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Seychelles remains safe amid COVID-19 test complaints

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The Seychelles Tourism Board has said that the destination is safe to visit, strongly refuting claims that Seychelles health authority are issuing “false” COVID-19 test results.

The initial reports alleging Seychelles was giving out “inaccurate” test results appeared in the Israeli press and social media after some of their nationals tested positive upon their exit from the holiday destination. 

Seychelles has categorically refuted the allegations, stressing it is not in the interest of the destination to frustrate its guests upon departure, especially as it needs tourism to rebuild its economy.

The Seychelles Tourism Board’s Chief Executive, Sherin Francis, has said that it would serve no purpose for Seychelles to interfere with the COVID tests as this would directly increase their statistics and reflect negatively on the destination.

“After months of struggling to restart our tourism industry, Seychelles is committed to ensuring that all our guests spend a memorable time on our islands and leave happy at the end of their stay. It would be counterproductive to do otherwise,” she said.

Mrs. Francis said that, however, Seychelles cannot allow a guest to exit the country if tested positive, this in compliance to Seychelles and international health and sanitary measures.

“Every guest testing positive during their stay has to quarantine for ten days before being allowed to return home. This is the norm being observed everywhere. We are asking all our guests who find themselves in such a predicament to follow the quarantine guidelines,” she explained.

STB’s CEO stressed that Seychelles is still safe to visit and that such reports should not deter potential clients from visiting the island destination.

The Minister for Foreign and Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, has also confirmed that Seychelles is dedicated to following all safety measures and protocols in place to safeguard both its visitors and the local population.

The destination is investing a lot of effort, and funds, in making sure that the experience of the guests remains undisturbed, he said. Nonetheless, this can only be achieved if the visitors also practice the safety and health measures in place.

“No country in the world can claim to be COVID-free. The government and all industry partners are dedicated to ensuring that Seychelles remains safe for all guests and that they keep the best memories of their Seychelles’ holiday. It is not in the interest of Seychelles, our partners or our guests to do otherwise, knowing how our economy is heavily reliant on tourism,” Minister Radegonde said.

Tourists visiting Seychelles and requiring a negative PCR Test upon exiting the country currently have the option of using the Ministry of Health’s or private testing facilities.

Earlier this week, a new private laboratory opened its door, with the biggest testing capacity in the Indian Ocean and which can guarantee the results under 24 hours. Two other private clinics had also been offering COVID-related tests with results within 24 hours. Visitors are being encouraged to make use of these private services.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel   

Travel to Seychelles uninterrupted despite strict health measures

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Travelers’ journeys to the Seychelles continue uninterrupted as more visitors from the world over seek refuge in the spectacular island getaway.

The islands remain safe for travel despite a rise in community COVID-19 cases which has prompted tighter health measures this week.

The measures do not in any way affect a visitor’s journey and stay in the destination, which continues to offer everything from fun-filled vacations to idyllic getaways. Tourists have been getting their cameras and flip flops ready, and snorkeling gear out for some real toes-in-the-sand bliss.

The local authorities are nevertheless urging all visitors to follow health and sanitary guidelines in place, to ensure their safety throughout their stay.

Seychelles currently leads the world chart with the highest vaccinations administered, with over 62 percent of all adults having received the two doses of the Sinopharm and Covishield shots.

However, the country re-introduced certain measures such as delaying the commencement of the new school term, early closure of shops, bars and casinos, limiting gatherings on beaches to groups of four after a surge in cases in the community, which has been attributed to people letting down their guard over the Easter weekend.

With only 10% of the current active cases being visitors, the infection rate amongst guests testing positive upon exiting the country remains relatively low.

Seychelles, nonetheless, remains the preferred destination for many and the health measures in place are a strong deciding factor when booking a holiday to the island nation.

The Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Mrs. Sherin Francis, has said that since the country re-opened its borders to all countries in late March, all tourism service providers and businesses have adopted strict Standard Operating Procedures, (SOPs), to ensure the safety of all guests. 587 of the 720 tourist accommodation establishments are COVID-safe certified.

“We are constantly improving and stepping up the safety measures and protocols in place to protect our guests and local population alike. Our tourists do check out those important details when considering their holiday, and they are choosing Seychelles because they are satisfied that we are doing our utmost to operate in a safe manner,” she said.

Seychelles started its mass vaccination campaign in January, in anticipation of the re-opening of the borders in March.

To date, the destination has recorded over 20,000 visitors and seven airlines are currently providing reliable connections to different parts of the world.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel   

Options for travelers as new 24/7 COVID-19 testing laboratory opens in Seychelles

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Seychelles Medical Services Pty, a new healthcare company registered in Seychelles opens the first state-of-the-art dedicated COVID-19 testing laboratory in Seychelles.

The private facility is the second in Seychelles to provide exit COVID-19 PCR testing services aside from Euro Medical Family Clinic which started their service a few months back, although this one facility has a much bigger capacity.

The facility aims at providing convenient and seamless testing services primarily for tourists before flying abroad. The services will also be extended to the local market for anyone in need of an internationally accredited travel certificate for travel.

The first center to open under the trade name is located on Eden Island at “The Blue Building” (next to Bravo Restaurant). By the end of May 2021, Seychelles Medical Services Pty anticipates opening five sampling branches on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. All centers will operate on a 24/7 basis.

The new laboratory can process over 30,000 tests per day and the tests can track all known genes and variants of COVID-19.

The facilities provide the full range of tests for travellers including a Rapid Molecular COVID-19 Test, the Gold standard Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test, Rapid Antigen Test and Antibody Test.

Travel Certificates or test results will be issued by email within 24 hours of taking the test on a standard service, whereas an express service is available for results within 8-10 hours. A Fast-Track Service can return the result in 2-3 hours if needed.

For clients who want the ultimate convenience and privacy, the Seychelles Medical Services also has eight dedicated Specialist Teams who can visit them in the privacy of their hotel rooms, or even on their boat, to administer the test.

Seychelles Medical Services, owned by Mr Justin Etzin, now has the largest COVID-19 testing laboratory in the Indian Ocean.

Mr Etzin has said he was delighted to launch the new laboratory and facilities to provide a dedicated testing option to the exiting passengers and locals alike.

“We are pleased to be doing our part and to be another option on the market for such important tests. We will offer travellers the only 24/7 service in Seychelles with reliable and fast COVID-19 tests for their travel needs,” he said.

“This is especially important at a time when passenger traffic into the country is increasing. Our service is delivered at modern and dedicated locations open around the clock or if it is more convenient we will come to you.”

The Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Sherin Francis has welcomed the addition of a new testing facility for tourists on Mahe, and soon on other islands.

“We, in the tourism trade, understand and appreciate the importance of having adequate and convenient testing facilities which will give our visitors the peace of mind,” she said.

“We thank the Seychelles Medical Services Pty and all other local clinics who are offering such a necessary and indispensable service, especially as tourist numbers are growing and we should prepare ourselves for when more countries are open for travel.”

Mrs Francis noted that as the vaccination drives gather pace all over the world and more countries are likely to come out of lockdowns, European summer travel is looking increasingly possible.

“We will be dealing with a much bigger load of requests for tests and we believe that offering travellers with a wider choice of where they can take the tests, is important to helping our tourism to bounce back,” she said.

Other private clinics offering the COVID-19 related services in Seychelles are Euro Medical Family Clinic, Future Care Clinic and Victoria Health care services.

For more information about the COVID-19 testing services on offer in Seychelles, visitors may visit the STB advisory page https://advisory.seychelles.travel

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel 

Seychelles now connected to Bucharest

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One hundred and sixty-two passengers, the majority from Romania, landed in Seychelles on a special Air Seychelles charter this Friday, April 30, 2021, at the Seychelles International Airport of Pointe Larue.

The charter, first of a series, is expected for the next 4 weeks and will connect some 500 passengers to the small island destination, which has reopened its doors for tourism since March 2021. 

The passengers disembarked from the A320Neo aircraft, Pti Merl Dezil into sunny Seychelles and were entertained by a group of local dancers dressed in traditional attires performing cultural dances and songs. 

Making their arrival in paradise memorable, visitors received a small token from the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) while waiting for their documents to be processed by the health and immigration officers.

Present at the airport for the arrival of the visitors were the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis, Mrs. Anna Butler Payette, the Managing Director of 7 Degrees South and the Air Seychelles CEO, Remco Althuis.

Mrs. Sherin Francis mentioned her satisfaction to have seen this project materialized, she stated; “The STB’s efforts and resources invested in the Eastern European market are being rewarded as we see the number of visitors from not only Romania but the region increasing. The implication of our national airline has been pivotal in making those charters a reality.

She further thanked the Romanian partner Eturia Tour Operator and the local collaborator 7 Degrees south for their involvement in the project.

On her part, Mrs. Anna Butler Payette, the Managing Director of 7 Degrees South said; “Eastern Europe represents an important market were we have diversified which helps whilst our traditional markets recover. 7°South is honored to be part of this project and able to help in increasing the destination’s visibility and arrival numbers. It has been a difficult year for our businesses locally and it is promising to see that Seychelles has not lost its appeal on the international market.”

Seychelles has recorded 15,465 visitors disembarking on its shores between March 25 and April 25, 2021.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel 

Charter flights to connect Seychelles and Romania

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The Seychelles Islands is expecting a flock of visitors from the Eastern European market of Romania as Air Seychelles starts a new charter series tomorrow Friday, April 30, 2021. 

The Indian Ocean archipelago’s national airline will be operating charter flights between Romania’s capital city, Bucharest, and Mahé island, becoming the first-ever direct flight linking the two countries. 

For its first voyage, the 9-hour flight, operated by the Air Seychelles 168-seat capacity A320Neo aircraft has been sold out and expected to land at the Seychelles International Airport at 0930 hours.

Leaving Bucharest at 2300 hours on Thursday, the flight will make an in-between technical stop in Cairo, Egypt for refueling before resuming its path to Seychelles.

These weekly charters will continue until Monday, May 17, coming back for the summer season in August and subsequently for winter in December.

The initial flights spanning over April to May are expected to bring in 500 passengers, which the Seychelles Tourism Board has described as very promising for the destination.

STB’s Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis, expressed the tourism industry’s excitement, stating, “The news of the charters from Romania augurs very well with our tourism recovery efforts as more and more markets see us as being a safe destination, appreciating our core focus on safety with minimum inconvenience to our visitors.”

Remco Althuis, Chief Executive Officer at Air Seychelles commented: “At a time where travel is still restricted from certain destinations, we are happy to work with key partners to explore opportunities beyond our network, to boost inbound tourism into the Seychelles.

“As we look forward to operating the first charter flight from Romania, we will continue to work closely with the STB to increase visibility of the national airline and destination Seychelles to further develop Eastern European markets like Romania, which has enormous potential for the Seychelles tourism industry.”

He further stated that as Seychelles becomes an increasingly attractive destination, it was important that the airline seized business opportunities whenever available to recover and sustain their operations.

With Seychelles featuring amongst a host of popular locations welcoming tourists warmly, the collective initiative is expected to increase the destination’s visibility and appeal to the Eastern European market.

Several local partners collaborated actively with the Eturia Tour Operator in Romania to realise these charters, notably the Seychelles Tourism Board, 7 South and Air Seychelles. It is to be noted that Eturia has been selling Seychelles for the past 12 years.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel 

Seychelles to allow entry to vaccinated visitors from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh

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In the wake of the ongoing rise of COVID-19 outbreak on the Asian Subcontinent, Seychelles has issued new travel measures for Indian visitors in a press conference held recently in the island nation.

Effective immediately, the Public Health Commissioner has announced that only vaccinated visitors from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have completed two weeks after their second dose are permitted to travel to and enter Seychelles with proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

This should be submitted at the time of application for Health Travel Authorization on https://seychelles.govtas.com/ and are subject to verification and approval of the Public Health Authority.

All travelers will be required to present a negative PCR test taken maximum 72 hours prior to departure. There will be no quarantine requirement, minimum stay nor restriction on movement for them upon entry into Seychelles.

It is not mandatory for children under 18 years to be vaccinated and can enter the country after presenting a negative PCR test taken maximum 72 hours prior to departure.

However, all visitors will still be required to adhere to other public health measures put in place in view of the pandemic which will include wearing of face masks, social distancing, regular sanitization and washing of hands.

Seychelles had opened its borders for tourists around the world from March 25, 2021 in light of the success registered in the aggressive vaccination campaign that the country embarked on earlier in the year.

The small island nation off the east coast of Africa whose economy is based primarily on tourism was the first country in the Indian Ocean region to launch a bold, comprehensive and effective Covid-19 immunization campaign, in January 2021. 

More details are available through the updated travel advisory on www.tourism.gov.sc.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel 

Seychelles features on Palazzo Versace Dubai’s E-Gift Platform

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In partnership with Palazzo Versace Dubai, the Seychelles Tourism Board places the destination under the luxury spotlight through the lavish hotel’s E-Gift Platform.

Palazzo Versace Dubai’s E-gift platform offers exclusively curated experiences from luxury stays and serene spa treatments to intimate dining, unique gifts that create lifelong memories.

With increased demand for digital gifts rising as the world adjusts to the ‘new normal’, STB stays in line with its mandate of ensuring visibility for the islands, giving potential visitors access to the unique island experiences the tropical paradise has to offer.

Amongst these luxe offers, gift-givers can purchase experiences worth a minimum of AED 4,000 to stand the chance to win a one-of-a-kind, three-night stay at a luxury resort in Seychelles.

Tucked away from the rest of the world, the Seychelles Islands presents winners with the opportunity to escape an exotic land of crystal-clear waters and lush mountains filled with adventures for every traveller. Inclusive of business class tickets and island activities, the package encompasses the sensational barefoot luxury of the archipelago.

Along with a chance to win ultimate getaways, this partnership has set out to elevate the experience of gift-givers with deal-breaking summer offers, available only for a limited time, and enticing eager voyagers with the opportunity to truly invest in future travel plans.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel 

Tsanko Tsankov, Bulgarian swimming celebrity, eyeing Seychelles for his next swimming challenge

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Renowned for its beautiful pristine waters, Seychelles will once again attract international interest on the open water scenes as Bulgarian swimming celebrity Tsanko Tsankov express his interest to concur the title of the first international athlete to swim between the main island of Mahé and the inner island of La Digue. 

Seychelles, the first country to host the Fédération Internationale de Natation’s (FINA) Open Water World Series in the African region, is being looked at to host this spectacular open water event set to take place in October 2021.

Tsanko Tsankov is a multiple national champions and record holder, two-time FINA World Master Vice-champion on 200 m individual medley and 400 m freestyle and Master of Sports.

The event will aim at bringing together sports and culture while increasing the visibility of the destination.

To drive the initiative, a committee composed of the Chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce (SCCI), Mr Oliver Bastienne, Founder and CEO of Tour bookers Seychelles Ms. Mariana Atherton and Mr Mervin Cedras respectively has been set up. Other partners closely involved are the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), the Ministry for Youth, Sports and Family, the Seychelles Swimming Association, the Bulgarian Municipality of Burgas and the international swimming federation, FINA. As the preparation progresses the committee is looking to bring on-board other partners and ensure equally that the health and sanitary measures of the country are followed.

The Bulgarian swimmer is contemplating to make history by undertaking the longest individual open water swimming challenge not only for the Seychelles islands but also in the Indian Ocean swimming 12 hours non-stop and covering approximately 51 km in the ocean.

Aside from the promotion of open water swimming as a sports activity, Tsanko Tsankov intends to dedicate this new world record to raise awareness for the sustainable protection of the corals and the sea life in the Seychelles islands.

Speaking of the project, Ms. Mariana Atherton from the organizing committee stated that the discussions for the organization of this international event started last year in October.

“We are committed to see this project coming to life. There has been a lot of work done so far and there is still a lot to organize and prepare for this project to materialize.  Being partners of the tourism industry in Seychelles, we want to help in doing something to bring the unique local culture closer to all visitors and to attract more tourists,” said Ms. Atherton.

On her part, the STB Chief Executive stated that the event would give us the opportunity to create awareness about the ocean and raise Seychelles profile as a sport destination. 

“We are truly honored that Tsanko Tsankov has expressed interest to do this challenge in Seychelles. His profile together with his sphere of influence will definitely boost the visibility of the destination. We truly hope to see this event to fruition as his dedication to this sport and his passion for the environment aligns perfectly with our sustainable tourism practices. Our beautiful islands are very diverse, and sports tourism remains a very important segment, we are continuously looking to develop further together with our local partners,” said Mrs. Francis.  

Tsanko Tsankov managed to set a new World and European record in 12-hour non-stop swimming in a 50-meter pool of 50,600 meters in the summer of 2020. He is the first person in history who swim across the waters of the largest Bulgarian gulf, namely – Burgas whose length is 46,800 meters in the open sea.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel 

Turkish colors in Seychelles once again

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Turkish Airlines has returned to the sandy shores of Seychelles, landing in paradise on the morning of Friday, April 23, 2021.

Restarting its COVID-safe international passenger services, Turkish Airlines A330-300 aircraft from Istanbul carrying 171 passengers was greeted by a traditional water salute upon arrival at the Indian Ocean destination.

Contributing to the revival of the local tourism industry, the airline connects Seychelles with the Central and Eastern Europe regions, which has become paramount to the destination as many of its traditional markets remain under lockdown. 

Present at the airport for the arrival of the Turkish Airlines flight, the Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Mrs. Sherin Francis, expressed her excitement to see the carrier’s colors back in Seychelles.

“With our focus now on the eastern and central Europe block, Turkish airline’s return will help us grow this region further as it will connect us with more points in that region. Every airline that resumes their operations to our shores is an important milestone for us as each of them comes with their own strength,” said Mrs. Francis.

The airline will bring travelers to the islands twice weekly, Tuesdays and Fridays, with an expected schedule change from July 12, 2021, flying on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Seychelles started its road to recovery on March 25 with the reopening of the border to the world at the exception of travelers for South Africa and Brazil for the time being.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel 

Aeroflot adds third frequency on Seychelles route

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Aeroflot has this week announced a new non-stop frequency from its Moscow hub – Sheremetyevo International Airport – to the Seychelles islands, beginning May 1, 2021.

The news came two weeks after Aeroflot made its first return to the islands after 17 years of absence.

The airline will now offer three direct flights linking Moscow and Mahé Island. The flights will be operating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Announcing the new flight schedule, the Chief Marketing Officer for Aeroflot, Anton Myagkov, expressed the excitement with this new frequency in response to the demand for Seychelles on the market.

“We’re excited to add another flight to this holiday destination. We offer a great flying experience whilst Seychelles is a strong option for all segments, whether a family, couple or group of friends,” he said.

Mr. Myagkov also said the new flight can already be booked, and besides the growing interest of first-time visitors to the islands, he also expects to see a good number of repeat visitors later this year.He reassured travellers that “health and safety are our number one priority and we have enhanced all measures that touch every step of a customer’s travel with the airline”.

Speaking from the Seychelles Tourism Board’s headquarters on Mahé, Chief Executive Sherin Francis said this was great news for the destination.

“Since the launch of services from Moscow, we have seen steady upkeep of passenger traffic on the route. This reflects the increased demand on the market and based on the frequency of the flights, the minimum nights in Seychelles for a Russian visitor travelling with Aeroflot will be 7 nights or more,” she said.

She added: “If this trend is maintained, Russia will be our number 1 market, producing the highest number of visitors per month.”

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel