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Friday, July 31, 2015

Monday, July 13, 2015

First public-private Tourism Strategy Meeting defines mechanism to build Seychelles presence in China and India


The first public-private Tourism Strategy Meeting to build Seychelles presence in China and India was chaired by Joel Morgan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport. Other ministers in attendance were Jean Paul Adam Minister for Finance, Trade and Blue Economy and Alain St.Ange, the Minister for Tourism and Culture.
The meeting that was held at the Offices of the Tourism Board at ESPACE Building was attended by representatives from Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA), Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Air Seychelles, Seychelles Civil and Aviation Authorities (SCCA), Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and tourism partners opened discussions on Seychelles tourism policies regarding China and discussed what Seychelles as a country wanted to achieve from the Chinese market and the numbers of Chinese visitor’s Seychelles was targeting. 
Private sector representatives felt it was fundamental that these points are tabled and a common consensus reached, in a bid to harmonise and for Seychelles to build a cohesive approach for its presence on the Chinese market. 
Seychelles, which has long been dependent on its major source market in Europe, bringing 66 % of business to the country, is more than ever convinced it needs to diversify and remain robust to withstand politico-economic shocks from its European market.
China brought 13 thousand visitors to Seychelles in 2014.  Today China’s estimated population is over 1.3 billion. The Tourism Strategy meeting achieved consensus that Seychelles does not need a huge number of Chinese visitors, but enough traffic to fill its flights and the 11 thousand beds in the country. 
Representatives of the Tourism Strategy meeting also agreed the time had come for Seychelles to move away from the policy of working to attract Chinese Chartered flights but to instead prepare to launch direct non-stop regular weekly flights and work across the board with Chinese Tour Operators (TO’s) selling the destinations and the region.  It was highlighted with one weekly regular flight; Seychelles can bring 10 thousand Chinese visitors annually. 
Closing the Chinese market chapter, Air Seychelles announced it strategy to launch its winter schedule flights to China during the course of the year.
On the Indian market,  representatives of the Tourism Strategy meeting agreed Seychelles should lure more Indian holiday makers to its shores and increase the visitor’s arrival figures two fold on this market.
Seychelles is receiving about 6 thousand travellers annually from India and this despite the four direct weekly flights.
One major point that came out in the discussions on the Indian market is the need to raise Seychelles visibility on the market at the same time as the current applicable airfare being offered by Air Seychelles on this market is reviewed.
It was agreed the Indian strategy should target honeymooners, which represent 90 % of the market segment for Seychelles.
Seychelles said members of Tourism Strategic Meeting should also define a key message which will drive marketing of the destination in India.
The Tourism Strategic meeting was a recommendation by Vice President Danny Faure at multi-sectoral meeting held Friday July 3rd.

Seselwa Annou Koze…VICTIMISATION with TON PAT


Saturday, July 11, 2015

DRUG BUST AND CORRUPTION?

 Reports are surfacing that allegedly 2 well known persons in Seychelles namely Jemmy Maringo and Beky(Frank Cupidon) were arrested by the NDEA yesterday afternoon in the vicinity of the old port. Apparently a time later the NDEA was ordered by a high official from State House to release both man. According to a reliable source within the NDEA those two man was arrested yesterday after 1.2kgs of heroin where discovered in a propeller shaft and other spare parts registered in their names; the cargo had entered the country from Dubai.

Source: LAVWA SESELWA

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Iles Des Palmes Banner Attacked!

Early today, we witnessed the sabotage and destruction of our banners. They are not campaign banners. Just banners to help us earn a living in our own country as Seselwa!
The acts are outrageous, primitive, disgraceful for the establishment that supports such conduct.
I ask the government of Seychelles to denounce such action, all parties to do the same, and support Iles Des Palmes Eco Resort.
Our establishment is built on sweat and sacrifice. We did not take a cent or one rupee from anyone.

My family is deeply sadden by this attack. It is not the first, but perhaps another in a string of attacks on our business in the past.

Christopher Gill