Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
UNDERSTAND RÉUNION
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Réunion Today
Réunion is one of the richest islands in the Indian Ocean. The standard of living is fairly
high, and it's no surprise. As a French
département
(a French overseas territory), the island
receives a lot of financial support from mainland France
(la métropole)
. However,
Réunion faces numerous challenges. The unemployment rate, for example, currently hov-
ers around 29% (60% among people aged between 15 and 24), way above the national av-
erage (about 11% at the time of writing). It's particularly problematic for women and
young people without qualifications. This situation has led to a series of riots in Le Port in
February 2012 and February 2013.
Tourism, which is a major source of income, plummeted to 278,000 visitors in 2006
(down from 410,000 tourist arrivals in 2005) as a result of the chikungunya epidemic (see
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)
. Good news: since 2007, the sector has been picking up again (450,000 tourist
arrivals in 2012) - not least because 40% of the island was designated a Natural World
Heritage Site. Despite this prestigious recognition, the vast majority of visitors are French.
There's a huge potential for growth, but there are a few hurdles: it's under-promoted in
Anglophone markets; English is not widely spoken on the island (to say the least); and the
cost of flights is still prohibitive. Local authorities also fear that the fatal shark attacks on
surfers, which occurred in 2011, 2012 and 2013, might have a negative impact on tourism.
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History
Réunion has a history similar to that of Mauritius. It was colonised by the French after the
mid-17th century but later fell briefly under British rule. As in Mauritius, the colonisers in-
troduced plantation crops and African slaves. Later came Indian indentured labourers and
Chinese merchants, creating an ethnic diversity which is one of these islands' most distinct-
ive characteristics. While Mauritius gained its independence in 1968, Réunion remains an
overseas department of France.
