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Successful Seychelles roadshow on South African soil to woo travelers to the destination

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The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and its local partners took to the cities of Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town for its annual roadshow to close the month of June.

The roadshow organised by the STB office in South Africa, aims at enticing the South African and promote the different attractive holiday options to Seychelles.


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 During the roadshow, the STB team alongside the travel experts from 15 exhibiting companies met on a one-to-one basis with the participants during which they made presentations about their products and services.

This year, over 300 existing and new travel agents/tour operators attended the three dedicated Seychelles workshops from June 25 to 27.

The focus marketing strategy for the roadshow was the promotion of Seychelles as a ‘must visit’ destination and knowing what is on offer.

Speaking after the workshop, the STB Director for South Africa, Lena Hoareau stated that the roadshow was a definite success for STB and the various partners.

“Seychelles remains a destination of great interest on the South African market and it is the dream of everyone to travel to those islands. The roadshow and other workshops that we organise throughout the year focus on equipping the tour operators and travel agents with information so that they can better sell the destination,” she said.

She stressed that by attending the roadshow, the participants are able to gain new knowledge on the destination as a product and its unique selling points.

Participants also had an opportunity to hear from the various exhibiting partners the different holiday packages on offer, flights details including the various airlines and connections to Seychelles, as well as accommodation options and finally the various activities both on land and at sea.

“Through the good range of exhibitors at our roadshow this year, we covered every aspect of booking a Seychelles holiday,” she added.

The STB Director for South Africa mentioned her appreciation towards the agents for turning up in high numbers and for supporting destination Seychelles.

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The Seychelles Tourism Board’s team at the roadshow was led by the STB Regional Director for Africa and America, Mr. David Germain, who stated his confidence in the trade.

Mr. Germain mentioned the importance of the tourism board’s effort to provide the right platforms for the travel agents’ in order to keep them motivated and encouraged to continue selling the destination.

Besides Mr. Germain and Mrs. Hoareau, Marketing Executive Ms. Christina Cecile from the STB Headquarters also represented STB.

The other exhibitors were Air Seychelles, Creole Travel Services, 7 Degrees South, Berjaya Hotels, Constance Hotels and Resorts, Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Coral Strand and Savoy Seychelles Resort, Southern Sun Hotels, Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association, Holiday Factory, Seyunique, Thompsons Holidays, Cruises International and Sunsail & The Moorings.

Participants had an opportunity to win several prizes including trips to the tropical islands, at the end of the workshop in each city.

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

South African Tourism appoints Trade Relations Officer

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Sherwin Arends joins South African Tourism (SAT) as Trade Relations Officer, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role following 12 years’ experience working within the travel industry.

Originally from Cape Town, Sherwin moved to the UK six years ago after travelling the world as a member of cabin crew for Qatar Airways. His most recent role was Senior Product Executive for Audley Travel.

Sherwin will be tasked with building and maintaining relationships with key travel trade contacts in the UK and Ireland while utilising South African Tourism’s research and insights to ensure the agents are provided with all the tools and support to confidently sell South Africa.

Sherwin says: “I’m very passionate about my birth country and proud of my South African heritage so I am thrilled to be joining the South African Tourism team in the UK. I’m looking forward to showcasing South Africa as a leading tourist destination, with a focus on promoting the well-known areas and experiences and helping to uncover and educate the trade on the destination’s hidden gems.”

Tolene van der Merwe Hub Head for the UK & Ireland at South African Tourism says: “We are delighted that Sherwin will be joining our growing team. His wealth of industry knowledge combined with his personal experience of South Africa will be invaluable as we collectively promote the destination to holidaymakers through the UK and Irish trade.”

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Trade at WTM Africa confident of market rebound for Seychelles

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Tour operators visiting the Seychelles stand at the World Travel Market in Cape Town last week have expressed their confidence in the island destination, as forward bookings are looking very positive.

Seychelles was represented at the annual travel and tourism business fair, which took place from the April 10 to 12, 2019  at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, by a delegation from the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and Air Seychelles.

STB was represented by its Regional Director for Africa and Americas, David Germain; Director for South Africa, Lena Hoareau and Marketing Executive Melissa Samardzija from STB headquarters.

They were joined by a delegation from the national airline including Chief Commercial Officer Charles Johnson, International Sales Manager Michelle Lafortune and Account Manager for South Africa Thembi Nkosi.

The Director for South Africa, Lena Hoareau, stated that she was pleased to hear that the South African trade remains an enthusiastic partner in supporting the destination’s growth.

“We are happy to attest that the South African trade is very active in their contribution towards the Seychelles brand. We have had some new tour operators on board and it goes to show that Seychelles still has the appeal and still come across as a preferred destination to many South African travelers,” said Mrs. Hoareau.

Mrs. Hoareau added they were happy that Air Seychelles could join them at the fair, especially with the new developments, which will render the destination more accessible than never before.

The Director for South Africa further added that there is a constant effort to promote and create awareness around destination Seychelles over the years.

“The interest on the South African market keeps growing, it is important to keep the trade abreast of the great air accessibility to the islands. With the daily flights as from June and increased seat capacity from the bigger aircraft as from July, we have reasons to believe that our best months are yet to come,” she added.

Air Seychelles’ CCO, Mr. Johnson, on his part said South Africa is definitely one of the fastest growing travel markets for Air Seychelles.

He mentioned that following the significant increase in the number of guests travelling with the national airline to the Seychelles and beyond, including the continuous demand from the market for more connectivity, this participation at WTM Africa would further build Air Seychelles’ presence in South Africa and reaffirm its commitment to the market.

“As from 3 June, Air Seychelles will start to operate daily flights to Johannesburg providing an additional 272 seats on the route, therefore it is important for the airline to take advantage of similar events to expand its portfolio and amplify new business opportunities,” he said.

A total 5,880 trade members visited the trade fair, which is Africa’s leading and only business-to-business exhibition for inbound and outbound Africa travel and tourism markets.

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

Marthinus van Schalkwyk: New South African High Commissioner to Australia

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News broke during World Travel Market Africa in Cape Town that effective Monday, April 15, Marthinus van Schalkwyk will transfer from Athens to Australia for the next four years as High Commissioner (Ambassador).

The tourism trade in South Africa and from the World of Tourism remember fondly Marthinus van Schalkwyk from his years as the Minister of Tourism of South Africa.

On April 29, 2004 Van Schalkwyk was appointed by President Thabo Mbeki as Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism for South Africa. He held the position until May 2009, when a new Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs was created and he became Minister of Tourism.

Van Schalkwyk became President of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in June 2008, when South Africa assumed the presidency of AMCEN at the beginning of its 12th Session.

In its annual review of ministerial performance for 2013. the Mail and Guardian honored his significant contributions as Tourism Minister.

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Nonstop between Washington Dulles and Acrra, Ghana grows on SAA

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Starting today, South African Airways (SAA) has increased its frequency on nonstop flights between Washington, D.C.-Dulles International Airport and Accra’s Kotoka International Airport to 5 days weekly.

SAA offers the only nonstop flight between Washington D.C. and Ghana and offers travelers convenient connections to and from over 100 cities across the U.S. and Canada through its Star Alliance partner, United Airlines via Washington, D.C.- Dulles.

South African Airways’ flights to Accra now operate 5 days a week with continuing service to Johannesburg, South Africa, operating on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. SAA’s increase of flights on the route will also serve to support the partnership with Africa World Airlines by offering seamless connections between Accra and additional destinations in West Africa including; Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria; Monrovia, Liberia and Freetown, Sierra Leone. In addition, SAA will continue to operate flights between Washington D.C.-Dulles and Dakar, Senegal and onwards to Johannesburg, two days per week.

SAA’s flights between Washington-Dulles and Accra will be operated with both the Airbus A330-300 and the Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The A330-300 features 46 full-flat 180° beds with direct aisle access at every seat in Premium Business Class and 203 seats in Economy Class. The A330- 200 offers 36 full-flat beds in Premium Business Class and 186 seats in Economy Class. Customers traveling in both Premium Business Class and Economy Class will have on-demand audio and visual entertainment options, in-seat power ports, freshly-prepared meals, and complimentary bar service featuring South African wines.

For information, visit flysaa.com.

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