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Seychelles Brought Closer to Reunion Holidaymakers Through Webinars with Partners

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The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) office in Reunion conducted two virtual meetings with industry partners in the overseas department and region of the French Republic in the aim of reviving business from this market.

The Reunion market considered part of France is eligible to enter Seychelles under conditions applicable to visitors from Category 2 on the permitted list of countries as of October 1, 2020.

The STB team invited tourism stakeholders in Seychelles and their Reunion counterparts to join two webinar sessions set to provide clarity on procedures applicable in Seychelles for Reunion holidaymakers.

Responding to the STB’s invitation, several partners including Destination Management Companies (DMC) and Hotel partners with interest in the Reunion market joined the discussions.

On the DMC side, Seychelles was represented by 7 degrees South, Creole Travel Services and Masons Travel to explain the new features regarding their services while on the hotel side representatives from Hilton group and Le Laurier Eco Hotel attended the virtual meetings to showcase their properties and explain the different protocols in place.

Ms. Bernadette Honore, STB representative in Reunion and Mrs. Bernadette Willemin, STB Regional Director for Europe represented the destination tourism board and representatives from Air Austral were presented during both sessions in support of the initiative.

The main point of the agenda remained the wellbeing of clients from Reunion in the face of the new sanitary protocols imposed by the destination as part of its Safe Tourism policies.

The STB representative on the Reunion Island stated that these virtual marketing activities are crucial for the tourism board as the priority is to re-generate the demand of Réunion Travelers to Seychelles.

She further stated that as part of re-generating demand from the Reunion market, the engagement of Travel Trade professionals to restart selling the destination and Air Austral’s commitment of repositioning direct flights on Seychelles route are crucial.

“Keeping our partners engaged and providing the reassurance that Seychelles is a safe destination for Reunion visitors is the main reason behind the two webinars. As Seychelles is ready to welcome travelers to its shore, we felt the need to invite our partners to explain to them the travel protocol in place for category 2 on the permitted list of countries. We were pleasantly surprised to receive over 30 decision-makers of Réunion Travel Trade professionals in the city of Saint-Denis and Saint Gilles during two days,” said Ms. Honore. 

During the sessions, Mrs. Willemin responded to various questions raised by the Réunion Travel Trade professionals and provided pertinent information regarding the travel protocols.

On their part, the Air Austral representatives offered an opportunity for discussions between Seychelles local partners, STB, Air Austral and the Réunion Travel trade professionals regarding the availability of flights for visitors from Reunion.

“The two sessions have been very satisfactory for the STB team as we have witnessed the enthusiasm of the Réunion Travel Trade professionals to restart selling Seychelles as a holiday destination and this is a positive sign for the market. The meeting also provided reassurance to our partners in Seychelles as it confirmed the commitment of Air Austral to provide direct schedule flights to Seychelles in mid-December. The timing of the re-opening of direct flights from Reunion is very encouraging for partners predetermining a growth in visitors from Reunion towards the end of the year,” said the STB representative in Reunion.

Ms. Honore further stated the anticipation of an increase in the numbers of travelers from Reunion in December since the month sees the happening of the ‘été Austral’ holiday starting from December 19, 2020, to January 25, 2021 marking of the one longest vacation period for the market.

More news about Seychelles

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected] 

Richard Quest still on his Seychelles Quest!

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After a successful visit on the island destination in February of this year, CNN’s renowned anchor and international business correspondent Richard Quest is back in Seychelles for about ten days.

This visit aims at reshooting sequences for his show “Quest’s World of Wonder” reflecting the current situation.

During his last visit, the British journalists touched by the warm welcome received and impressed by the beautiful creole culture of Seychelles commented about his experience of exotic islands saying, “Seychelles is an extraordinary place with a melting pot of people and incredible nature.”
The CNN press trip has been facilitated by the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) in the aim of generating visibility for the destination.

Anticipated to be placing the archipelago in the international spotlight once again, Mr Quest and his team members landed in Seychelles from Dubai on the Emirates Airlines flight early this Thursday, October 29, 2020.

Similarly, to visitors coming from a country placed on the Category 2 list of permitted countries to enter Seychelles, the trio is expected to follow protocols applied to this group including being in isolation at their hotel for the next five days and start his working mission as of November 4, 2020.
The CNN team will be exploring the treasures of Seychelles and will be visiting the Islands of Mahé and Praslin.

Speaking about the second visit of Mr Quest this year, Mrs Sherin Francis STB Chief Executive stated it is crucial that the country remains visible at all times so as to stay top of visitors minds and more so during these challenging times for the industry. 

“We are delighted to receive Mr Quest in Seychelles again. This visit comes at an opportune time where publicity is of the utmost importance and is a definite advantage for our destination proving to the world that Seychelles is indeed the safe destination our STB team is promoting and we are looking forward to seeing Seychelles on the CNN network,” says Mrs Francis.

As part of reviving the local tourism industry to its full glory, the Seychelles stakeholders have designed and continuously are implementing intensive safety measures to ensure the welfare of visitors and the safety of the local population.

The appearance of Seychelles in the CNN TV program will be the pinnacle of visibility for the destination across all continents on the CNN network and social media. 

The program is the first of a series of exposure Seychelles is expected to receive on the network leading to 2021.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]    

“Experience Seychelles: Our Home, your Sanctuary” Campaign goes live in Paris

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Keeping the beautiful island destination visible in Metropolitan France, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) has launched an above the line advertising campaign in the French capital, Paris, as part of its communication plan for the autumn-winter promotional season.

The campaign launched in mid-October will roll for four weeks and involves the deployment of striking pictures of the destination as a means to entice the French market to visit the islands.

Initially scheduled for April, the campaign was postponed to October and is targeting visitors on a long-term period extending to 2021.

The STB office in Paris has opted for a dynamic and earthly medium of communication, as it will allow us to reach out to a significant percentage of active workers in selective business firms with high-income brackets employees, areas in Paris and La Défense.

Some hundred taxis, branded on both sides will be circulating in the capital city Paris and suburban areas. During the last two weeks of October and first two weeks of November, the taxis will be transporting the branded visuals of the destination with the tag line: “Seychelles, Our home your sanctuary.”

Equally part of the campaign, the STB team in Paris has extended the marketing stunt to corporations in the French capital, as it remains a strategic place used by regular holidaymakers. Allowing passers-by to dream, destination Seychelles will be featured in 275 ten seconds inspirational spots at 166 sites for 2 weeks to push the potential clientele to choose our destination for their forthcoming holiday.         

Speaking about the campaign, Mrs. Bernadette Willemin, STB Regional Director for Europe, stated that despite the current situation in several European cities, the efforts put into the campaign are essential for the survival of the destination.

She stressed that even though not all the prerequisites for travel are in place at the moment, it is important that Seychelles must remain visible

She further stated that it was a strategic decision to have an important part of the campaign stretched over the area of La Défense for it is Europe’s largest purpose-built business district.

The business zone is composed of 560 hectares (1,400 acres) in area, 72 glass and steel buildings (of which 19 are completed skyscrapers), 180,000 daily workers, and 3,500,000 square meters (38,000,000 sq. ft.) of office space.

“This is a period whereby European cities tends to be grey and foggy; hence the contrasting impact of our visual depicting sunshine, warm and vivid colors which could not go unnoticed even during the peak and rush hours,” said Bernadette Willemin.

Additionally, she added that the objective of this campaign is to remind the public that Seychelles is ready to accommodate the visitors and that our islands are considered one of the safest destinations to travel to now.

This campaign complements other promotional activities B2B or B2C currently being undertaken in France and also other markets across Europe ensuring that we keep the momentum going and keeping the Seychelles top in the mind of the people so that when travel resumes in earnest they will aspire to choose our destination.

#rebuildingtravel

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]  

Seychelles Welcomes Travelers from African Countries as of Monday, October 19, 2020

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Taking a step forward in the recovery of its tourism industry, Seychelles is now inviting travelers from several Sub-Saharan African nations for a safe travel experience in the destination.

After intensive preparations for a safer travel experience for visitors, Seychelles has been welcoming tourists back on its shores since June 1, 2020, through chartered and private flights and officially reopened to scheduled flights as of August 1, 2020.

With travelers’ wellbeing and that of the local population at heart, the Seychellois authorities have put in place rigorous protocols to ensure safe travel and stay for its visitors.

Ten African countries with a continued decline in infection rate including South Africa, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda and Zimbabwe have henceforth been added on the list of permitted countries – Category: one as of Monday, October 19, 2020.

Conditions applicable to visitors from these countries joining the Category -1 Permitted countries that are deemed low or medium risk are less rigid than for other visitors coming from countries listed as Category 2 or other higher-risk countries.

Travelers, coming from Category 1- Permitted countries will be required to produce a negative Covid-19 PCR test no older than 72 hours before departure alongside their approved Health Travel Authorization (HTA) for entry and will not be subject to the restriction of movement during their stay.

Visitors are encouraged to observe sanitary measures while visiting Seychelles. Visitors from the Category 1 list of permitted countries will be able to enjoy their holiday activities such as sightseeing and tours, island hopping and excursions under specific guidelines.

Mr. David Germain, the Seychelles Tourism Board Regional (STB) Director for Africa & the Americas mentions that this new addition to the permitted list is an opportunity for Seychelles and will contribute to rebound the tourism industry.

“Seychelles, given its proximity to Africa, and being a Covid19 safe destination, with certified establishments and services, is the perfect place for a holiday for the African travelers, safe and isolated the archipelago is one of the purest and most environmentally intact destinations on earth, come and experience Seychelles, our home, your sanctuary,” he said.

Adding more good news for the African market, Seychelles’ national airline, Air Seychelles has announced that it will resume its flight schedule from Seychelles to Johannesburg, South Africa effective November 7, 2020. Air Seychelles will operate one weekly flight on Saturdays in November and from December; the airline will offer three flights per week with the addition of flights on Tuesdays and Fridays. 

Speaking of the addition of the ten African countries to the permitted list, Ms. Christine Vel, the STB Director for Africa, mentioned her enthusiasm to have the destination available for African travelers again. 

“We are overly excited to be opening our borders again to the African market. For the past few months, we have been building on our visibility on the market and we have satisfyingly had lots of interest and enquiries. Knowing the demand is there, we are confident that with flight availability, and permission from the authorities for these travelers to enter Seychelles the interest will keep increasing,” says Ms. Vel.

Seychelles has so far, recorded an exceptionally low number of cases and there has been no community transmission, deaths nor any infection amongst health care workers.

More news about Seychelles

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected] 

Local Tourism Stakeholders in Seychelles Launch the “Tourism Wi” Campaign

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Core industry stakeholders in Seychelles have joined forces in a seductive operation targeting the population with the restart of tourism in the Indian Ocean destination.

The “Tourism Wi” campaign, developed by the Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Association (SHTA) in collaboration with the marketing body of the destination, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), the Tourism Department and the Seychelles Training Academy (STA) was launched at the STB Headquarters at Botanical House on Monday, October 19, 2020. 

The campaign centers around sensitizing the public about the vital role, which the tourism industry plays for the country and the reason why we all need to unite to support its restart.

Speaking at the launch in the presence of Principal Secretary for Tourism, Mrs. Anne Lafortune, the representatives from SHTA Mrs. Louise Testa and Martin Kennedy, Mrs. Sherin Francis stated it is important to sensitize both the public and the local stakeholders as the country is at a very important and very delicate crossroad which the restart of its primary industry.

“With the increase of international flights in Seychelles, tourism arrival numbers are growing slowly. This past Sunday, October 18, 2020, the destination has registered 401 visitors disembarking on our shores. The numbers might not be as big as what we used to record in a day but it remains significant for us as a destination. Seychelles is well known for its warm and welcoming people. Today, more than ever this is one essential appeal of our promotional campaign,” said Mrs. Francis.  

On her part the Principal Secretary for Tourism, Mrs. Anne Lafortune, stated: “The Tourism industry stakeholders are working tirelessly to ensure that the destination remains safe and that everybody does their part follow the health protocols because when tourists see that we are a safe country, they will want to visit. The STB team has doubled its marketing efforts for Seychelles to remain visible and attract visitors. This campaign makes sure that our efforts are being supported by everyone.”

In addition to educating the public about the industry’s importance and the drastic strain the pandemic has imposed on the Seychelles economy, the campaign also raises awareness about Seychelles as a Safe Tourism destination, highlighting the safety measures taken by the various industries for the protection of visitors and the population.

SHTA representative Mrs. Louise Testa stated that the SHTA has been committed to being part of the campaign as tourism is a key sector of the economy.

“We hope that the campaign will help our citizens to recognize the importance of tourism not only to our economy but also to them and their families. SHTA has worked closely with the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism in order to produce a campaign, which supports economic recovery, safe health practices and personal protection. We have to get behind economic recovery as a nation. We are facing some difficult times ahead and increasing our foreign exchange inflows by welcoming more tourists will help reduce the severity of any problems in the future,” said Mrs. Testa.

The first stage of the campaign, which started running in the media as of Friday 16, 2020 will be visible over multiple platforms including local press, including television, radio and newspapers, as well as social media platforms of both STB and tourism-related partners. 

The campaign engages the locals, building their confidence in light of the arrivals of tourists into the country. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of preserving the creole hospitality for which the Seychellois people are praised for, a treasured trait, which is cherished now more than ever as people seek refuge from the storm of the pandemic.   

The second phase of the campaign is set to begin on Friday, October 30, 2020, and terminates Friday, December 4, 2020.   

More news about Seychelles.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]  

Seychelles Under the Spotlight at Black Travel Summit

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Destination Seychelles will be placed under the limelight at the Black Travel Summit conference titled, “Movement” set to take place over two days starting from October 17, 2020.

The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) has joined forces with the American travel experts “Travel Moor Often,” a leading tourism service provider and directory for people of color, to promote the destination at the event, which will focus on showcasing black travel industry professionals. 

The two-day virtual event will combine 26 speakers from around the globe, including content creators and Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Regional Director for Africa and the Americas, Mr. David Germain representing the destination.

Uniting a plethora of travel experts comprising of entrepreneurs, influencers, bloggers, travel companies and many others, allowing participants to meet influencers, learn from industry professionals, or network with other travelers.

The event will also include several seminars and workshops centered on black representation in the travel industry and effectively supporting black-owned businesses in the travel industry. 

Hosted by some of the most renowned entrepreneurs in the black travel community, the event presents an opportunity for the island destination to put forward its best features to attract travelers from this specific segment.

By being part of the Black Travel Summit “Movement” Webinar, the STB team will also have direct interaction with travel experts from the USA resulting in first-hand information that will essential to the advancements of its local tourism industry. 

Topics of discussion will include “Travel Writing,” “Intersectional identities in the travel space,” “Investing in Africa,” and dialogues about representation and building communities up, just to name a few.

Furthermore, the event supports a cause, collaborating with Dream Defenders to support the fight for racial and social justice.  

Mrs. Sherin Francis, the Seychelles Tourism Board Chief Executive, mentioned that the event is a great opportunity for the destination.

“We are honored to be a part of an event celebrating the African Diaspora, giving us a chance to pay tribute to this part of our heritage, which created the melting pot which we now boast to visitors who come to our shores. The event will also allow us to tap into a segment that needs more attention and to identify the essentials of its requirements and see where we can improve in helping our local tourism industry flourish,” said the STB Chief Executive.

As part of the destination’s participation, the STB’s presentation will also feature a “Kanmtole” dance, showcasing Seychelles’ Creole culture in this October month, which is the creole month and the video of the song “Nou bann Zil,” written and composed by Mr. David Andre for the occasion of the 250 years’ celebrations in August 2020.

According to the tourism and travel research firm Mandala Research 2018 report, black travelers are a valuable and untapped audience for the tourism industry, the black American community spent $63 billion on travel, and the number is expected to grow to $90 billion in coming years.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected] 

Seychelles Welcomes Second Direct Commercial Connection to Europe

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Adding a supplementary choice for European travelers to the beautiful Seychelles islands, British National airline, British Airways, places its name on the list of airlines serving the destination.

Several months after its last flight to the Seychelles International airport of Pointe Larue, British Airways landed on Sunday, October 11, 2020, on the shores of the tropical destination.

British Airways becomes consequently the second European airline providing a direct commercial connection to the destination to keep Seychelles closer its prime source markets composed of six European countries. 

In an interview following the weekly high-level forum leading the implementation of the National Integrated Framework for the Reopening of Seychelles, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis mentioned that the arrival of British Airways places Seychelles in a favorable outcome for the having two direct European flights is a great achievement for the small destination.  

“Visibility to our customers and connectivity has been key elements of our marketing strategy. The STB and its teams around the world have been working in close collaboration with its airline partners throughout this period to make sure that the efforts invested benefits all parties. At this crucial crossroad, it is important for us to keep the momentum,” said Mrs. Francis.  

The STB Chief Executive further mentioned that her and her team has been holding regular virtual meetings with airline partners to keep them updated. The STB is also engaging in several joint marketing activities with airlines to keep the destination visible and reach out to their customers. 

Mrs. Francis emphasized that as the destination is striving to remain safe and accessible for visitors an important indication that Seychelles remains of interest to potential visitors lies in the fact that mostly all airline partners serving Seychelles have so far committed to the restart of their services on the destination, which is a good implication that the demand exists.  

“The load of passengers from the European airlines and even the other airlines remain quite interesting considering the challenges that exist for travelers today. Although some airlines are yet to confirm their dates of return, the commitment is still present,” said the STB Chief Executive.   

As the raft of marketing activities are picking up slowly on all the markets, The STB Chief Executive further mentioned the STB remains committed in keeping the destination visible across all markets. 

Since its reopening to commercial flights in August 2020, Seychelles has been welcoming regular flights from three airlines including Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines. Edelweiss restarted its flights to the destination in September.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]    

Seychelles Tourism Board Office in Italy celebrates the World Tourism Day

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The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) office in Italy, organized an event in Rome to celebrate the World Tourism Day 2020 and reconnect with the top Trade Media partners and Airlines’ representatives in Italy after a long time of absence in the limelight.

The event, held at The Hive Hotel, in the center of Rome on a spacious terrace with a scenic view on the beauties of the Eternal City was hosted by Ms. Monette Rose, STB Director – Italy, Turkey, Greece, Israel & the Mediterranean and STB Marketing Executive, Yasmine Pocetti both based in Italy.

The evening’s program, which started with a networking cocktail, followed by a seated dinner, saw the presence of the main tourism trade media on the Italian Market as well as the participation of the airlines’ partners representing Emirates Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and Qatar Airways.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Tourism and Rural Development,” celebrating the tourism sector’s unique ability to drive economic development and provide opportunities outside of big cities without neglecting smaller communities that would otherwise be left behind.

Ms. Monette Rose stated that the celebrations of this important sector also provided an occasion for all those present to reflect on the important role tourism plays in preserving and promoting culture and heritage all around the world.

“Placing Seychelles forward and engaging with our partners is our most important strategy at this time. We have seized this significant day for the industry as a reminder of its importance. It was also a great platform to ensure that our partners know that the destination is more than ever ready to receive visitors,” said the STB Director for Italy.

During the event, the STB Team took time to update the trade partners on the measures put in place in Seychelles to welcome back visitors, doubling efforts in ensuring the safety of visitors and locals and to guarantee the guests an unforgettable experience.

Remaining on a positive note despite the challenges brought to tourism on the Italian market, the STB office in Italy joined the Seychelles festivities in conveying its optimisms to see tourism a confident come back.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected] 

Seychelles Tourism eDreams Takes Off in Italy

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The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) office in Italy launched a promotional campaign on the prominent online travel agency eDreams on Friday, September 25, 2020.

Talking the beautiful destination closer to its audience, while remaining up-to-date in their approach the STB team in Italy seized the partnering opportunity with the eDreams travel agency to increase visibility amongst travelers surfing the web.

The dedicated campaign, which includes banners on the eDreams homepage and a dedicated microsite to gather all the info and offers available in Seychelles, now incites the curiosity of eDreams users with amazing images of its captivating beaches and sumptuous natural beauty.

Speaking about the initiative, Ms Monette Rose, STB DIRECTOR – Italy, Turkey, Greece, Israel & the Mediterranean stated that the campaign has been launched at an opportune time as it is approaching the time where European tourists make plans for holidays.

“Following the excitement that came with the release of the recent online campaign ‘Experience Seychelles; our home, your sanctuary’ launched by the STB, the team in Italy is building on the momentum to promote the destination further to the Italian Market through this powerful online platform and to help boost the bookings towards the archipelago,” said Ms Rose.

eDreams was founded in 2000 in the Silicon Valley and then moved to Spain to be launched in the Spanish and Italian markets. eDreams is one of Europe’s largest online travel agency group, with gross bookings of 3.9 billion euro, and more than 14 million customers worldwide.

The Seychelles islands is open to the Italian visitors and STB and other local stakeholders are putting in place many initiatives to encourage safe travel for visitors as part of the restart of tourism for the destination.

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MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected] 

The Seychelles Tourism Board getting closer to potential at Perseverance Secondary School

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The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) joined with Perseverance Secondary School in a celebration commemorating World Tourism Day in a one-day exhibition promoting the hospitality industry on Friday, September 25, 2020.

The small fair, hosted by the Perseverance school in collaboration with Hilton Seychelles, also saw the participation of the Seychelles Tourism Academy.

A strong delegation comprising of staff from the STB Headquarters and the Trade and Visitors services attended in the aim of forging young minds for a potential career in tourism.

Delivering an inspiring speech at the event was STB Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis, bringing a hopeful message to the students by emphasizing that amidst trying times the potential of the tourism industry

The STB staff provided information about the destination and the STB as an organization increasing students’ interest in joining the industry and their inspiration to help towards reviving tourism.

STB Deputy Chief Executive, Ms. Jenifer Sinon, was invited by the school to make a presentation to the Secondary students about STB, its functions, mission and how each department work in close collaboration to achieving the company’s goals. Keeping our youth in the loop about what goes on behind the scenes may spark an interest they did not know they possessed.

Also present were some members of STB Team, representing some of the company’s departments, who united to share the joys and beauty of working in such a dynamic and essential industry with the future workforce of Seychelles. 

STB representatives included Mr. Michel Agrippine, Director of Print and Production; Ms. Sylvianne Nicette, Officer in Trade and Visitors services; Ms. Christina Cecile, Destination Marketing Executive; and Ms. Marie-Julie Stephen Senior PR Officer from the STB News Bureau.

It was apparent by the number of questions that the team’s stories flared a certain passion and interest in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Educating the future generation about the industry’s significance and the bountiful career opportunities waiting to be explored beyond the usual hotel management jobs is a vital step in ensuring the Seychelles Tourism Industry remains in the global limelight.

#rebuildingtravel

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]