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The visa used previously cost 60 euros (78 dollars).
The world's fourth-largest island, Madagascar boasts an immense diversity of flora and fauna. Of the 12,000 plant species here, 10,000 are endemic to the island, including seven of the world's nine species of the baobab tree.
Madagascar has been hit hard by a political crisis, in which around 100 people were killed and elected president Marc Ravalomanana forced from office by the army-backed oppsition leader Andry Rajoelina.
According to tourism ministry statistics, Madagascar drew 378,000 visitors in 2008, mostly from France, and generated 398 million dollars in income. The sector provides direct employment to about 25,000 people.
In 2007, tourism was the third biggest foreign exchange earner after agriculture and the mining sector.
The instability caused by Rajoelina's opposition movement, which started late last year, and his subsequent internationally-condemned takeover, has driven hotel occupancy down by 70 percent.
The ousted Ravalomanana is currently exiled in Swaziland and claims to be the country's only legitimate president, while Rajoelina remains in charge of a transitional authority and has promised fresh elections in 18 months.
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The world's fourth-largest island, Madagascar boasts an immense diversity of flora and fauna. Of the 12,000 plant species here, 10,000 are endemic to the island, including seven of the world's nine species of the baobab tree.
Madagascar has been hit hard by a political crisis, in which around 100 people were killed and elected president Marc Ravalomanana forced from office by the army-backed oppsition leader Andry Rajoelina.
According to tourism ministry statistics, Madagascar drew 378,000 visitors in 2008, mostly from France, and generated 398 million dollars in income. The sector provides direct employment to about 25,000 people.
In 2007, tourism was the third biggest foreign exchange earner after agriculture and the mining sector.
The instability caused by Rajoelina's opposition movement, which started late last year, and his subsequent internationally-condemned takeover, has driven hotel occupancy down by 70 percent.
The ousted Ravalomanana is currently exiled in Swaziland and claims to be the country's only legitimate president, while Rajoelina remains in charge of a transitional authority and has promised fresh elections in 18 months.
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