Saint Ange Tourism Report – 21st October 2019

Victoria, Mahé (Seychelles) – October 22, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Often we forget that every story has two sides to it. The announcement made with the arrival of the first cruise ship for the 2019 season showed how we can have two sides for the same story. “Italian cruise ship to make port call in Seychelles on Oct. 20, first of 50 expected this season” was the headline that grabbed Seychelles forgetting that today we need to work to ensure that next season starting mid-October 20290 we shall still be having these numbers docking at Port Victoria. We know that the time is now to work with Indian Ocean Colleagues (Public & Private Sector) through the Vanilla Islands to see what is needed to halt the departure of Costa Cruise liners from the Indian Ocean Region. Seychelles is holding the Presidency of the Regional Body and is expected to make the call to rally everyone together to discuss cruise ships and the 2020 season.

Seychelles Festival Kreol is here

The International Creole Day is upon us once again and Seychelles is gearing up to celebrate its 34th Festival Kreol in the coming week. This will once again be a Celebration of Creole culture and tradition with music, song, dance, the Promotion of creole cuisine, fashion, arts and crafts supported by Street performances, plays and photography exhibitions with Creole artists from all over the world.

The diversity of the people of Seychelles culminates in this annual celebration that should unite the everyone under the banner of the Kreol People of Seychelles.

Major tourism back to back events helping to position holiday destinations

After the Akwaabwa Travel Festival in Nigeria and the ITFM Top Resa in Paris the world of tourism moved to Italy with the Seychelles Tourism Board and trade partners ready for the Italian Market. The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and trade partners were in Italy for the 56th edition of the TTG Travel Experience in Italy, Fiera di Rimini, which ran from October 9, 2019 until October 11, 2019.

The Seychelles delegation, headed by STB Chief Executive Mrs. Sherin Francis, also saw the presence of STB Director for Italy, Turkey, Greece and the Mediterranean, Ms. Monette Rose with the support of a team from the Italy office and a representative from Headquarters.

The team was accompanied by trade partners from Seychelles including 7° South, AVANI Barbarons Seychelles Resort, Berjaya Resorts Seychelles, Creole Travel Services, Hilton Seychelles Resorts, Savoy Resort & Spa and Coral Strand Smart Choice. The Seychelles Trade were all present at the trade event to market their services as the Tourism Board team were selling the destination.

Speaking of the three-day event and interest of the STB to be present Ms. Monette Rose mentioned the opportunity for the destination representatives and its partners to network with key industry players and understand the recent developments and trends on the Italian market.

On her part, Mrs. Francis stressed that the participation at the TTG Travel Experience in Italy is the extension of the STB team’s presence in Europe.

“We wanted to extend our impact on the Italian market as much as we did in France last week, we were very much eager to keep our Italian counterparts updated with the destination and what makes us unique,” said the STB Chief Executive.

Dubai and Seychelles met in Nigeria

When Dubai and Seychelles met in Nigeria to discuss tourism and how more could be done for the benefit of the two countries. The meeting happened at the recently concluded 15th AKWAABA African Travel Market in Nigeria. Here, I was invited as the former Minister of Tourism for Seychelles to address the conference and to be listed in ‘Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities’ for the World of Tourism alongside Minister Najib Balala of Kenya, Minister Edmund Bartlett of Jamaica & others at Akwaaba in Lagos.

The Nigeria meeting opened the door to a lot of networking possibilities and i was honoured to meet the duo of Dubai Tourism Salim Ali Mohamed Dahman (Senior Manager, Campaigns Management) and Stella Fubara (Director, Africa) and discussed tourism and air travel through Dubai.

Congratulations to Christine St.Ange & Steve Mitchell

My eldest daughter Christine St.Ange was last week, the 12th October married to Steve Mitchell of Australia. In a very small ceremony of some twenty of their friends, I was so happy to have been present alongside Ginette and our second daughter Michelle, her husband Ameer and baby Adam, and Steve’s father and mother Graham and Sandra.

I managed to time a needed medical visit to coincide with my daughter’s wedding. It was an emotional day for me, but I was so proud of Christine on her big day.

Cap Lazare a nature reserve in Seychelles

Feed free roaming Seychelles giant tortoises and discover the magic of our exclusive property, the Cap Lazare Nature Reserve!” says a representative of Creole Travel Services.

A recent article that touched this unique property said:- “You can also opt for a market tour experience, where a chef will guide you around the market, picking out ingredients, and then teach you to cook some wonderful Seychellois dishes for you all to dig into in the idyllic surrounds of Cap Lazare, a 65-hectare nature reserve to the south of Mahe with a colony of giant tortoises that you can pet post-lunch”.

Cap Lazare remains one of great properties on the main island of Mahe that has retained its natural setting and cared for by its owners as a Nature Reserve.