Mauritius - More Than Sunny Beaches

Mauritius seems like one of those islands that will suddenly become very popular with overseas property investors. Recent real estate developments on the island sold very quickly so I am going to offer you an insight into this stunning island from an investors point of view.

Mauritius lies about 900 kilometers east of Madagascar, has approximately 2,000 square kilometers of land and 177 kilometers of coastline. The nation also has several smaller islands and groups, include the Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues, and is part of the Mascarene Islands, which also include Reunion Island. The volcanically formed island's highest point is the peak of Mount Piton at 828 meters and the island is almost completely surrounded by coral reefs.

The resort town of Grand Bay is the most popular destination on the island of Mauritius, the booming Indian Ocean nation that is about 900 kilometers east of Madagascar. This town on the north side of the tropical island is full of hotels, restaurants, shops and beautiful beaches. If you are looking for a holiday spot, this is one of the nicest anywhere.

Grand Bay, about 25 kilometers north of the capital city of Port Louis, is an ideal place to visit anytime of the year, with warm summers and mild winters. The location keeps the southeast winter wind away from the beach, so it is perfect to visit whenever you have a chance to enjoy the sun and sea of this tropical resort. When visiting here, two of the most popular things to do, besides lying on the beach and soaking in the sun, are taking a catamaran trip or a submarine excursion. For those who want to rent their own boat and cruise around the Bay, there are many choices. There is also plenty of diving on the coral reefs that surround the island.

There are many places to stay in and around Grand Bay, including hotels, guest houses and villas that range from deluxe resorts to rooms to let. For those who are looking to purchase property, this area has much to offer. There are existing houses and villas that are available, and several new developments are also under construction or have been recently finished. The Oasis Villas is a development of private villas in a gated community not far from the sea, and the Residence Tanzi is a new green home development just off the water. For those who are looking for more than just a day on the beach, Grand Bay offers some of the best nightlife on the island.

To get to Mauritius, then Grand Bay, you fly into Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU), also known as Plaisance International Airport. The airport is near the town of Plaisance, about 25 kilometers southeast of Port Louis and approximately a one hour drive to Grand Bay. The national airline, Air Mauritius, handles the most traffic to the island with flights to cities in India, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe, including London - Heathrow.

Overseas property investors should consider that Mauritius achieved remarkable economic and social success, based on good governance and an exceptional use of trade preferences for sugar and clothing exports. At independence in 1968, the country was poor, with per capita income of about US$260. Today it is an upper middle income country, with a 2006 per capita income of US$6431 or $11,643 in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, the second highest in Africa. The country's ability to profit from the trade opportunities testifies to its institutional strengths - a stable democracy and rule of law; ethnic tolerance; macroeconomic stability; equitable social progress; and reliance on private incentives.

It is clear that this little island has more to offer than simply sunny beaches and is worthy of consideration for international real estate investors