Inaugural India Day set for Seychelles this October

The Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and Culture has confirmed that the Events List of Seychelles will from October this year have an India Day.

The Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and Culture has confirmed that the Events List of Seychelles will from October this year have an India Day. Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, and H.E. Thanglura Darlong, the Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles, held a joint press conference to officially announce the event set for October 4 to 6 this year. The event is being held in close collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Indian High Commission.

โ€œTogether with the Indian High Commissioner, we are happy to announce the Seychellesโ€™ first India day celebrations. Seychelles celebrates through Commonwealth Day its ties with Britain. Its French heritage is celebrated through La Francophonie Day, and its ancestral bond with Africa is celebrated through FetAfrik annually on Africa Day. Who we are today is also annually celebrated through our Kreol Festival, but our historical ties with India and China remained the two missing elements on our calendar of events,โ€ Said Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture.

Minister St.Ange said that the first India Day celebrations in Seychelles, which will take place in the heart of Victoria, will do justice to the multi-ethnic diversity of Seychelle, as it bridges Seychelles cultural bond with India.

โ€œThe flair of India will showcase Victoria, the Creole Capital of the World, to an event of food, personalities, and through the rich culture of India. For three days, the event will bring the best talents within the community to highlight a fusion of Bollywood movies and stars in captivating performances, enthralling people of all ages. An Indian exposition tracing the first Indian settlers in Seychelles until present day will also be on the program,โ€ highlighted Minister St.Ange.

H.E. Mr. Thanglura Darlong, the Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles, said that the embassy is in the process of finalizing the program of events together with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

โ€œThis event will offer a place for the people of Seychelles to embrace Indiaโ€™s diversity of culture and for people to connect together,โ€ Mr. Thanglura Darlong stressed.

The sponsoring of the event, according to the Indian High Commissioner and the Minister for Tourism and Culture, will be secured among the local business community who are already committing themselves to this particular event. Minister Alain St.Ange said that he has also brought the event up in discussions with the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry to seek support through their avenues of cooperation with India.

โ€œA strong involvement of local and Indian businesses in the sponsoring of the event is crucial for its success. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has agreed in principle to work with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Indian High Commission in making this festival a success. It is important that the business community comes out as a block in bringing a new taste in the list of events in Seychelles,โ€ outlined Minister St.Ange.

The Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture explained that confirmation from Sri Lankan President, H.E. Me Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that SriLankan Airlines is keen to start flights to Seychelles this year which will further enrich this event and should be a big boost to this coming India Day Celebration.

โ€œSriLankan Airlines will bring new life to the drive initiated by the Tourism Board to develop tourism from India. The first edition of India Day timely coincides with the confirmation that SriLankan Airlines will be flying to Seychelles soon,โ€ the Minister said.

Seychelles hopes that this event will help increase visibility of Seychelles in India and in so doing increase visitor arrival numbers to Seychelles.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .

PHOTO: Alain St.Ange, Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, and Indian High Commissioner officially announcing India Day with local media

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Linda Hohnholz

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