Seychelles and South Africa set to cooperate in sports tourism

seychelles fitness etn
seychelles fitness etn
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Written by Linda Hohnholz

Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, has signed an MOU with Mr.

Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, has signed an MOU with Mr. Kirschlee Naidoo from Insane Fitness & Nutrition, Pretoria, South Africa, on the sidelines of the recent INDABA Tourism Trade Fair which was held in Durban from May 10-12, 2014.

The aim of the MOU is to develop, promote, and strengthen joint relationships between the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Seychelles and Insane Fitness & Nutrition in sports tourism as a niche market in South Africa.

Through the different marketing and promotion projects that Insane Fitness & Nutrition is currently involved with in South Africa, Seychelles would automatically be promoted. For instance, cooperation with regards to the 2015 Carnaval International de Victoria of the Seychelles is already in the planning phase, whereby a group of elite athletes and fitness models are being prepared and selected to be part of the South African sports delegation who will travel to Seychelles to be part of the carnival. Mr. Naidoo says: โ€œIt is a privilege for me to be partnering with the Seychelles Tourism Board in being one of the main promoters for the 2015 edition of the Carnaval International de Victoria of Seychelles in South Africa, and at the same promoting Seychelles as a sports tourism destination which I believe will attract more South Africans to the Seychelles archipelago.โ€

Another area of interest, which the Seychelles Tourism Board in South Africa is initiating, is to develop golf tourism as a niche market. The idea is to attract golfers to the designer golf course at the Constance Lemuria Resort on the island of Praslin in the Seychelles and make an annual golf tournament in Seychelles in partnership with other stakeholders in the industry. To bring more value to the golf tournament, Mr. Naidoo is introducing โ€œCross Fit Trainingโ€ to the tournament. Mr. Naidoo said: โ€œA Cross Fit program applies to all individuals, no matter what your age or fitness level. Our training approach emphasizes fundamental, functional movements with proper technique, basics first. By utilizing ever-changing workouts, a combination of bodyweight, weightlifting, and high-intensity drills, you will experience fitness first hand.โ€

Insane has already establish a good working relationship with the Seychelles Tourism Board Office in South Africa, and through the MOU this would be further consolidated. Marsha Parcou, the Seychelles Tourism Board Regional Manager for South Africa, said: โ€œTourism is one of fastest-growing and competitive industries in the world, therefore, in order to maintain our market share, it is important to synergize our marketing efforts with other stakeholders in order to achieve our marketing objectives.โ€ She further added: โ€œWhen we look at forming a partnership with potential partners, it is not just about affiliation, it is about the passion, commitment, and positive contribution that they can bring to our existing strategies, and I believe that the Insane Fitness & Nutrition culture is a natural fit with ours.โ€

Minister St.Ange believes that these marketing campaigns will promote Seychelles as more than just a sun, sea, and sand tourism destination, but instead as one where the country’s culture and their people are clearly positioned at the center of their development. “We thank Mr. Naidoo and the team at Insane Fitness & Nutrition for committing to work with Seychelles, the destination of choice today for South African holidaymakers. The presence of Mr. Naidoo and his delegation at this year’s carnival helped to showcase the friendly ties Seychelles and South Africa today enjoy,” said Minister St.Ange.

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

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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