Seychelles President launches Seychelles brand tourism vision

SEYCHELLES – Seychelles President James Michel has called upon the tourism industry to engage with the government to map out a new national tourism development plan and promote his vision of the Seych

SEYCHELLES – Seychelles President James Michel has called upon the tourism industry to engage with the government to map out a new national tourism development plan and promote his vision of the Seychelles brand in the tourism sector. This took place at a tourism industry gathering, which was held at the Tourism & Cultural Village, the Domaine de Val des Pres this morning.

The President called for greater Seychellois participation in the tourism industry, in the ownership of hotels, and in employment, as well as the supply of local products in the hospitality industry.

The President said the Seychelles brand would be a whole new approach to the tourism development of the country.

โ€œWe can no longer go out there in the global village with only our sun, sea, and sand tags. The Seychelles brand goes beyond the physical beauty of our islands. It is the long-awaited and much-talked-about bridge that brings Seychellois social cohesion, arts, history, and culture closer to other civilizations,โ€ said President Michel, who has the portfolio responsibility for tourism.

President Michel said that the essence of the Seychelles brand is the Seychellois identity, charm, and hospitality, as well as the serenity and stability that the country enjoys.

โ€œVisitors to Seychelles can identify the distinct nature of Seychellois hospitality, our way of life, and the unique beauty of our nature, and the warmth of our people. Above all, it is a new dynamism. It encapsulates the spirit of Seychellois entrepreneurship in the industry. It will reaffirm and open avenues for Seychellois ownership in tourism-related enterprises. I strongly believe in the ownership of this vital industry by Seychellois. We have to continue to reinforce the structures and enhance the conditions to allow our people to become key stakeholders in the tourism industry.โ€

The President announced that the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) will collaborate with the Planning Authority and the Licensing Authority to manage the countryโ€™s unique selling points in future tourism planning and licensing of establishments.

He said that a new quality assurance label will be issued annually to tourism establishments and services that guarantee “Seychelles Tourism Assurance” by the Seychelles Tourism Board.

The President announced that the historical site, the Tourism & Cultural Village known as Domaine de Val des Prรฉs, will come under Tourism Board’s management, in order to maximize its potential as a functional cultural village, where students from the Tourism Academy will also receive training and valuable first-hand experience. The Anse Royale Beach Park will also be transferred to the STB for further development.

โ€œWe will streamline our policies in the management, conservation, and promotion of our national heritage. Government has decided to set up a body that will provide for better networking amongst all agencies that have a stake in managing our historical, cultural, and environmental sites. This body will ensure that there is harmony in common policies and standards, ensure better coordination, and set best practices,โ€ said the President.

The President noted that Seychelles has seen an increase of 12 percent in visitor arrivals, compared to last year, and an increase of some 6 percent over the arrivals for 2008, which was a record year. Seychelles has had the best May, June, and July, in terms of visitor arrivals ever recorded.

The Seychelles will continue to market itself abroad under the slogan: The Seychelles Islands, Another World.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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