“The meetings were good and of quality, the interest very evident, and the delegation as a whole met with all those who had requested meetings at this 2011 INDABA,” said Alain St.Ange, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board.

The Seychelles Delegation to the 2011 INDABA Tourism Trade Fair in Durban in South Africa left satisfied knowing that the interest for the mid-Indian Ocean islands of the Seychelles continues to grow.

South Africa remains a very important market for Seychelles. It is a market that has been growing as the islands become more visible in South Africa. The move by Seychelles to work with RETOSA and its continued desire to work with Africa has paid dividends for the Seychelles, seeing increase in visitor arrival numbers from Africa wide. Seychelles has signed a partnership agreement to work together with the Cape Region and with Kenya. Today twin-center packages are available with East Africa and the Seychelles, and with South Africa and the Seychelles. Marketing programs are now in place with Cape Town and Seychelles for joint actions in the Americas.

Discussions at INDABA has centered on marketing actions for the rest of 2011, cruise ship business, and the development of strategies to get more press to the creole islands of the Indian Ocean.

The private sector representatives from the Air Seychelles, Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel, Hilton Seychelles, Eden Island, Banyan Tree Seychelles, Mason’s Travel, Creole Travel Services, and Select Seychelles worked alongside the Seychelles Tourism Board to consolidate the island’s presence in South Africa.

PHOTO: Seychelles delegation at INDABA / Photo from Seychelles Tourism Board