption Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
29 Mar Commemoration of the 1947 Rebellion. 
1 May Labor Day.
1 May Ascension Day.
26 Jun Independence Day.
15 Aug Assumption Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Contact Information:

Ministère de la Culture et du Tourisme de Madagascar (Ministry of Culture & Tourism)
PO Box 610, rue Fernand Kasanga, Tsimbazaza, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar
Tel: (2022) 66805.
Website: www.tourisme.gov.mg

Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Madagascar in the UK
16 Lanark Mansions, Pennard Road, London W12 8DT, UK
Tel: (020) 8746 0133.
Website: www.madagascar.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1300.

Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar in the USA
2374 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 265 5525-7.
E-mail: malagasy@embassy.org


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