Seychelles continues to recognize international press partners

The Seychelles Islands continued during the London 2010 World Travel Market (WTM) with its recognition process of International Press personalities by presenting certificates of the “Friends of Seychelles – Press” program to ten new members.

This latest innovation by Seychelles recognizes the press personality behind articles and photographs promoting the creole tropical islands. “Our new brand of tourism is centered on people,” Alain St.Ange, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, said at the ceremony held during WTM 2010 in London. “This is why we wanted to recognize the people behind the newspapers, magazines, and television news,” Alain St.Ange said. Those being accredited under that program know the Seychelles and understand the Seychelles, it is said.

Seychelles is the first country to have launched such a program, and at the presentation of certificates in London, the Seychelles Secretary of State in the President’s Office, Mr. Barry Faure said that the success of Seychelles is because the islands remain people centered as per their tourism brand launched by President James Michel earlier this year.

At the Seychelles Evening in London, the Seychelles Secretary of State, Barry Faure, and Alain St.Ange, the CEO of Seychelles Tourism, presented “Friends of Seychelles – Press” certificates to Juergen Steinmetz, publisher of eTurboNews; Peter Drenan of Archimedia; Alan Orbell of Selling Haul; Tim Ecott the freelance reported previously of BBC; Joanna Booth of Travel Weekly; Timothy Oglethorpe of Daily Express; Stephen Sparks of Soca News; the freelance reporter, Teresa Manchan; Tony Baskeyfield of Plustwodesigned; and Rainer Henning of Afrol News.

This presentation ceremony was a continuation of the launch of the program in Brussels a month ago, when the Seychelles Minister of Investments, Peter Sinon, had launched the first phase of the program at the Seychelles Economic Forum.