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Seychelles Beefs up its Safety Measures

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Seychelles authorities announced new safety measures on Sunday, January 3, 2020, with the aim to curb the spread of COVID-19 within the community. 

The Seychelles International Airport will remain open for visitors.  

As part of the new measures enforced and effective immediately, visitors already in Seychelles will be required to remain in one accommodation establishment for the first ten days of their stay in the destination and this measure extends to all new visitors entering Seychelles as of Sunday, January 3, 2020. 

No transfer of accommodation will be permitted until the completion of the first 10 days of stay in one establishment. 

Stand-alone restaurants will be closed, restaurants within hotels and guest houses will remain open for their guests only. Other recreational services within hotel premises including bars, swimming pools, spas and Kid’s club will also not be operational.  

Inter-island travels are strongly discouraged.  

Visitors coming by sea vessels will not be permitted to disembark on the Seychelles shores before ten days after the last port of call. 

A strong plea has been made by the authorities for all service providers to maintain a high level of alert and reactiveness at all times. 

The industry is reminded that wearing of mask is mandatory in Seychelles. Any person failing to comply will be liable to legal actions. 

Visitors are also reminded that they are not allowed to use public transport during their stay in Seychelles. 

The industry is reminded that it is imperative they follow all guidelines applicable.

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

Seychelles authorities take steps to address the new COVID-19 variant

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Following this week’s Safe Tourism Task Force meeting led by the Seychelles Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, the Public Health Authority has proposed new measures for the destination.

As of Monday, December 28, 2020, the United Kingdom will no longer feature on the list of countries from which visitors may travel to Seychelles. 

As of December 31, 2020, South Africa will not feature on the list of countries permitted into the country.

Between Wednesday, December 23, 2020, to Thursday, December 31, 2020, all visitors arriving from South Africa will not be permitted to stay in their private residences. Visitors will have to book a Category 2 establishment for at least 10 days before being tested, and if negative, they may complete the remaining 4 days at their private residence or a Category 1 establishment.

These decisions follow recent developments, whereby the UK and South Africa are being affected by a new variant of COVID-19. 

The measures will be effective until the end of January 2021 and will be subject to review before then.

Updates on travel measures and procedures to the destination can be viewed on the websites of the Tourism Department http://tourism.gov.sc/ and Department of Health http://www.health.gov.sc/ as well as Seychelles Travel Advisory page https://advisory.seychelles.travel/ .

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

Seychelles Closes COVID-19 Test Center

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The Seychelles Ministry of Health informed on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, that the English River Health Centre station being used for COVID-19 PCR tests has closed. Services will continue at the music stadium.

Friday, December 18, 2020, will be the closing date for the English River Health Centre station for COVID-19 PCR tests. The Ministry of Health has said, however, that the Music Stadium testing station remains operational for test in the region.

Appointments for tests must be booked at least 5 to 7 days prior by calling 4388410 or 2829340 during working hours.

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

Seychelles Guards Middle Eastern Ties in First Virtual Gulf Travel Show

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Seychelles strengthens its relationships with Middle Eastern travel trade partners through the Seychelles Tourism Board’s (STB) participation in the first virtual Gulf Travel Show on November 23, 2020. 

The two-day virtual event united around 2,500 participants joining in from 59 countries across the globe, with the Middle East Seychelles Tourism Board Office representing the island destination in networking and paving a path towards the recovery of the tourism industry. 

The first virtual edition of the GTS used an impressive and user-friendly platform which displayed the convention centre, a virtual hall, auditorium, and exhibition hall, creating an immersive virtual experience. Amongst the 40 exhibitors was the STB Team, who kept visitors updated about the destination, the latest safety measures and products. Whilst visiting these virtual booths, visitors also met with the representatives and had access to essential documents and videos. 

The virtual show’s gamified system fostered a dynamic atmosphere with the leader board encouraging visitors to participate in the different talks and to connect with the exhibitors. Insightful and engaging panel discussions, including an explanation of trends defined by technology companies, led by local and international industry leaders drew in visitors. 

Representing STB at the event was Mr Ahmed Fathallah, member of the STB Dubai Team, who said “This show brought together industry experts, world-class speakers and attendees from across the region all under one virtual roof. STOME will continue to take part in these regional activities to continue to spearhead the gradual restart of the tourism industry. We will always be here for our trade partners and continue to offer and extend the assistance that we can give.”

Hosted by TravTalk Middle East, the Gulf Travel Show provided a platform for exhibitors to, not only network and market their products, but also discover a recovery path for the tourism industry. 

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

Seychelles Increases Health Measures in Response to COVID-19

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Responding to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and the second wave in certain regions around the world, destination Seychelles is re-enforcing measures to curb probabilities of local infection on its shores.

The review has been done by the tourism task force, a committee regrouping tourism stakeholders, health decision-makers and various other local agencies to oversee all issues relating to the re-opening of the destination during this period dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current review of the measures is based on epidemiological factors and considerations.

The first change to the measures relates to the COVID-19 PCR test to be done while in the country. The timing of the test has been reviewed by the Public Health Authority (PHA) and specifies that all visitors coming into Seychelles, will take a PCR test after the fifth night. This means the testing will be conducted on the sixth day after the arrival of the visitor. 

Before that, only visitors from the Category 2 countries were required to take a PCR test whilst in the country. Now, these new measures apply to all visitors.

Visitors and hotel partners are also being advised that unless informed of the contrary after 24 hours of the sample being taken, the visitor should consider the result as negative. Visitors from Category 2 countries may then follow Category 1 requirements, which include changing hotels and able to proceed with their planned holidays whilst observing strict health protocols throughout.

The task force has considered the increasing interest of young couples to walk down the aisle in the paradisiacal islands and has since applied stricter measures for establishments hosting weddings and for other wedding service providers including Civil Status personnel officiating, beauty and hairdressing service suppliers.

Relating to the sixth-day testing and protocols to be adopted in case of an asymptomatic case detected, the PHA has advised that if the client is staying in a Category 2 establishment, he or she could be allowed to remain in isolation within the establishment.

It is imperative that the person does not have contact with other visitors staying at the same property as well as have limited and controlled contact with hotel personnel while being monitored daily.

In actual practice, when or if a visitor is found to be a positive case of COVID-19, the health team will be on-site to guide the management on measures to be applied. It may also be the case that a particular establishment is not suitable to keep an infected person and he or she would need to be moved to another designated and certified hotel.

The general measures for a Category 2 establishment will automatically apply for a positive case and the specific measures must be determined on the actual establishment and the conditions present at the time. Before the PCR test is taken on the sixth day, every visitor is treated with caution, through intensive safety procedures.

Seychelles has been welcoming visitors since June from private flights and charters but reopened its borders to commercial fights on August 1, 2020.

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