seychelles hospitality and tourism association

Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association Chairman Louis D’Offay speaks out

SEYCHELLES PRIVATE SECTOR MEETS TO DISCUSS INDUSTRY AFFAIRS

Members of the SHTA, the Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Association from Praslin and La Digue Islands met at a General Meeting at La Reserve Hotel on Praslin last Saturday.

The Praslin and La Digue tourism professionals meeting was organised by their SHTA to be better updated on pertinent challenges their island members were being faced with. The Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Alain St. Ange, accompanied by Mrs. Elsia Grandcourt, the CEO of STB, the Board’s Director for Administration and HR, Ms. Jenifer Sinon and Mrs. Sabrina Agathine, the Head of Marketing from Air Seychelles had joined the Executive Board Members of the SHTA for the Praslin meeting.

Mr Louis D’Offay, the Chairman of the Association said as he welcomed all the Praslin and La Digue members of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association that SHTA appreciates the importance of the islands of Praslin and La Digue. The association needs to better inform itself on the problems of the islands and above all to listen to them. Mr Louis D’Offay gave an overview of the situation of the Seychelles tourism industry and the new challenges members felt they were today facing.

The floor was then open and the Praslin and La Digue hoteliers and Mr. William Rose, the Director of the Cat Roses Inter Island Ferry brought up points they feel were having a negative impact of their businesses. From inter island air access, the state of Curieuse Island facilities, illegal boat operators, cost for participating at Tourism Trade Fairs, the over development of Praslin and La Digue, direct air access to Europe, new regulations for recruitment of foreign labour following the Mahe meeting with the PS from the Ministry of Employment, tourism budget and the new Tourism Marketing Fund and Social Responsibility taxes were tabled and discussed.

Mrs. Sabrina Agathine, the Air Seychelles Marketing Manager gave explanations on points raised and assured the stakeholders present that she would update the airline’s CEO on points seen as concerns by the tourism sector and Minister Alain St. Ange took time to react to the points raised during the discussions. Minister St. Ange said that he was on Praslin for the Praslin and La Digue meeting because the Government believes in the tourism potential of the two islands and that the Government appreciated the effort made by these island hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs. Minister St. Ange assured that all their points raised had been noted and would be discussed further by his ministry.

The Minister for Tourism also congratulated the SHTA for organizing the Praslin meeting for hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs from Praslin and La Digue. He said that it remained important for the industry and for the Government to remain connected with everyone sitting in the front line of the industry. The Minister thanked the stekeholders for their openness and for being frank in addressing their concerns and challenges.

After lengthy discussions a resolution was adopted for SHTA, the Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism to meet with Air Seychelles CEO to discuss the way forward and to better understand each other’s position. The association also resolved to writing to the Government to seek representation on the Planning Authority as they all agreed at the meeting that Praslin and La Digue were losing their appeal because of new constructions approved by the Planning Authority where no consideration of the islands character as well as the negative impact on the environment was taken into account. A marketing meeting of the association and the Tourism Board is also to be called in the coming week to review the 2013 plan of action and the allocated budget. The stakeholders from Praslin and La Digue also requested that a letter be sent to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister responsible for employment to take up the lack of staff difficulties. They addressed the appeal by the country to support the new flight by Air Seychelles to Hong Kong but said that as they wanted to move to be ready with specialized catering needed for that new market new formalities to recruit foreign cooks made it too complicated because they today needed to convince the Ministry that this employee was suitable when it remains clear to them that they would not be spending the money to employ a foreign staff member if they were not an asset. They made it plain that they want to manage their establishment themselves and not be dictated by an officer in a Ministry trying to manage it for them.

The Executive Board of the Association also held it meeting on Praslin which was followed by a cocktail at the la Reserve Hotel at Anse Petite Cour.

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‘Our home, your sanctuary’ – new tourism campaign touts Seychelles as safe destination

A new campaign with the tagline ‘Experience Seychelles; our home, your sanctuary’ launched by the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) on Tuesday aims at boosting visitor confidence in the island nation as a safe destination. The board revealed that the campaign, amidst times of uncertainty, aims to give travellers worldwide hope and the prospect of escaping the harsh COVID-19 realities by calling them to submerge themselves in the natural allure of Seychelles as a pristine paradise.  ‘Experience Seychelles; our home, your sanctuary’ – highlighted in a series of videos – follows STB’s digital campaign ‘Dream now, Experience Seychelles Later’ launched in April this year. STB’s chief executive Sherin Francis told a press conference that the campaign is paving the way for the destination to present various markets and segments with other marketing initiatives that are to come. “We are aware that in these uncertain times and in a competitive environment, the conversion of this campaign to actual sales of holidays will not be immediate. This is why we feel it is important for us to remain visible to our potential clients.” Seychelles and its economy has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and global travel downturn, but not by the virus itself. Seychelles has seen no deaths from the virus  and for now there are seven active cases. According to Francis the timing for the release of the campaign has been chosen purposely as it is focusing on a long-term visibility strategy to reboot travel in the islands.   

The hotelier explained the word sanctuary offers visitors a safe place to come and where they can extend their stay up to three months and work as well while waiting for things to improve.  (Fregate Island Private) Photo License: All Rights Reserved “After much preparation with the help of our government and local industry partners, we have seen that the destination is ready to welcome visitors to our islands. Whilst the campaign’s main aim is to remind visitors that there is a secluded paradise awaiting their arrival, it also highlights the safety measures and procedures were taken by tourism establishments to ensure travellers can experience Seychelles without worries” added Francis.  Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association chairperson (SHTA), Sybille Cardon, said that the association and the private sector have welcomed and supported this new campaign.  “It is important like the CEO has said that Europe, in general, does not forget Seychelles. If they want to, they can dream they can always see images, the beaches and all that we have here, which makes them want to come and take refuge here in Seychelles,” said Cordon. The hotelier explained the word sanctuary offers visitors a safe place to come and where they can extend their stay up to three months and work as well while waiting for things to improve. “We are working together to see what kind of packages we can offer, as here there are schools as well, there is the International School as well as the French School,” added Cardon, “Our home your sanctuary, comes together and can become your homes as well.” Seychelles – 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean – reopened its borders on June 1, for leisure boats, chartered and private flights. Two months later on August 1, the airport reopened for commercial flights to restart the tourism industry. Since then up to the first week of September, some 2,600 tourists have travelled to Seychelles. But this is a far cry to what the islands were used to before COVID -19 when this was the daily number of visitors who arrived here. Source: Seychelles News Agency

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Air Seychelles and SHTA join hands to promote tourism establishments in Seychelles

Air Seychelles and the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) have today signed an agreement aimed at supporting the promotion of hotels and guesthouses in Seychelles. As part of the deal, members of the SHTA will be able to take advantage of special-priced airfares when travelling with Air Seychelles to promote their properties at international consumer and trade shows. The agreement was signed by Remco Althuis, CEO of Air Seychelles, and Sybille Cardon, Chairperson of the SHTA, at the airline’s VIP Lounge in Seychelles International Airport, with senior airline management and the association’s board members in attendance. Mr Althuis said: “We are pleased to continue working with SHTA this year and look forward to welcoming more of its members onboard our flights. Our shared goal of raising the profile of Seychelles and attracting visitors to our shores makes this a very natural partnership.” Mrs Cardon said: “This agreement will provide our members with access to preferential travel rates on the Air Seychelles network, making it easier for property owners, especially the smaller-sized establishments, to attend and market their offerings at trade shows. We have a great relationship with Air Seychelles and are pleased to continue our cooperation into 2018.” With more than 150 members that range from five-star resorts to small, family-run guesthouses, the SHTA is the leading association of its kind in Seychelles. Air Seychelles and the SHTA first signed a Corporate Travel Services agreement covering preferential travel rates in 2016.

About Air Seychelles

The Seychelles’ national carrier has been flying for over 45 years. Wholly owned by the Government of Seychelles, the carrier operates regionally from its home in Mahe to Tel Aviv, Johannesburg, Mumbai, Mauritius, and Colombo with state- of-the-art Airbus A320NEOs. Domestically, the carrier operates up to 30 roundtrips a day to Praslin, the second largest island in the archipelago, along with various charters to other islands on its twin-otter fleet.

In 2023, Air Seychelles was awarded the coveted titles of ‘World’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean’, at the 30th edition of the World Travel Awards as well as, ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline Economy Class’ and ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline Brand’

Information contained in this press release is accurate at the time of publication .

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Tourism Minister Meets Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Affiliation

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, and the new Chief Secretary for Tourism, Ms. Sherin Francis, met with the Board of Directors of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) to discuss the prevailing issues affecting recreation of tourism in Seychelles impact the government’s commitment to the success of the industry, as well as the government’s continued efforts to work with the private sector.

• The SHTA received support from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism in the interests of the sector and the wider community.
• The monthly meetings between the two departments will resume.
• Tourism professionals from the private sector will be invited to join a new advisory committee to effectively assist the government in handling tourism-related matters.

At the beginning of the meeting, which was held virtually for the first time this year via the online platform ZOOM at the end of last month, Minister Radegonde stated that his department would, within reason, respond to inquiries from SHTA in the interests of the industry and the wider economy. Cooperation and consultation will increase, he said, with the resumption of the planned monthly meetings between the Ministry of Tourism and the SHTA.

Minister Radegonde briefed the SHTA board members about the restructuring in the Ministry of Tourism and stated that the dissolution of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and the merger of the two main national tourism organizations were essential to consolidate the resources of both entities while maintaining the desirable synergy between the two .

Minister Radegonde’s proposal to invite private sector tourism professionals to join a new advisory committee to effectively assist the government in handling tourism-related matters was welcomed by the SHTA, which reiterated that the tourism industry will be strengthened when the private and the public sectors interact and collectively contribute planning and strategic thinking and developing solutions to national problems.

Value for money is one of the main issues facing the industry and Minister Radegonde reiterated the Ministry’s plan to improve the visitor experience; An assessment and inventory of existing attractions and accommodation products will be carried out, and admission prices to iconic sites will be reviewed to ensure that visitors are getting good value for money.

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Tourism Seychelles to charm visitors from all corners of the world at the WTM 2023

Tourism Seychelles returns to the World Travel Market (WTM) London to entice prospective travellers from all corners of the world. The highly anticipated global tourism event will take place at London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre from today, Monday, November 6, to Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

A large delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr Sylvestre Radegonde, will be attending the 43rd edition of the renowned business-to-business travel & tourism show for worldwide travel experts.

The group will also include Mrs Bernadette Willemin, Director General for Destination Marketing, Ms Karen Confait, Tourism Seychelles’ Director for the United Kingdom (UK) market, Ms Winnie Eliza Marketing Executive and Ms Sandra Bonnelame Officer from the Creative and Content Management unit both from the Tourism Seychelles headquarters.

In her anticipation of the upcoming event, Mrs. Willemin eloquently expressed, “As we embark on the journey towards a prosperous 2024, we find ourselves on a quest to continually enhance our standing within the industry. Our main mission is to expand our global market presence. Despite the myriad challenges confronting our sector and the unrelenting competition from international counterparts, our aspirations in the days ahead revolve around strengthening our existing trade partnerships and forging new alliances.”

Participants will have the chance to interact with potential customers and have business-to-business meetings with international buyers throughout the course of the three-day event.

The Tourism Seychelles delegation will be joined by 11 partners representing the local travel trade including a representative of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association, Creole Travel Services, Mason’s Travel, 7° South, STORY Seychelles, Hilton Seychelles Hotels, Kempinski Seychelles, Laila – A Tribute Portfolio Resort, Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa, Hotel, Hotel L’Archipel and Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas.

The Tourism Department is mandated to encourage the development of the tourism industry in Seychelles.

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Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Foundation (SSTF)

Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean which is renowned for its unique flora and fauna, half of the land area being protected as nature reserves and the government has committed to protecting 30% of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 1.3 million square kilometres until 2030. Tourism is one of the major pillars of the economy and plays a crucial role in conservation. The Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Foundation (SSTF) is a Seychellois NGO which acts as a connecting platform for tourism stakeholders in Seychelles, facilitating partnerships and joint initiatives for sustainable tourism. Our vision is to make Seychelles an international best practice example for sustainable tourism through an integrated collaborative approach between public, the private sector, academia and NGOs. As part of this vision our action plan is based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria, pursuing a five-year goal for Seychelles to be certified as a sustainable tourism destination by one of the GSTC-recognised bodies.

How does this example/initiative fit with LT&C's vision

Tourism is a major positive contributing force to conservation in Seychelles. On the one hand, there are many successful initiatives and projects linking tourism with conservation efforts, e.g. some of the smaller islands such as Bird Island, Cousin Island, Felicité and Frégate are offering renowned ecotourism services and tourism directly finances marine and terrestrial conservation efforts. Some of the large hotels such as the Four Seasons or Banyan Tree have partnered up with NGOs such as WiseOceans and the Marine Conservation Society of Seychelles (MCSS) to raise awareness of marine conservation, set up monitoring programmes and offer ecotourism experiences for the hotel’s guests. But we are yet to build a national approach towards linking tourism and conservation. We are at a crucial moment in time with the Marine Spatial Plan being developed which foresees 30% of the EEZ being protected, also wishing to further develop marine-based tourism. As the main platform for sustainable tourism in the country, we interact with various stakeholders, participate in discussions and processes to mainstream sustainable tourism throughout the country. We see ourselves as an LT&C example in process at national level, which brings together relevant actors striving to preserve this paradise.

Our founder and chairperson is on the board of the Seychelles National Parks Authority, as well as on the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association and is a fundamental player in triggering much-needed discussions and challenging touristic development plans regarding existing and new marine protected areas. We believe that positive and sustainable management of our protected areas can only be achieved through a multi-stakeholder approach in which different parties take their responsibility and act upon it. We are only in the second year of existence as an NGO, but we see how many parts of society are concerned about some of the touristic developments taking place and are ready to take initiative.

Why is this case a good example of linking tourism and conservation?

Through the foundation, we are connecting different stakeholders in Seychelles, facilitating dialogues, partnerships and discussions. Even though we are a small island state, many of the ongoing initiatives and approaches remain isolated. We foster communication, education being a key topic of concern for us. We have the political support from the Ministry of Tourism, as well as from private sector side, notably through the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association. For us, education is at the core of our vision. Working with the University of Seychelles, the Seychelles Tourism Academy, the freelance tour guides and the public, allow us to reignite a passion for the Seychelles tourism product and connecting Seychellois to nature and conservation. Topics such as sustainable waste management are much discussed in our media, but few stakeholders are actually taking the initiative to change things. We are putting in place concrete research and projects to advance knowledge and solutions. We have hosted a series of awareness-raising events and panel discussions on sustainable waste management, support student research e.g. on food waste in the hotel industry and have connected private sector players with NGOs, e.g. the German tour operator SeyVillas is now financially supporting marine conservation and animal welfare projects on Mahe and in the St Anne Marine Park.

Are there plans to further improve this example of tourism supporting conservation in the future?

We are aiming at developing and enhancing ecotourism offers in Seychelles. We have relied too heavily on the traditional sun and beach approach, but the country has so much more to offer. Especially in the context of involving local communities, creating value and supporting conservation. Additionally, we want to lobby for an enforcement of laws. Seychelles is very advanced in terms of policies and regulations concerning protected area management, conservation etc., but often the problem is the implementation.

How could this example be transferred to another protected area and knowledge be shared?

We share the same challenges as many Small Developing Island States (SIDS) around the world. Being so small in size, tourism and conservation concern us all. We have initiated the first forum of exchange between other SIDS and protected area managers at our first Conference on Sustainable Tourism in SIDS, which took place in November 2017 and which convened 30 international participants (among them several LT&C members) from 22 countries for discussions with Seychellois public, private, NGO and academia representatives. We are eager to share our experience at other workshops, during study trips, and through exchange programmes.

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‘Overall cost of doing business is outrageous’: R.I. hospitality leader talks Washington Bridge fiasco, shoddy tourism budget, and more

R estaurant owners and hoteliers have had to face a tough few years during and after the COVID pandemic that include a persistent staffing crisis, rising costs, a disastrous supply chain problem, changing tastes , and tricky red tape that can make owning and operating a business even harder.

Earlier this year, Rhode Island Hospitality Association president and CEO Dale Venturini announced she would retire after nearly four decades leading the trade group. Heather Singleton, the association’s chief operating officer, stepped up to serve as the association’s interim CEO in the meantime, and spoke about the challenges the restaurant and lodging industries face in 2024, legislative priorities, and her own future.

Q. At no surprise, the Washington Bridge has to be rebuilt. We know this is already decimating businesses . What is the association focused on?

Singleton: For a while, everyone was taking this “wait to see” what the results are approach. Now, we know it’s going to take a couple of years to get back to normal. We’ve started listening sessions with business owners to hear directly from them on what kind of help they’re really going to need over the next few years, and we plan on working with elected officials to help support those businesses. But immediately, RIHA is relaunching our Employee Relief Fund , which is for employees that are currently facing an unexpected financial hardship. This fund initially came about because of COVID, but we still had some money left in that fund so we’re going to be reopening that.

Q. How much could an employee receive from this fund?

A. It’s up to $1,000. The United Way of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Foundation had helped us get that fund set up during the pandemic, and we received a lot of donations to continue feeding it. During COVID, these funds are what helped some employees who were laid off. When folks returned to work, we decided to turn it into a relief fund that has been used for emergencies.

Q. What kinds of emergencies?

A. An employee from Connecticut was living and working in Rhode Island when her parents contracted COVID pretty badly and it was not a good situation. She just needed gas money in order to get back and forth from Rhode Island to Connecticut to help her parents. The relief fund was able to help with that.

Q. Other than the bridge, what are the most pressing concerns your members face in 2024 in Rhode Island?

A. The overall cost of doing business is outrageous. Everything from business insurance, utilities, goods, transportation fees, labor, rent, and other expenses are all much more expensive.. If sales are up, the money is just going out the back door. If sales aren’t up, businesses are having a hard time keeping up.

Q. Most states spend an average of $20 million on tourism marketing. Ours is only $5 million, but much of our economy depends on the hospitality industry. What’s with the divide?

A. We work with all of the tourism regions in Rhode Island, and consider them the “front of the house” while the association is the “back of the house.” We’re focused on a lot of the advocacy, lobbying efforts, and workforce issues; the tourism regions are in charge of promoting the destination and bringing folks in. I know that $5 million is not a lot. We’re trying to bring in leisure travelers, business travelers, and people coming in to visit friends and family. That’s three different sectors of tourism. We need a lot more than $5 million.

Q. What is the association planning to advocate in front of lawmakers this year?

A. Everything is on the table. We’re tracking close to 150 pieces of legislation right now that have been introduced in this session. [For example, there are two pieces of legislation that have been introduced in the General Assembly that could force restaurants to stop charging service fees .]

Q. Happy Hour was canceled in Rhode Island in 1985. Will it ever return? Should it?

A. We haven’t taken a position on this. We surveyed our membership and the results showed business owners were split right down the middle. Some were very supportive of it; others felt it wouldn’t help them.

Q. Are you looking to serve as RIHA’s permanent CEO?

A. Yes, I’ve applied. I’ve been here for 26 years, and with Dale as my mentor and coach over the years, it’s always been my goal to lead the association.

Q. If you were selected, what are your yearlong goals for RIHA?

A. First thing is to deal with the crisis at hand: the Washington Bridge crisis. I’m only a few weeks into the job as interim CEO and the bridge is definitely going to be a major focus for us.

Outside of the bridge, I’d like to revaluate our current benefits and services that we’re offering members to make sure they are still valuable. I want to look out for new partnerships and expand membership. So many new places are coming up into the industry, and I need to meet and hear from them directly.

The Boston Globe’s weekly Ocean State Innovators column features a Q&A with Rhode Island innovators who are starting new businesses and nonprofits, conducting groundbreaking research, and reshaping the state’s economy. Send tips and suggestions to reporter Alexa Gagosz at [email protected] .

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Beach committee set up to oversee activities on popular beaches |25 February 2020

Minister Dogley chairing the committee’s first meeting yesterday (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

As part of efforts to make the beaches of Seychelles an enjoyable place for tourists and locals, the department of tourism has launched a beach committee that will oversee the wellbeing of popular beaches around the country.

The committee includes representatives from the health department, the police, Enterprise Seychelles Agency (ESA), Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) and environment.

“The aim of the committee is to protect the most important asset that Seychelles has which is its beaches,” said Didier Dogley, Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine.

He noted that the type of facilities currently available on beaches are limited and inadequate.

“We have invited representatives of many government and private sectors to be part of this committee as the implementation will be done by the relevant agencies and not by the ministry itself,” added the minister.

On her part the principal secretary for tourism, Anne Lafortune, noted that tourists come to Seychelles primarily for the sand, sun and sea but recently illegal and disorderly conducts have been observed on many beaches and the ministry has received complaints from both tourists and locals.

“The committee will oversee all beach activities and make sure that they are up to par when it comes to hygiene and regulations to make sure that everything is done by the book,” said Mrs Lafortune.

She added that the committee will target the more popular areas and when a problem arises on other beaches they will then take it up.

Representing SHTA, Sybille Cardon noted that development is needed in some aspects like putting toilets on the beach, however we must also keep it in its pristine state and that will not happen if we pile on beach chairs on the beaches.

“The unique aspect of our beaches is the fact that it’s empty and this is what tourists expect to see when they come here,” said Mrs Cardon.

Christophe Zialor

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