The Seychelles Tourism Board South African office brought the lush Seychelles atmosphere to Durban shoppers, through a week-long exhibition in the Getaway Mall starting from Tuesday September 24th to Monday September 30th.
Getaway is the most prominent shopping mall in Durban, and with the exhibition launch being on Heritage Day, a public holiday, there was an immense traffic to the stand.
The Seychelles stand, situated on the ground floor next to the main entrance, depicted a tropical beach scene with sun loungers where many visitors engaged with the setting, snapping photos to capture the moment.
With the STB team present, customers had the opportunity to enquire about the destination and packages on offer.
The STB office partnered with the Seychelles national carrier, Air Seychelles and One Stop tour operator for this exhibition.
In partnership with Air Seychelles, STB offered a 5-night holiday in the Seychelles to customers who participated in a small quiz, where the winner was picked after elimination.
The Seychelles Tourism Board Director for South Africa, Mrs. Lena Hoareau, when commenting on the success of the event, said “Our biggest group were the shoppers but also the revelers who had come for the entertainment. We also had people who were on holiday from other countries and this was an opportunity to update themselves on the destination and what it offers.”
Mrs. Hoareau expressed how Durban is an important catchment as they not only targeting direct travelers but also the onward traffic bound for Mumbai.
One Stop Tour operator, another of STB’s partners who helped promote the Island Destination during the exhibition, is one of Air Seychelles’ top seller for the Mumbai route. They provide hands-on information to travelers interested in including the Seychelles to their travel itinerary.
Mrs. Hoareau stressed the importance of further encouraging passengers connecting with the Air Seychelles flight to Mumbai to stop over in the Seychelles for a few days, as many only pass through for transit.
South Africa remains a very important market for the Seychelles. With the increased capacity of Air Seychelles’ A320neo, there is an expected growth in the number of visitors on the route between Johannesburg and Mahe.
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