Seychelles takes tourism offerings to Italy

Seychelles’ tourism business comes mainly though the travel trade distribution. Consequently, destination and product trainings is of vital importance.

Seychelles’ tourism business comes mainly though the travel trade distribution. Consequently, destination and product trainings is of vital importance. Seychelles Tourism and its partners have thus given rendezvous to travel agents for a four-city roadshow just after the TTG trade fair where it is currently showcasing the destination.

For the past several years, the Seychelles Tourism Board has always participated in the key trade and consumer tourism exhibition, the TTG Incontri Fair, together with its loyal partners.

This year was not an exception. Partners from Destination Management Companies (DMCs), hotels, and the national airline joined together under one common objective at the branded stand depicting the “Seychelles Islands another world” to showcase their products and services and reaffirm their commitment to the Italian travel trade.


The 53rd Edition of TTG Incontri Fair opened its door on October 13, 2016 in the beautiful town of Rimini in the northern part of Italy. In 2015, the fair recorded a total of 63,000 visitors.

The 17-member delegation is comprised of:

Bernadette Willemin – Director Europe for the Seychelles Tourism Board
Monette Rose – Regional Manager for the Seychelles Tourism Board in Italy
Amia Jovanovic-Desir Senior Marketing Executive at the Tourism Board
Yasmine Pochetti – Marketing Executive at the Tourism Board
Terence Quartre – Print and Production Coordinator at the Tourism Board
Juliette Hoareau – Marketing Coordinator at 7 South
Christine Ozouf Commercial Manager at Air Seychelles
Wendy Tan Director – Business Development at Berjaya
Blaisila Hoffman Head of Marketing at Creole Travel Services
Normandy Salabao – Sales and Marketing Manager at Creole Travel Service
Eddy D’Offay – Deputy Managing Director at Hotel L’Archipel
Roberto Viviani – Business Manager Europe at North Island
Danny Davids – Sales and Marketing Manager at Paradise Sun (TSOGO Sun)
Ferruccio Tirone – Sales Representative at Paradise Sun (TSOGO Sun)
Katerina Ferguson – Director of Sales and Marketing at Savoy Seychelles Resort & SPA
Eric Zanconat – Sales Representative at Seychelles European Reservation
Isabelle Lestrat – Director of Sales & Marketing at The H Resort Beau Vallon Beach Seychelles

It is essential to mention that to date Italy occupies the 4th place in the ranking of visitor arrivals to Seychelles, thus demonstrating the importance of the market share for the islands.



The good news that both Turkish Airlines and Qatar will soon fly to Seychelles has further boosted the confidence for tour operators to push for more sales to the islands.

One trade representative echoed when one airline company pulled out from the market some years ago, business from some tour operators who were prominent on the destination dropped drastically. We are very happy now with the new airline dynamics which will definitely broaden the selection for our clients to choose from, he added. In order to complete the jigsaw puzzle, a direct is highly awaited from the Italians.

It is encouraging to see the enthusiasm from both the Italian and local trade with regards to future business, commented Bernadette Willemin, the Seychelles Tourism Board Director Europe, who was heading the delegation. She added, the market has picked up in terms of arrival figures since the beginning of the year. Continuous efforts from all stakeholders, be it at home or on the market in terms of promotional actions, will only help to keep the momentum going and bring more Italians to the country’s shores. The Seychelles Tourism Board is committed to playing its strategic role in ensuring that Italy remains one of the major source markets for the Seychelles, she concluded.

Altogether, Seychelles Tourism is targeting over 250 trade agents in Milan, Naples, Florence, and Rome. The objectives are to boost their knowledge on the destination; provide them with the essential selling tools; and more importantly, keep them abreast of what Seychelles has to offer in the tourism field.

Ms. Monette Rose, the Regional Manager of the Seychelles Tourism Board Italy, said that she is overwhelmed that this roadshow will now take place, being the first time for this kind of event organized in this market. “I would like to thank all the partners who have responded to our call invitation, and I am convinced that they will all generate potential business,” she said.

“We look forward to a successful business year with increased trade participation in our promotional activities,” she added.

For more information on Seychelles Minister of Tourism and Culture Alain St.Ange, visit alainstange.com

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


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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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