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The Seychelles welcomes back Air France

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The blue, white and red colors of the Air France Airbus A330-200 was welcomed by ceremonial canon-water at Seychelles International Airport, a few minutes before 6 am on October 30, 2019, after a 23-year absence.

Air France was previously operating through its subsidiary, JOON, and is now flying its national colors once more.

The return of Air France creates a direct link between the Seychelles and the French market, a significant market for the country. The island paradise is popular in the French market for its tropical environment and familiar French language, which is one of the country’s official languages. As a leading member of the Skyteam Alliance group and having operating flights to 195 destinations, Air France will significantly contribute to the Seychelles tourism industry.

“The arrival of Air France on our shores again is not only an opportunity but a privilege for the destination. We are happy to welcome back the airline after 25 years of absence, and pleased that our French customers will once again have access to a direct flight to Seychelles,” said Mrs. Francis, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive.

Commenting on the event, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine Mr. Didier Dogley said that “the return of Air France, the French national carrier, is significant in that Seychelles is now served through direct flights to and from Europe through a fourth world class carrier. This will greatly improve our competitiveness on the French and European markets.  So we are extremely pleased with this new development.”

As from October 29, Air France customers are able to travel to Mahe through the 3 weekly flights departing Paris-Charles de Gaulle. These flights will operate throughout the winter season from October to Match 28, 2020 on the Airbus A330-200.

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

Seychelles – the garden of Eden – welcomes 12 contestants to Miss Reunion Crown

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Passengers disembarking from the Air Austral flight on this Friday morning at the Seychelles International Airport had the pleasure of stepping under the Seychelles sun alongside 12 beautiful contestants to the Miss Reunion to be crowned in August this year.

Seychelles was this year’s first choice made by the Miss Reunion Committee to host the official photo shoot of the Miss Reunion competition in preparation of the candidates for their Grand finale to be held in August.

Aside from the 12 beauty icons from Reunion, the delegation saw the presence of Miss Réunion 2018 also crowned third Princess at the Miss France 2018, Ms. Morgane Soucramanien.

The delegation composed of 25 people including Antenne Réunion television crew- Official broadcaster for Miss Reunion-, photographers of Miss Réunion, Make-up artists and designers, is headed by the President of Miss Réunion committee Mr. Aziz Patel and the director for the Miss Réunion pageant Mrs. Amida Hussein.

The STB representative in reunion Mrs. Bernadette Honore who collaborated with the Miss Reunion committee to make the project a success was also present on the flight. 

Speaking at the airport where she personally welcomed the contestant, Mrs. Sherin Francis Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive stated that she was pleased that the destination was chosen for their official preparation.

“It is an honour to have the Miss Reunion contestant here in Seychelles for the first time. Reunion is a flourishing market and their presence on the Island will help accentuate the visibility of the destination. It is undeniable that the media exposure Seychelles would receive through the broadcast of their journey in Seychelles will have excellent returns for the destination,” said Mrs, Francis.  

Ketsia Marie, Miss Creole Des Iles Seychelles 2018 was also present at the airport alongside Mrs. Francis to welcome our Reunion guest.

On his part, the President of Miss Réunion committee Mr. Aziz Patel mentioned that this trip is an important part of the contestants’ journey as beauty ambassadors for Reunion.

He further mentioned that is an opportunity for the candidates to learn more about themselves live together and prepare themselves for the Grand finale.

During their stay in Seychelles, the Miss Reunion contestants will be photographed at various touristic places around Mahé, Praslin and La Digue including the Botanical Garden, Victoria town and the most popular beaches.

The Miss Reunion contestants will be leaving Seychelles on July 7, 2019 on Air Austral, the partner airline of the Miss Reunion.

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

African Tourism Board to become the Voice for Africa: Interview on Good Morning Seychelles

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Talking Tourism, the African Tourism Board was the talking points on the Seychelles Television “Good Morning Seychelles’ (Bonzour Sesel) program with Barbara Hoareau.

The very popular and loved “Good Morning Seychelles” (Bonzour Sesel) television program hosted by Barbara Hoareau of SBC Seychelles recently welcomed Alain St.Ange, the President of the African Tourism Board (ATB) to discuss tourism in Africa and how the ATB could be that very catalyst to bring about the development of Brand Africa.

Alain St.Ange who was elected earlier this year as the President of the African Tourism Board on the sidelines of the World Travel Market Africa in Cape Town explained to Seychelles that the ATB was being managed from Pretoria in South Africa where the CEO and Vice President were based. The President of the African Tourism Board went on to speak about the latest country Uganda that became a member as he explained that the ATB would work with the new CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board to get out to the world the key USPs of Uganda and to support the relaunching of the Uganda Airlines.

Mr. St.Ange who was asked about whether the successes of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands could be replicated for Africa said that visibility for the continent and its member States would be a priority. “We shall work and will become the voice to dispel the negatives and bring out the successes and attractions,” he said as he deplored the fact that in the Indian Ocean Islands Seychelles and Mauritius were still not on board even though many in the private sector trade were already working with the ATB.

Alain St.Ange was the founding President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands and was the only one to have had his mandate extended for a consecutive two-term. He is now the founding president of the Africa Tourism Board.  St.Ange explained on air that when a disaster strikes the African Continent with its 54 States is affected and that this needed to change. “We shall be communicating as necessary and become that needed voice for Africa,” he said.

MEDIA CONTACT: TravelMarketingNetwork, 954 Lexington Ave. #1037, New York, NY 10021 USA, PH: (+1) 718-374-6816, [email protected]   

Four Seasons launches Bali’s first hotel arrival by river raft

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Famed for its dramatic treetop arrival via a suspension bridge, the World’s #1 Hotel is now offering guests a 180-degree change of perspective, with Bali’s first hotel arrival by river raft.

Submerged in a river valley close to the artistic center of Ubud, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan has launched the innovative rafting check-in as an option for guests transferring from its sister Resort, the beach-front Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay on Bali’s south-west coast. Instead of the usual 90-minute road transfer, travellers combining a stay at both Resorts can instead be taken by private car (60 minutes’ drive) to the departure point for a two-hour rafting adventure down Bali’s longest river, the Ayung. While they enjoy a leisurely guided adventure through Class III rapids with views of lush jungle, rice terraces and majestic gorges, their luggage continues by car and precedes their arrival at Four Seasons Resort Sayan.

After discovering secluded sites – including a natural holy spring and an historic dam belonging to Bali’s th-century UNESCO World Heritage-listed subak irrigation system – rafters land directly at the Resort’s Riverside Restaurant. Waiting staff ensure a seamless check-in and within minutes guests are relaxing in their room, delivering a hotel arrival unlike any other.

“The Resort is well known for its magical rooftop arrival. Many guests stop in their tracks and are even brought to tears as they cross the bridge, full of wonder and awe, listening to the forest ‘symphony’ and descending into the hotel from the treetops. This new arrival by river offers the opposite view with a slow reveal from under the canopy of trees, making it perfect for repeat guests who have experienced the bridge arrival before,” says Resort Manager Gianni Costa. “It does not feel like a check-in experience, but rather a transition to another world, welcomed by the friendliest people on Earth.”

Travel News | eTurboNews

Air Seychelles gets ready for delivery of their first Airbus A320NEO

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Air Seychelles has over the past few months started to implement its training calendar in preparation for the delivery of the A320neo set for July 2019.

Last week, key staff members from the Technical Operations and Project Management including the Flight Operations team, as well as representatives from the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, attended the A320neo general familiarization training held in-house at the Air Seychelles head office in Pointe Larue.

The training held over four days, delivered by Mr. Michael Mahn, an experienced engineer from Airbus, provided the participants a general overview of the airframe that is the whole mechanical structure of the new aircraft. Currently another batch of staff members from similar areas within the business are also taking part in the training which commenced on Monday, April 15, and lasted until Thursday, April 18, 2019.

During the month of February, the Airbus Hamburg Training Centre welcomed the first group of Air Seychelles aircraft engineers as part of its comprehensive A320neo training program. The agenda composed of both theory and on-the-job experience provided the technical operations team further knowledge on how to conduct maintenance on the A320neo besides having the chance to view the Airbus assembly line.

Held from Monday, February 18, until Wednesday, February 27, the sessions in Hamburg were attended by engineers Clyne De -Letourdis, David Saminaden, and Denys Assan.

In addition to that, as of Tuesday, February 5, until Thursday, February 7, Manager of Cabin Safety Standards, Magdalena Hubert, and Manager for Cabin Safety Training Programs, Dereck Charlette, also had the chance to participate in the Airbus A320neo safety training held at the Airbus Training Centre Europe in Toulouse.

The training will proceed over the next upcoming months as part of the entry into service program of the new Air Seychelles A320neo aircraft.

The Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority in the meantime is progressing the type approval of this new aircraft which had not been registered in the Seychelles before and, therefore, requires additional regulatory approvals and licensing measures.

Travel News | eTurboNews