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Tourism (MoM) arrivals in Seychelles grew by 9% from January to June 2019

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Figures recorded by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed a remarkable growth in the tourism arrivals in June 2019 this year.

Indeed 25,761 visitors stamped their passports at the immigration desks at the Seychelles International Airports for a vacation on our shores.


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An increase considered as exceptional for this period of the year, as it is the first time that the Seychelles islands have ever recorded over 25,000 visitors during this month.  

Figures presented by the NBS, confirmed that visitor’s arrivals from the beginning of the year to end of June 2019 are equivalents to 187,108. This represents a significant increase of 9% when compared to the same period in 2018 as the number of visitors recorded for that period amounted to 172,099 visitors.

Germany remains at the top of the best five performing markets for the month of June 2019 as 4,087 German tourists disembarked on our shores; the United Arab Emirates (UAE) follows with a number of 3,119 visitors.

While the 2,110 visitors were recorded to have landed from United Kingdom (UK). In fourth and fifth position are France and Italy with a number of 1,855 and 1,794 tourists, respectively.

As projected by the Strategic Planning and Market Intelligence department of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), the targets set- at 3 to 4%- by the STB for this year will be exceeded.

Speaking at a press briefing at Botanical House earlier today, Mrs. Sherin Francis STB Chief Executive mentioned her satisfaction to note that 2019 would also be a year of great performance for the industry. 

 “It is remarkable to see that Seychelles remains a prime destination and that for the past few years the destination has performed quite well throughout the year. June is always a slow month and we had anticipated that this year it might be the same despite our active work to bring more tourist in the country. The current figures from NBS comforts us in knowing we managed to hit a record for the month of June,” said Mrs. Francis.   

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Parallel to the increase in visitor’s arrivals is the growth in the yields, according to the most recent figures from the CBS (figures referred to are for Jan-May 2019), the yields recorded from tourism related activities have shown that the destination is 6% ahead of last year. The CBS estimated that the tourism earnings from January to May 2019 were approximately 3.5 Billion SCR compared to only 3.3 Billion SCR during the same period in 2018.

In terms of travel agency bookings for the coming months, an increase in the numbers of forward bookings have been estimated.

According to the forward bookings, data received from the travel agencies it is noted that for the next 6 months of the year,  for the top 5 markets a forecast 3.9% increase in regards to bookings made this time last year.

Major improvements in travel agency bookings for some key markets including France, Russia, UK, Italy and China have been noted.

Mrs. Francis maintained that the STB will keep on increasing visibility for the Seychelles and encouraged the tourism trade to keep the great marketing work in promoting their properties and services.

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

St. Martin shines at CTO’s Caribbean Week in New York City

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The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s, (CTO) Caribbean Week in New York is the largest regional tourism activity in North America. Artists, celebrity chefs,  investors and other strategic partners join government officials and the media for a week of festivities designed to promote the region and for tourism leaders, to conduct bi-lateral meeting on the industry.

In that regard, the Hon. Valérie Damaseau attended the CTO Board of Directors Meeting, the Council of Tourism Ministers and Commissioners Meeting, and the Marketing Conference that was hosted by CTO Allied Members, who presented the latest cutting-edge marketing trends.  During the seminars and other business development meetings Minister Damaseau raised awareness on St. Martin’s tourism product and gave critical updates to further enhance the destination.

At Media Marketplace, representatives from St. Martin had the opportunity to discuss destination updates with trade and consumer media and share information on new developments on island, sharing that 75% of the hotels have reopened, which accounts for approximately 1,200 rooms, while some 65% of the villas have been renovated. St. Martin saw an impressive 118% increase in the total number of stayover arrivals for the month January 2019. In January 2018, the island welcomed 12,028 visitors and that number more than doubled, reaching 26,258 visitors in 2019. 

Hon. Valérie Damaseau participated in one-on-one interviews with select media outlets and television journalists. In speaking with the media, the Minister shared,  “I would like to congratulate our team at the St. Martin Tourist Office as well as our esteemed partners at CTO for their dedication and continuous support in promoting our country.  Participating in these meetings allow us to network, exchange ideas, and help ensure a successful year in the tourism industry”.  She continued, ‘Success comes from hard work so we will always apply ourselves to guarantee that the momentum in visitor arrivals continues”. She also provided information on new brands that are coming to the destination in 2020 and 2021 such as Secret Resorts, Planet Hollywood & The Morgan.

ABOUT ST. MARTIN

With duty-free shops, an eclectic array of restaurants, properties and loads of water sports, St. Martin is for action-oriented vacationers. With its blend of warm hospitality and European style, St. Martin is one of the Caribbean’s more attention-grabbing spots. The destination offers visitors the opportunity to discover beautiful beaches, savor traditional French and West Indian cuisine, and explore an abundance of attractions.

To find information on St. Martin please visit: https://www.st-martin.org/  or follow on

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iledesaintmartin/

Instagram: @discoversaintmartin Twitter @ilesaintmartin

MEDIA CONTACT: Nana Delatour, Nana.d@pmgroup.bz

Seychelles intensifies its media presence in the GCC region

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The latest media spree from the Seychelles did not go unnoticed as the head of delegation Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Didier Dogley and the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis, appeared on various media in the GCC region.

The press calls were conducted on the sideline—as the Seychelles delegation’s was recently present—at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) fair in Dubai tapped as the most popular travel trade event in the Middle East.

Minister Dogley and Mrs. Francis stepped under the spotlight from Sunday, April 28, 2019, to Tuesday, April 30, 2019, to provide an update and promote the destination to various media partners in the region including Dubai Eye FM, Al Hurra TV, Emirates News, Dubai Global News, TTN Middle East, and GT Media among others.

The STB participation strategy for the ATM this year revolved around the opportunity provided by the event to connect with business partners and create new communication channels to promote Seychelles as a multipurpose destination, and to use this opportunity as well to discuss the latest developments that are sure to enhance the travel experience of GCC visitors.

The tourism board presence at the event provided the occasion to connect with the regular and potential partners from this region, understand their needs, identify the travelling patterns and highlight the destination so the traveler can learn more about what to expect when visiting Seychelles.

It was also a good opportunity to update the STB’s knowledge of the market and understand what the local partner’s practices, exchange experiences and determine the long-term goals based on the gathered information.

Speaking of her visit to the ATM and the extensive press calls, STB Chief Executive Mrs. Sherin Francis reaffirmed the STB’s commitment to increasing visibility on all fronts.

“The Middle East, and in particular the UAE, remains a key market for the Seychelles. We are keeping a close eye on Saudi Arabia and Kuwait where we are seeing signs of growth , and for this reason we have been conducting roadshows to increase awareness of the Seychelles as a key holiday destination; ideal for privacy, for families and perfect for those seeking complete relaxation or those looking to explore,” said Mrs. Francis.

On his part, H.E. Didier Dogley said, “The Seychelles has always focused on a quality over quantity offering, and while our visitors numbers continue to grow, they are in line with the Seychelles Sustainable Development Policy, and form an integral and coherent part of the policy.”

With the STBS’s constant effort aimed at reaching out to travellers from the Arab world, data collected shows that the numbers are on a constant growth to date with fifth ranking in terms of visitor arrivals globally.

With more than 32,000 visitors from the GCC last year, the GCC market remains to be one of the main market feeders to the destination to date.

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

New Visitor Experience: 90-minute Frankfurt airport tour with focus on Terminal 3 construction project

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The future Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport is one of the largest privately-funded construction projects under way in Europe. Currently, the site comprises a huge excavated hole where the foundations for the central terminal building with its underground facilities are being laid. Fraport’s visitor service team has responded to enormous public interest in the project by launching an airport tour that focuses on Terminal 3. The highpoint of the 90-minute bus ride around Frankfurt Airport’s apron is a stop at a platform providing an excellent view of the construction site.

The Terminal 3 excursion also showcases other fascinating aspects of apron and airfield activities. For example, participants experience takeoffs and landings from close-up at the Center and South Runways. A guide is present throughout, relating fascinating facts and figures, including insights into the construction project. Terminal 3 is scheduled to open in 2023. It will include three new piers, with capacity for more than 20 million passengers annually, and will be setting new standards in terms of its architectural design.

Due to safety regulations, participants in the Terminal 3 tour must be at least 16 years of age. The price per person is 15 euros. The tour can be booked for individuals or groups. An ideal addition is a visit to the viewing platform in Terminal 2. The platform is open all year round.

More information on other tours and the Visitors’ Terrace can be found at www.FRA-tours.com .

MEDIA CONTACT: Fraport AG, Angelika Heinbuch, Spokesperson, Press Office, Corp. Communications, 60547 Frankfurt, Germany, Telephone: +49 69 690-28417, E-mail: a.heinbuch@fraport.de ,  Internet: www.fraport.com , Facebook: www.facebook.com/FrankfurtAirport

29th International Book Fair opens in Abu Dhabi

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Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is playing host to the 29th edition of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair that kicked off on Wednesday with more than 500,000 titles on display.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the UAE Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurated the event, according to the state-run WAM news agency.

He emphasized the importance of the fair in supporting the UAE’s status in the publishing industry, being one of the most important book fairs in the region that attracts Arab and international publishers.

Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi, the fair features more than 1,000 exhibitors from 50 countries.

Running until April 30, the fair also includes several daily events for visitors such as seminars, workshops, author signings and entertainment activities.

With India as the event’s guest of honour, at least 30 Indian publishing companies are taking part.

This year’s book fair also sees the introduction of three new interactive zones: the E-Zone, Comic Corner and the Entertainment Zone.

Each of the three zones features unique experiences for learning, innovation and entertainment.

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