Seychelles Festival of the Sea weekend a happy success

The Seychelles has been complimented by everyone for staging with great success their 2011 SUBIOS, the islands’ Festival of the Sea. This year the Seychelles Tourism Board provided a floating stage on the Bay of the lovely Beau Vallon for the entertainment of the festival. The Seychellois and tourists alike descended on Beau Vallon on the island of Mahe for the event organized jointly with REGATTA, the annual fun day of the island’s Round Table.

SUBIOS, the Seychelles Festival of the Sea, obtained for the first time international recognition this year. Asia Geographic group of magazines became the partner publications, and Etihad Airways became the Official Airline. “This has enabled us to make the event more visible, and it has enabled us to make the event work for the Seychelles’ tourism industry,” said Alain St.Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board.

Elsia Grandcourt, Deputy CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, who this year closed the event, said in her closing address that this is an event that lies at the very heart of the ecology of Seychelles and at the core of the islands’ marine heritage. “The Seychelles Festival of the Sea continues to be an occasion for us to celebrate our extraordinary heritage of a people living in the midst of the Indian Ocean who relies on that ocean for our sustenance, our livelihood, and our prosperity. Finding ourselves together amid all the revelry, the competitions and the races with which SUBIOS has become synonymous, reminds us of the bond that binds us not only to each other but also to the waters that surround us.

“These, once again, have been moments of fun, activity, and camaraderie but also of reflection upon the fact that we are tied to the ocean as an ocean people, and we must do all in our power to strengthen that tie to ensure not only our own prosperity, but that of the marine ecosystems that surround us,” said Elsia Grandcourt.

The Deputy CEO of the Tourism Board also took the opportunity to thank the Round Table of Seychelles and the efforts that they have made to ensure the success of the event. “Also I want to thank the team members of the Seychelles Tourism Board who have also worked tirelessly to make the Festival of the Sea 2011 such a success. And to you, the Seychellois public, thank you for having turned out to support SUBIOS, Seychelles Festival of the Sea. I hope that you will continue to show your enthusiasm in the ways you have done so that both SUBIOS and the Seychelles Regatta may be a source of pride for all Seychellois for many a year to come,” Elsia Grandcourt said.

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube all have seen complimentary postings on this spectacular event from the tropics. Congratulatory messages have also arrived at the Seychelles Tourism Board from everywhere, and Alain St.Ange said that the real success of SUBIOS, the Festival of the Sea, is the unity that was so apparent with everyone wanting to assist. “Round Table did us proud as a partner; VIJAY Constructions enabled us to have our spectacular floating stage; Marie France MacGregor, the Events Consultant who worked with us to plan the event from start to finish, never ceased to help and offer advice; SBC for being on hand and broadcasting live from Beau Vallon; and all the many sponsors and supporters – together we created a great event for Seychelles and the people of Seychelles and thank you,” Alain St.Ange said.

Marymonde Matatiken, the Tourism Board’s Manager for Events and Conferencing Department, who remains the person responsible for the organizing of all events under the lable “Celebrate Seychelles” said that her events strategy was to continue to provide an economic drive for Seychelles.