Gibraltar Overview Country Overview Gibraltar is a large promontory of jurassic limestone, situated in the western entrance to the Mediterranean. The 5km-long (3 mile) rock contains 143 caves, over 48km (30 miles) of road and miles of tunnels. An internal self-governing British Crown Colony, Gibraltar has given its name to the Bay and the Straits which it overlooks. The town of Gibraltar is an 18th-century British Regency town built on a 15th-century Spanish town which was, in turn, built on a 12th-century Moorish town. Well worth a visit is St Michael’s Cave, part of a complex series of interlinked caverns, which is used for concerts and ballet. Another popular tourist activity is the cable-car trip to the top of the Rock, stopping at the Apes’ Den on the way. Gibraltar’s history as a British colony means that it can offer a large selection of British dishes as well as more international fare. The Colony has a number of discos, nightspots and a casino complex, open until the early hours of the morning. General Information Area: 6.5 sq km (2.5 sq miles). Population: 27,025 (1998). Population Density: 4157.6 per sq km. Capital: Gibraltar. GEOGRAPHY: Gibraltar is a large promontory of jurassic limestone, situated in the western entrance to the Mediterranean. The 5km-long (3 mile) rock contains 143 caves, over 48km (30 miles) of road and as many miles of tunnels. The highest point of the Rock is 426m (1400ft) above sea level. An internal self-governing British Crown Colony, Gibraltar has given its name to the Bay and the Straits which it overlooks. Spain is to the north and west, and Morocco is 26km (16 miles) to the south. Government: British Crown Colony since 1713. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor David Durie since 2000. In December 2002 Sir Francis Richards was appointed governor and will take office in May 2003. Head of Government: Prime Minister Peter Caruana QC since 1996. Language: English is the official language. Most Gibraltarians are bilingual in English and Spanish. Religion: Roman Catholic majority, also Church of England, Church of Scotland, Jewish, Hindu and other minorities. Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-style three-pin plugs are in use. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 350. Outgoing international code: 00. Fax Facilities are available in some hotels. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network is operated by Gibtel. Coverage spans the whole of Gibraltar and a large part of the sea around. Handsets can be hired from Gibtel, at 25 South Barracks Road. Internet There is at least one Internet cafe – Cyber World, Ocean Heights Gallery, Queensway. ISPs include Gibnet (website: www.gibnet.gi). Telegram Enquire at Gibtel, 60 Main Street; or after office hours at Mount Pleasant, 25 South Barracks Road. Post Airmail within Europe takes between one and five days. Airmail flights are usually daily. There is a Poste Restante facility at the main post office in Main Street. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1630 (0900-1415 in summer), Sat 1000-1300. Press Newspapers are in English; some have Spanish sections. The New People, Panorama and Vox are published weekly. The Gibraltar Chronicle (est. 1801) is the only daily. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.49 12.10 9.410 6.195 Voice of America (www.voa.gov): MHz 15.21 11.82 9.760 1.197 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes No No Australian Yes No No Canadian Yes No No USA Yes No No OtherEU 1 No No Japanese Yes No No PASSPORTS: Required by all except: 1. EU nationals in possession of a valid national identity card. VISAS: Required only by the following: (a) nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China (PR), CIS, Comoros Islands, Congo (Dem Rep), Congo (Rep), Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Korea (Dem Rep), Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Sao Tomé e Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Zambia and holders of passports endorsed ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (contact the Southern European Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for latest information); (b) persons who hold passports or travel documents issued by the former Soviet Union or by the territories formerly comprising the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (except nationals of Slovenia). Note: Transit visas are not required by passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. Types of visa and cost: Tourist, Business and Transit. All visas cost £28. Application to: Any British visa-issuing post abroad or in the UK, or the visa section of the UK Passport Agency in London (see Contact Addresses section). Application requirements: (a) One application form. (b) Valid passport. (c) Proof of hotel reservation. (d) Fee. (e) Return ticket. Working days required: Applications are referred to Gibraltar and are normally processed within 20 days. Note: (a) Since 14 June 1999, holders of valid multiple-entry UK visas, and persons with indefinite leave to remain who do not require separate UK entry clearance, no longer require separate visas to enter Gibraltar. All other nationals who require a visa to enter the UK need a separate visa to enter Gibraltar. (b) Visa requirements for other nationals wishing to visit Gibraltar are subject to frequent change at short notice and travellers should contact the UK Passport Agency (see Contact Addresses section) for up-to-date information. Temporary residence: Prior permission must be obtained from the Government of Gibraltar if seeking employment (nationals of EU countries are exempt). Money Currency: Gibraltar Pound (Gib£) = 100 new pence. The Gibraltar government issues banknotes of Gib£50, 20, 10 and 5 for local use only. Coinage is the UK coinage with a different reverse design. The Gibraltar government also issues its own coins in denominations of Gib£5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 pence. All UK notes are accepted. For exchange rates, see the UK section. Currency exchange: Tourists from the UK are strongly advised to change their unspent Gibraltar pounds into UK currency at parity in Gibraltar before departure as UK banks charge for exchanging the Gibraltar Pound. Credit & debit cards: All major cards accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Pounds Sterling. Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import or export of either local or foreign currency. Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1530. Duty Free The following goods may be taken into Gibraltar without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 2l of fortified or sparkling wine or 1l of spirits, liqueurs and cordials or 2l of still wine; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; goods to a total value of Gib£32. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Mar 10 Commonwealth Day. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 21 Easter Monday. May 1 May Day. May 26 May Bank Holiday. Jun 16 Queen’s Birthday. Aug 25 Late Summer Bank Holiday. Sep 10 Gibraltar National Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Mar 8 Commonwealth Day. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 12 Easter Monday. May 1 May Day. May 24 May Bank Holiday. Jun 14 Queen’s Birthday. Aug 23 Late Summer Bank Holiday. Sep 10 Gibraltar National Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No No Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio No N/A Malaria No N/A Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. Other risks: Visitors to forested areas should consider vaccination for tick-borne encephalitis. Health care: Gibraltar is a British Crown Colony and UK citizens are entitled to free treatment in public wards at St Bernard’s Hospital and at Casemates Health Centre on presentation of a UK passport during stays of up to 30 days in the colony. Other EU nationals are similarly entitled on presentation of Form E111. Medical treatment elsewhere and prescribed medicines must be paid for. Dental treatment must also be paid for but extractions are undertaken for a nominal charge at St Bernard’s Hospital during normal weekday working hours. Note: Passengers travelling from Gibraltar to Spain or Morocco are advised to refer to the Health sections for those countries. Travel - International AIR: British Airways (BA) and Monarch Airlines (ZB) operate daily direct services from the UK. Approximate flight times: From Gibraltar to London is 2 hours 30 minutes. International airports: Gibraltar (GIB) (North Front) is 1km (0.6 miles) north of the town centre. A bus to the centre departs every 15 minutes from 0800-2030. Return is from the Market Place bus stop. Bus no. 3, which runs every 30 minutes, also goes to the airport. Taxis and courtesy coaches are available. Airport facilities include restaurants, banks/bureaux de change, tourist information, duty-free shops and car hire (Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz). SEA: International cruises are run by CTC, P&O, BI, Polish Ocean, Costa Norwegian American, Norwegian Cruises/Union Lloyd and TVI Cruises. There is a regular ferry service to Tangier, Morocco as well as a catamaran service running from the new ferry terminal to Tangier (travel time – 75 minutes). ROAD: The only international land access is the frontier with Spain at La Linea. Travel - Internal ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. The speed limit is 50kph (31mph), except where otherwise indicated. It is compulsory to drive with dipped headlights at night. Bus: There are good local bus services operating at frequent intervals. Taxi: There are plenty of taxis and the driver is required by law to carry and produce on demand a copy of the taxi fares. Car hire: Both self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available. Touring outside Gibraltar can also be arranged. Documentation: Third Party insurance is compulsory. Valid national driving licences are accepted. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Gibraltar to major foreign cities. Air Road Rail Sea London 2.30 - - - Tangier 0.20 - - 2.00 Malaga - 2.00 - - Madrid - 12.00 10.00 - Accommodation HOTELS: Hotels range from luxury establishments with lounges, terrace shops, bars and swimming pools, to more modest hotels. Summer rates are in force from 1 April to 31 October. More information may be obtained from the Gibraltar Tourist Board on request (see Contact Addresses section). CAMPING: Camping is not permitted; however, beach tents or beach umbrellas may be rented at Catalan Bay. These will include two deck chairs. There are no caravan sites in Gibraltar, and there are strict regulations concerning caravans and trailers. Sleeping in vehicles is not permitted. There are several campsites with excellent facilities over the border in Spain. Introduction The town of Gibraltar is an 18th-century British Regency town built on a 15th-century Spanish town which was, in turn, built on a 12th-century Moorish town. The principal tourist sites and places of interest include St Michael’s Cave, situated 300m (1000ft) above sea level. This was known to the Romans for its spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. It is part of a complex series of interlinked caves including Leonora’s Cave and Lower St Michael’s Cave. Today, it is used for concerts and ballet. The Upper Galleries, hewn by hand from the Rock in 1782, house old cannons and tableaux evoking the Great Siege (1779-1783). The Apes’ Den is the home of the famous Barbary Apes, which are in fact not apes but Macaque monkeys without tails. The Gibraltar Museum contains caveman tools and ornaments excavated from the Rock’s caves, including a replica of the Gibraltar Skull, the first Neanderthal skull found in Europe (1848). There are also exhibits from the Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Moorish, Spanish and British periods of the Rock’s history; a comprehensive collection of prints and lithographs; a collection of weapons from 1727 to 1800; a large-scale model of the Rock made in 1865; and displays of fauna and flora. The museum itself was built above a spectacular and complete 14th-century Moorish Bath House. Other sites of interest are: the 14th-century keep of the much rebuilt Moorish Castle; the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe, a mosque before conversion to a Christian chapel in 1462, housing the 15th-century image of the Patroness of Gibraltar; the Lighthouse and new Mosque, beautifully designed blending classic Islamic designs with modern facilities, situated within a few yards of the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe; the ancient Nun’s Well, a Moorish cistern; Parson’s Lodge Battery (1865), above Rosia Bay; the Rock Buster, a 100-ton gun; the 18th-century Garrison Library; Trafalgar Cemetery; Alameda Gardens; Europa Point, just 26km (16 miles) from Africa; the almost complete city walls, dating in part from the Moorish occupation. Some popular tourist activities in Gibraltar are: the cable-car trip to the top of the Rock, stopping at the Apes’ Den on the way up; the Convent, residence of the Governor, and formerly a 16th-century Franciscan Monastic house; the Guided Walking Tour of Places of Worship, every Wednesday at 1000, including visits to Gibraltar’s two cathedrals, a synagogue, the Garrison chapel, the Presbyterian church and the Methodist chapel – all buildings of historical interest; the guided walking tour around the city walls, every Friday at 1030; and the Mediterranean Steps Walk which starts at O’Hara’s Battery (the highest point in Gibraltar), snakes down the eastern cliff and around the southern slopes to the western side of the Rock. Marina Quay and Queensway Quay (two modern marina developments) provide visitors with the chance to indulge in some serious people watching while sampling delicious seafood in one of the many attractive harbourside restaurants. Beaches: Gibraltar has five beaches. On the east side are Eastern Beach, Catalan Bay and, towards the south, Sandy Bay, where the Rock is very sheer and parking difficult. Little Bay, a pebble beach, and Camp Bay/Keys Promenade are on the western coast. EXCURSIONS: Day trips to Ronda, Malaga and Jerez in Andalucia (the Spanish province) can be arranged from Gibraltar (see the Spain section for further information on Andalucia), as can day trips by air to Tangier and other Moroccan cities (see the Morocco section). Sport & Activities Watersports: Pier fishing facilities are available and there are charter boats for hire, although deep-sea fishing (for blue shark and swordfish) is not always available at short notice. Scuba diving is a popular activity. Parasailing and water-skiing can also be practised here. Wildlife: The Bay of Gibraltar is home to a large population of dolphins and whales, and tourists can take boat trips to view these fascinating creatures. The Barbary apes, living high on the rock, are the only wild primates in Europe. Birdwatching can be undertaken in spring and autumn, when thousands of migrating birds on their way between their breeding grounds in northern Europe and their wintering areas in Africa stop at the Rock. Owls, eagles, harriers, hoopoes, buzzards and black kytes join resident species such as Peregrine falcons and Barbary partridge. A large area of the upper rock has been declared a nature reserve, and there are plans for a botanical garden. Social Profile Food & Drink: There are bars and bistros throughout the town and at the two marinas, operating under Mediterranean licensing hours and selling British beer. Restaurants cover the whole price range. Gibraltar’s geographical location and its history as a British colony means that it can offer a large selection of British dishes as well as French, Spanish, American, Moroccan, Italian, Chinese and Indian cuisine. Spirits and tobacco are substantially cheaper than in the UK for identical brands. All types of alcoholic drinks are served, including draught beer. Nightlife: Gibraltar has a number of discotheques and nightspots open until the early hours of the morning. The casino complex includes a restaurant, nightclub, roof restaurant (summer) and gaming rooms, and is open from 0900 to the early hours. Shopping: All goods are sold in Gibraltar at reduced-tax prices and free of VAT. The majority of shops are in or near Main Street. Silk, linen, cashmere, jewellery, glassware, porcelain, perfumes, carvings, radios, leatherwork, electronic and photographic equipment and watches can be bought. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1900, Sat 1000-1300. Some shops open Sunday. Special Events: The following is a selection of major festivals and other special events celebrated in Gibraltar in 2003. For a complete list with exact dates, contact the Gibraltar Tourist Board. Jan 3-4 The Gibraltar Philharmonic Society New Year's Concert, St Michael's Cave. Feb 6 21 Gun Salute – HM Queen’s Accession to the Throne. Mar 26-27 Gibraltar Stage Dance Festival. May Spring Art Exhibition. Jul Election of Miss Gibraltar; Annual Regatta. Aug-Sep Gibraltar Fair. Sep 10 Gibraltar National Day Celebrations. Oct Battle of Trafalgar Remembrance Service, Trafalgar Cemetery; International Art Exhibition. Nov Gibraltar Drama Festival. Dec Polar Bear Swim, Catalan Bay; Annual Charity Radio Road Show and TV Open Day. Social Conventions: Gibraltar is a strongly traditional society with an attractive blend of British and Mediterranean customs. Tipping: Normally ten to 15 per cent. Business Profile Economy: The main sources of income are tourism and offshore financial services, principally banking, insurance and shipping-related services. The industrial economy is based on ship repair, construction and small-scale manufacturing. The British armed forces – historically the main source of revenue through their base facilities on the Rock – sharply reduced their presence from 1994 onwards and now provide less than ten per cent of GDP. Since then, concessionary tax and corporate facilities for foreign companies have boosted the financial services sector. Since 1998, a substantial gambling industry has developed, servicing punters from throughout Europe – again the consequence of a favourable tax regime – and it now makes a significant contribution to employment and government revenue. The economy as a whole is sensitive to the state of relations with Spain and, in particular, restrictions on border crossings since a significant number of Spaniards have jobs on the Rock. The UK is naturally the largest source of imports. Gibraltar is not an exporter as such but earns foreign exchange through re-export, mainly into Spain. Business: English is normally used for business, but Spanish may be used for business connected with Spain. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700; 0800-1400 in summer. Government office hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0845-1315 and 1415-1730, but hours vary according to department and season. Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 29, Watergate House, 2-6 Casements (tel: 78376; fax: 78403; e-mail: gichacom@gibnet.gi; website: www.gibraltarchamberofcommerce.com). Information is also available from the Gibraltar Government Office (tel: (020) 7836 0777; fax: (020) 7240 6612; e-mail: info@gibraltar.gov.uk; website: www.gibraltar.gov.uk). Conferences/Conventions: Europort Gibraltar, an 82,000 sq metre (212,000 sq ft) financial complex, offers extensive office and conference facilities in addition to Gibraltar’s recently refurbished hotels. St Michael’s Cave (see Resorts & Excursions section) offers an absolutely unique and scenic location for meetings. For further information contact the Gibraltar Tourist Board, Conference and Incentive Division (tel: (020) 7836 0777; fax: (020) 7240 6612; e-mail: info@gibraltar.gov.uk). Climate Warm throughout the year, with hot summers and mild winters. Summer (May to September) can be very hot and humid. Required clothing: Lightweights for summer and mediumweights for winter months. History and Government History: Gibraltar derives from Gibel Tariq – Tariq’s Mountain – which is named after Tariq Ibn Zeyad who led the eighth-century conquest of Spain by a combined force of Arabs and Berbers crossing from Africa. Gibraltar’s unusual status was not acquired until almost 1000 years later, long after the Islamic invaders had been driven out by the Spanish, as a consequence of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht which brought to an end the War of the Spanish Succession and gave the territory to Britain. The British interpretation of the treaty, moreover, holds that the territory was ceded to them indefinitely. The presence of a foreign-owned mini-state on the Spanish mainland has been an irritant to Anglo-Spanish relations ever since (though the UK points to the Spanish-controlled enclaves of Ceuta and Mellila on the Moroccan coast). The Spanish dictator, General Franco, launched a campaign in 1963 through the United Nations to reclaim Gibraltar, adding to the pressure by closing the border and severing telephone links. Despite a more flexible and amicable attitude on the part of the Spanish after the death of Franco in 1975 (the border was finally opened in 1985), there was initially little movement on the basic issue of sovereignty. Trilateral co-operation between the UK, Spain and Gibraltar has steadily improved in the security field, especially since Spain joined the European Union. There has also been some shifting of ground in Madrid as regards the constitutional future of Gibraltar: during his premiership in the 1980s (see Spain section), Felipe González suggested to the UK some form of joint authority. During the latest round of negotiations between London and Madrid during 2001-02, both sides accepted that some form of power-sharing arrangement, possibly under EU or NATO auspices, was viable (Britain is currently solely responsible for the external relations and defence of the territory). However, the Gibraltarians firmly insist on remaining a British territory and it is very difficult for any British government to waive their right to self-determination (the legacy of the Falklands conflict pertains here). Moreover, the attitude of the Rock’s inhabitants will almost certainly be confirmed by a forthcoming referendum, organised by its own government and due to take place in the autumn of 2002. Domestic politics in Gibraltar are dominated by two main blocs, the ruling centre-right Social Democrats and the opposition alliance of the Socialist Labour Party and the Liberal Party. The Social Democrats formed the present government after their victory under the leadership of Peter Caruana, who was re-elected Prime Minister at the most recent poll in February 2000. Government: Gibraltar is a British Crown Colony, where the British monarch is represented by a Governor, currently David Durie who assumed the post in 2000. The Chief Minister presides over the Council of Ministers which administers domestic affairs. The 17-member House of Assembly, which represents the population’s local interests, comprises 15 elected members. The ex-officio members are the Attorney General and the Financial and Development Secretary. Britain is responsible for defence and foreign affairs. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.