In January 2015, the Seychelles Tourism Board announced its plans to re-enforce its presence on the Reunion Island market and keep Air Austral in Seychelles’ skies.

One of its short-term plans was the posting of a representative in the office of Reunion Island Tourism (IRT) to act as a public relations and marketing agent liaising with the press and tour agents as and when Seychelles has new products and services to market.

In addition, the Seychelles Tourism Board will be giving training to all of its tour operators and agents selling Seychelles as a market destination on Reunion Island, and will launch several activities targeting both the trade and consumers.

A high-level delegation headed by the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange, and comprised of the Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Sherin Naiken; Director of the Seychelles Tourism Office in Europe, Bernadette Willemin; and the Director of Marketing at the Seychelles Tourism Board, Rose-Marie Hoareau, left Seychelles on April 7 to launch Seychelles’ new strategy for Reunion Island. The new French Ambassador to Seychelles, H.E. Lionel Majeste-Larrouy, will also be accompanying Minister St.Ange and his delegation to Reunion Island.

The delegation flying to Reunion Island with an important bank of Seychelles tour operators and hotel establishments interested in Reunion Island as a source market ̶ Les Lauriers Eco hotel and restaurant, AVANI Seychelles Barbarons resort and spa, Creole Travel Services, 7 degrees south, Mason’s Travel, Le Duc de Praslin and Coral Strand Smart Choice hotel, L’Hirondelle Self Catering Guest House, Ocean Jewels Resort, Patatran Village, and ten hotels represented by Pure Seychelles Hotels, will be launching its roadshow dubbed “Escapade Seychelles” in the town of Saint Pierre and Saint Denis and hosting a series of workshops with Reunion Island top tour operators.

Five Reunion Island tour operators interested in Seychelles as a source market – Muta Voyage, Yes we can, Marine Voyages, Air Voyages, and Mille Tour – will receive destination and product training by Mrs. Willemin Europe and will meet Seychelles tour operators and the hotels’ representatives.

The mission on Reunion Island will also be the perfect platform for the Seychelles delegation to indulge the Reunion Island tour operators on a voyage of discovery of its rich cultural heritage through performance of a national troop and a Creole banquet prepared by a Seychellois Chef, Christablle Joubert, working with the Seychelles Tourism Academy. The banquet will be organized in joint partnership between the Seychelles Tourism Board and the team of Villa Delisle at Saint Pierre.

Reunion Island is the Seychelles Tourism Board’s focused market because of the visitors it attracts for small establishments in Seychelles. Minister Alain St.Ange is also expected to hold bilateral talks with the Reunion Island authorities.