After her first trip to the stunning islands of Seychelles, one of the teachers at Al Yasat school in Abu Dhabi, Sara Al-Zubi, fell in love with the islands and wanted to share her experience with the students, so she came up with an initiative.

The Seychelles islands was the main theme of a presentation given to a group of students at the Al Yasat private school in Al Shamkha, Abu Dhabi.

Tourism attach based in Abu Dhabi, Aliette Esther, was contacted by the school to help with a presentation and Open Day.

"On the first day, I gave a presentation to students aged between seven and eight years old. I usually work closely with travel agents and professionals involved with the travel and tourism trade, so these young minds were a different segment of the market. I had to come up with a totally new presentation which was geared towards them. It was challenging, but a lot of fun, said Ms. Esther.

"I covered a few themes like the people, the flora and fauna, the language, and other aspects of our culture. The students stunned me with everything that they knew, thanks to their teacher's hard work."

Miss Al-Zubi was enthused from her trip to the Seychelles, and started preparing for the presentation and Open Day.

It fitted in perfectly with the curriculum, and that made it even more worthwhile.

From posters to papier-mch figurines, drawings of the flag and pictures of animals, as well as their own representations of different aspects of the islands, the students seemed to have covered it all.

These were also on display the following week for the Open Day, where the parents of the over 850 students, 95% of whom are United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals, were in attendance.

The parents asked a lot questions about the islands, sharing their children's fascination and enthusiasm, she said.

Miss Esther added that the highlight of the day was a dance performance that the class had prepared, and whereby three of the students wore traditional costumes of the Seychelles.

The whole audience was clapping and cheering to the rhythm of the music.

"It was really touching to see children of other nationalities loving the country so much," Miss Esther added.

Everyone went home with fond memories of the islands as well as little souvenirs of the Seychelles in the guise of coco-de-mer key-rings and different colored tortoises ordered specially for the event.

The Seychelles was showcased alongside Tunisia, Italy, Argentina, Thailand, Japan, South Africa, Mexico, Cuba, England, Brazil, Canada, France, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Germany, Greece, Russia, Morocco, Australia, Switzerland, Jamaica, New Zealand, and India.

The schools Principal, Dr. Jake Madden, thanked Miss Esther for the effort she invested in marketing and selling the Seychelles, and for sustaining the interest of so many parents, children, and staff throughout the day.

"I think we can definitely expect a few families from the Al Yasat Private School to visit the Seychelles this year. They were all impressed by the fact that they can get a visa on arrival and that the islands are only four hours away from the UAE.

To top it off, it is perfectly safe, and that's a definite attraction. The UAE is well-connected with the Seychelles archipelago by three airlines and four scheduled flights per day, one of which is Air Seychelles the national carrier; Etihad Airways; and Emirates Airline, she said.

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Abu Dhabi students fall in love with Seychelles - eTurboNews.com - eTurboNews

The European Diving Show (Eudi) is largely attended by groups from the tourism and fishing industry including didactics, tour operators, diving centers, and aficionados of the underwater world.

The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) took part in the in the most important national and European show for divers and diving cruises held in Bologna, Italy, as from March 3 to 5.

Around 32,000 visitors are recorded annually, and this year was no exception with many big sponsors of the event present such as Turkish Airlines, Canon, and GoCamera GoPro.

STB was represented by the Regional Manager for Italy, Monette Rose, partnered with tour operator, Albatros Top Boat, the most important tour operator that sells diving, which gave a share of its business to Seychelles during the fair in Bologna, Italy.

One corner of the stand was entirely dedicated to Seychelles and was a great chance to promote the beauty and underwater life of Seychelles to consumers and professionals in the maritime industry.

The tour operator advertised with dedicated brochures about cruises aboard MSY GALATEA and the diving experience in Seychelles in collaboration with Blue Sea Divers diving center.

STB representative, Monette Rose, also partnered with a new tour operator, Dont Stop Me Travel, based in Pomezia, which is strongly geared towards pushing Seychelles and its diving experience.

The Managing Director, Marco Benazz, along with Product and Sales Manager, Bernadette Romanati, who is a Seychellois and the former STB marketing executive based in Italy for several years, also moved fast in promoting the archipelago and organizing niche packages.

During the fair, not a chance was missed to broaden contacts and build essential relationships with key figures in the tourism and fishing industries.

Ms. Rose invited them to Seychelles for its underwater events such as the Underwater Photo Contest, which will take place in October on Praslin for diving, snorkeling, and underwater photography, being organized by Dont Stop Me Travel.

The fair closed with great success in terms of visitors and media coverage with many activities organized such as Eudi Movie, Eudi Selfie, workshops, and many VIP special guests such as Umberto Pellizzari.

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Seychelles holidays beneath the waves promoted in Italy - eTurboNews

Seychelles Director for Europe, Bernadette Willemin, said arrival figures from France virtually doubled over the last 10 years alone and reached a new record year in 2016 with 43,300 visitors, remaining the top producing market for the Seychelles.

The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) has thanked the French press for their valued support given to the destination over the years, which has contributed towards the increase of arrival figures from this European market.

The Director for Europe, Bernadette Willemin, echoed these words of thanks to representatives of the French press during a press conference held at the Hotel Hilton Opera in Paris on March 2.

She was joined at the press conference by STBs Marketing Executive, Valerie Payet; the General Manager of Hilton Northolme and Double Tree Allamanda Resort & Spa, Gregory Thierion; and Devi Pentamah, the Paris-based Cluster Sales Manager for Hilton Seychelles Hotels and Resort.

Mrs. Willemin gave a presentation on Seychelles, giving an overview of the islands tourism products and emphasizing the natural beauty of the country.

Seychelles was perfectly-described as the place where natural purity and authenticity is perfectly cocooned from the pernicious influences of commercialism; the place where tranquility and simplicity can be found and innocence rediscovered.

The opportunity was timely to bring the warmth of the islands to the audience contrasting the freezing cold weather outside.

Mrs. Willemin spoke about the warmth which visitors can expect to enjoy anytime in Seychelles, land of perpetual summer.

She also talked about the different activities inland and out at sea underlining also the Creole culture and Seychellois hospitality, a population who is by great majority Christians and blessed to be living in a place still considered to be one of the safest in the world.

Bernadette Willemin concluded by explaining the wide range of accommodation choices, from the homely comforts of rustic beachside bungalows to the pampered privacy and luxury of 5-star resorts on remote islands, thus setting the scene for Hilton partners to take the floor.

Devi Pentamah then took over and transported the journalists to the third biggest island of the archipelago, Silhouette, where Hilton has its biggest property. The exotic, forgotten world of Silhouette represents Seychelles at its pristine best.

The pure unspoiled nature of the island offers unfathomed beauty, representing the true essence of Seychelles.

Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort is located along a 2-kilometer stretch of powder-soft beach and combines the optimum in fly & flop relaxation including a first-class spa, fine dining, and beautiful beaches with exciting activities together with the usual water sports.

This unique holiday experience provides guests with the chance to be at one with nature and to enjoy the very best that Seychelles unique environment has to offer.

Mr. Thierion proudly introduced the 2 smallest Hilton resorts in the world Hilton Seychelles Northome Resort & Spa and the Double Tree Allamanda Resort & Spa, both found on the island of Mah.

Located on the northern coast of Mah, Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa is a secluded hideaway along Beau Vallon Bay, with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean. It is surrounded by white sandy beaches, tropical gardens, and crystal waters, and it is a true escape. It has 55 luxurious villas nestled along small beach coves and on the hillside, the Hilltop Restaurant with its panoramic view, Ocean View Bar, Les Cocotiers Restaurant for fine dining under the stars, the Eforea Spa for relaxing treatments, the infinity pool, and much more.

Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa retains its old-world Seychellois friendliness and charm, enhanced by its excellent service and casual elegance. A Creole getaway awaits at this hidden treasure - also an inspiration to James Bond creator, Ian Fleming.

Mr. Thierion then moved to the modern 4-star DoubleTree Allamanda Resort & Spa by Hilton located in the South of Mah at Anse Forbans. The 30-room property boasts a romantic and superb private beach surrounded by untouched lush tropical foliage, all offering the guests a panoramic view of the ocean.

The members of the press left with le soleil plein la tte after one-on-one meetings and interviews with the hotelier and STB.

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France: Top producer for Seychelles Tourism - eTurboNews

A moratorium on large hotel projects in Seychelles, specifically on Mahe and the inner islands, was announced by former President James Michel in his address on the occasion of Seychelles National Day which falls on June 29, 2015.

The Seychelles Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine has published a list of hotels which was approved before the moratorium on new large hotels in the country came into force. Members of the local media were presented with the list yesterday afternoon during a press conference held at the ministrys headquarters, Espace building.

Speaking to members of the press was the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, and present were the Principal Secretary for Tourism, Anne Lafortune, and the Director of Standards and Regulations, Sinha Levkovic.

Projects for which approval had already been granted, or for which a commitment had been made by the government, were exempted. The moratorium is set to be enforced until the year 2020.

Minister Loustau-Lalanne said a number of governmental bodies were involved in the process of having these projects approved and thanked the Seychelles Investment Board, Seychelles Planning Authority, and the Secretariat of the Cabinet as well as the tourism ministry.

There are 18 large hotels projects on that list, which means those tourism establishments which are made up of 25 rooms or more. Twelve out of the 18 projects are on Mahe, 2 are on Praslin, and 4 others are on the outer islands, namely Ile Platte, Silhouette, Ile Longue, and Sainte Anne.

Speaking on the project on Ile Platte, Minister Loustau-Lalanne said construction started but has not been completed yet. He added that construction will restart, and this is why the project is on this list.

On the proposed capacity of these hotel projects, Minister Loustau-Lalanne said there are those which have received definitive approval, but there are a few that are still in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) stage.

He added that there are projects which have been approved since 2006, but since Seychelles went through the economic reforms in 2008, investors did not see it opportune to kick-start these projects.

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Moratorium update on large hotel projects in Seychelles - eTurboNews - eTurboNews

PHOTO: A little slice of paradise Anse Coco in the Seychelles. (photo via Flickr/Jean-Marie Hullot)

Island life might not get much better than the Seychelles. The islands have long enchanted travelers from all walks of life.

The Seychelles are a great destination during any season, blessed with a warm, tropical climate all year long and located outside the cyclone belt. A quality that has earned them the nickname, the land of perpetual summer, writes Glynn Burridge for National Geographic.

It really is a land for all types of visitors.

This island paradise is not just about laying on the beach, however. Visitors can indulge in other activities, such as world-class diving, snorkeling, fishing, hiking, island hopping, golf, spa retreats, zip lining, and horseback riding, notes Burridge.

Make sure you get a taste of the local culture by sampling its culinary offerings.

READ MORE:'Unlock The Sea' at Le Meridien Fisherman's Cove in Seychelles

No stay in Seychelles is complete without tasting the delicious Seychellois Creole cuisine a blend of old French cuisine and piquant Indian and Chinese flavors. While this fusion is best enjoyed in local homes, many restaurants can also introduce you to its amazing flavors and textures, says Burridge.

Theres also a lively music scene.

If youre looking to relax and unwind to the sounds of live music, try the Boardwalk Bar & Grill, a magnet for weekend revelers. Hardcore partygoers should check out local clubs Katiolo and Tequila Boom, Burridge suggests.

There are also options for those who want a more spiritual experience or those looking for adventures. For more on what to do in the Seychelles, read on here.

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Get to Know the Seychelles - TravelPulse

Never thought of visiting the Seychelles? Well, you might be soon. In our Breakout Role series, we take a look at places that have seen huge increases in tourism in the last few years, and try to figure out whats causing all the hype.

By any measure, Seychelles is a relatively tiny country. The African nation, made up of 115 small islands bunched together in the western Indian Ocean, has a population of around 90,000 people and a total landmass that is only about 2.5 times larger than Washington, D.C.

But if theres one thing in Seychelles thats enormous, its tourism. In its 2014 report, the World Travel & Tourism Council estimated that almost 57 percent of the countrys yearly GDP had either directly or indirectly come from travel. The country has been so successful in expanding its hospitality industry that its former minister of tourism, a man named Alain St. Ange, is now runningwith a great deal of supportto become the next General Secretary of the United Nations World Tourism Association.

And things arent slowing down in Seychelles either. In 2015 the island nation had the worlds 12th largest growth in international visitors, and in 2016 alone the country saw a 10 percent increase in total arrivals.

Lights

Photo: Didier Baertschiger, CC-BY

Turning an isolated archipelago into a tourism success story isnt done over night, and in Seychelles this process has been ongoing for decades. David Germain, Seychelles director of tourism for Africa and the Americas, says that when the country started to really frame itself as a travel destinationaround 35 or 40 years ago by his estimationone of the first goals was to include the entire population, and to educate them as to the benefits the industry could bring their nation.

I think we took the right step in getting the population involved in tourism right at the beginning, Germain says. The kids grow up understanding tourism.

A look at the countrys yearly climate statistics may lead to the conclusion that its smooth, clear-blue beaches were always destined to become a tourism hub. The weather is incredibly consistent, with average daily temperatures hovering in the mid-to-low 80s all year long. Additionally, the nations lack of any sort of visa requirement for entry makes travel from any countryfor any period of timeextremely accessible.

Over time, Seychelles began to emerge as a popular vacation spot for Europeans, but things changed in the 1990s when a rise in global tourism made some travelers a little more skeptical of taking such a long flight to the islands. According to Germain, it was after this period that the country began to look to new source markets, such as the Americas, Russia and other parts of Asia, for new visitors.

Camera

Photo: So Seychelles, CC-BY

In addition to minding the concerns of the locals, there is another factor that has always been an instrumental part of Seychelles tourism growththe environment. And the country has done so in grandiose fashion: in an attempt to protect its natural beauty from overdevelopment, the government has protected around 50 percent of the nations land and water territory as nature preserves.

This battle is natural ongoing, because as more and more tourists come to Seychelles for vacation, the higher the demand for increased land development gets. However, the battleso far, at leastis being won by the environment, with the country seemingly remaining steadfast in its commitment to conservation.

There are things that we can do, and things that were not allowed to do to remain this niche destination that we are, Germain says. We are not a mass destination. We will never bebecause of our conservation program.

Action

Photo: Jean Pierre Bovin, CC-BY

After one look at the countrys scenery, its clear why these landscapes are so worth preserving. Flat-sanded, palm-filled beaches are available around every turn in Seychelles, with Mahethe countrys largest and by far most populous islandleading the way. The main island is a popular resort destination, with beaches such as Baie Lazare and Beau Vallon standing out as elite relaxation spots.

Tourists looking for more adventurous attractions dont have to leave Mahe either. More than 20 percent of the island is taken up by Morne Seychellois National Park hiking trails, beautiful peaks and some rewarding, isolated beaches for those willing to travel deep enough into the park. Additionally, the Ste Anne National Marine Park, which is located just off the coast of Mahe, offers a five star resort as well as mangrove and crocodile sightseeing opportunities.

For those wanting to explore a little further, the tiny island of Praslinnot even 15 square miles in total sizeis home to the Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve. An established UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area is home to an almost untouched prehistoric forest, as well as a number of unusual plants and animals.

When You Go

Flight Rates: Current round trip flights from Los Angeles to Seychelles International Airport cost between $1,200 and $1,950, while flights from New York can be found for between $1,170 and $1,720.

Travel Concerns: The U.S. Department of State has no significant safety warnings for Seychelles, and there are no visas required for visitors.

Currency Exchange: 1 USD = 13.51 Seychelles Rupees

More Info: Lonely Planet has a fantastic Seychelles travel guide, and the tourism boards website offers information about travel, attractions and upcoming events.

Top photo: Jean-Marie Hullot, CC-BY

Dillon Thompson is University of Georgia student and freelance writer with a love for travel and an addiction to coffee and hip-hop music.

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Breakout Role: Seychelles - Paste Magazine

A Seychelles delegation headed by the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, is on its way to ITB Berlin. The team also includes from the Seychelles Tourism Board Chief Executive Sherin Francis, Director for Europe Bernadette Willemin, Regional Manager Edith Hunzinger, and Marketing Executive Natacha Servina who will also be present at the event.

The Seychelles tourism industry will once again be present with a 40-member delegation at the upcoming ITB Berlin tourism trade fair to be held from March 8-12.

A total of 28 companies from the private sector will be joining the fair, namely Air Seychelles, Alphonse Island Lodge, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Beachcomber, Berjaya Resorts Seychelles, Coco de Mer Hotel, Coral Strand Smart Choice Hotel, Savoy Resort and Spa, Creole Travel Services, Denis Private Island, Dhevatara Beach Hotel, Eden Bleu Hotel, Hilton Seychelles, The H Resort, Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Le Duc de Praslin, Val Mer Resort, Le Meridien Fishermans Cove, Le Relax Hotel, Maia Luxury Resort, Paradise Sun Hotel, Masons Travel, North Island, Pure Seychelles Hotels, Raffles Praslin Seychelles, the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association, 7South, and VPM Yacht Charter.

ITB Berlin is set to have a total of 10,096 exhibitors from 187 countries. It is the worlds leading travel trade show, which presents a wonderful chance to discover the entire world within a few hours and to meet business partners, and learn about new trends, concepts, and cooperation options, as well as deepen existing business relations.

Germany is one of Seychelles leading markets, and according to the National Bureau of Statistics for the week ending on February 26, the overall visitors from Europe increased by 27% compared to the same period in 2016.

An increase of 40% was recorded from the German market, which placed Germany as the second leading market for Seychelles during that period, with a total of 6,234 visitors arriving to the countrys shores.

The Seychelles tourism industry started on an extremely positive note this year, and this is being supported further by the enthusiasm of the travel trade partners whom are already eager to push the destination even more. This years ITB will be a very busy one, and remains very important given it sets the tone for the rest of the year, said Mrs. Francis.

I thank the local trade partners who will be part of the delegation this year and wish them success for the fair.

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Seychelles Tourism team on its way to ITB Berlin - eTurboNews

The latest figure from the Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics shows around 903 visitors entered the country in January, compared to 750 last year, marking a 17% increase.

Says David Germain, Seychelles Tourism Board, director for Africa and the Americas: We are extremely pleased about the latest figures from the South African market and we are looking forward to, in partnership with South African travellers and our trade partners, to grow at an even greater pace in the coming year.

Germain adds that the launch of Air Seychelles year-round flights from Durban to the Seychelles, on 30 March, will play a definitive role in opening up the destination to even more South Africans. The new service to Durban is in addition to Air Seychelles five flights a week from Johannesburg.

Also commenting on the latest figures, the deputy chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), Jennifer Sinon said: We are now reaping the rewards of all the activities and strategies of last year as the benefits trickle down in the months and years to come.

We acknowledge that this year is going to be challenging both locally and internationally but we are optimistic that the destination will remain resilient.

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Seychelles reports 17% increase in South African visitors - Bizcommunity.com

A workshop was hosted on Monday at the Kempinski Seychelles Resort whereby the trade was given an overview of the Guangdong Province and how Seychelles can get its fair share from this market.

A delegation from the Guangdong tourism industry was in Seychelles from February 26-28.

Led by the Vice-Director General of Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Zhang Zhenlin, the delegation consisted of the governors from the Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, as well as representatives from travel agencies, tourism attractions, and hotel businesses there.

Mr. Zhang also introduced the 2017 Guangdong International Tourism Industry EXPO, which takes place in September in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province.

He extended an invitation to the Seychelles tourism trade partners to take part in the 2017 Guangdong International Tourism Industry EXPO.

Attending the workshop were the Seychelles Tourism Boards Deputy Chief Executive and Senior Marketing Executive, Stephanie Lablache.

The delegation then met the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, and the Principal Secretary for Tourism Anne Lafortune.

Also attending the meeting were the Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Sherin Francis, and Principal of the Seychelles Tourism Academy, Flavien Joubert.

The partnership with Guangdong tourism is set to be consolidated after the meeting.

Both the Gross domestic product (GDP) and capita GDP of Guangdong Province are ranked the first place in China for nearly 30 years. Hence, Guangdong becomes the biggest outbound source market in China with eight million outbound tourists in 2016, exclusive travelers to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau.

Guangdong Province also plays a very important role in Seychelles tourism roadmap on the Chinese market since the Seychelles Tourism Board office was established six years ago in China.

The delegation also visited the Seychelles Tourism Academy and had a discussion with the institutions Principal, Flavien Joubert.

Continued here:

Seychelles vies for its fair share of the China market - eTurboNews

The Association of Inbound Operators of Mauritius (AIOM) have confirmed their support for Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Candidate for Secretary General for the UNWTO through a letter of endorsement forwarded by Firdaus Rawat, on behalf of Association of Inbound Operators (Mauritius).

The letter from their Port Louis Offices in Mauritius says AIOM are providing a recommendation letter in view of the Seychelles participation in the next election of UNWTO.

"On behalf of members of the AIOM, the ASSOCIATION OF INBOUND OPERATORS (MAURITIUS), I wish to support the candidature of Mr Alain St.Ange of Seychelles, for the post of Secretary General at the next election of the UNWTO. Our members have been well acquainted with Mr Alain St.Ange through the good tourism relationship which has always existed between Mauritius and Seychelles. Mr Alain St.Ange was very active and gave great visibility to the Indian Ocean through the Vanilla Islands Regional Organization" Mr Rawat of the AIOM writes.

Alain St.Ange has welcomed the latest endorsement received from the island of Mauritius. "Together the islands of the Indian Ocean through the Vanilla Islands created a new tourism region and we were successful at it. The islands of Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion, Madagascar, Comoros and Mayotte all worked together for their tourism industry. Today another private tourism sector group, this time from Mauritius, have come out to endorse the Seychelles Candidate for the post of Secretary General of the UNWTO and we are indeed thankful" said Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Candidate for the coming UNWTO elections.

The Seychelles Candidate St.Ange is receiving more and more letters of endorsement from tourism private sector trade and from international press. The Seychelles Candidate has already received Letters of Endorsement from President Danny Faure of the Seychelles, from Sir James Mancham, Seychelles founding President who wrote an open letter about his support for the Seychelles St.Ange bid for the United Nations just a week before he passed away, the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Organisation (Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles), the Africa Ports Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA), Tanzania Society of Travel Agents (TASOTA), the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA), Fred W. Finn, the World's Most Travelled Person Guinness World Records, the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam Association, India's important N.R.I. Welfare Society, the Creole Travel Services of Seychelles and the Association of Tourism Professionals of Mauritius (ATP), Eden Island Seychelles, Bea Broda the known Producer/Writer/Host/Speaker from the Americas

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St.Ange from Seychelles receives more support from the Mauritius - FTNnews.com (press release)

DUBAI: Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, received on Tuesday at Zabeel Palace, President of Seychelles Danny Faure.

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority also attended the reception.

Sheikh Mohammed welcomed President Faure in the UAE, and stressed his country's keenness on developing ties with Seychelles. The two sides reviewed bilateral relations of the countries and ways to enhance them in various fields.

Mr Faure emphasised his country's desire to boost cooperation in various domains. He also praised the UAE's pioneering stature at the regional and global arenas, in addition to its role in boosting cooperation between the two countries.

Present at the meeting were Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group; Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future; Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Ahmed Saeed Alneyadi, Charge d'Affaires of the UAE Consulate in Seychelles.

WAM

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Mohammed receives President of Seychelles - Gulf Today

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SriLankan Airlines welcomes sophisticated Airbus A320neo to its fleet

Bond Commission members visit Central Bank

Mangala meets British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Ban in SL: Gunaratne and Dickwella in Sri Lanka Test squad

The governments of Seychelles and Sri Lanka have decided to fight against the drug menace in the country.Praising President Maithripala Sirisenas campaign against illegal drugs, President of Seychelles, Danny Faure said that his country would extend fullest cooperation to Sri Lankas endeaour to stop drugs and narcotics smuggling during a bilateral meeting held on Fenruary 27.

Two leaders discussed the whole range of bilateral relations, especially about close cooperation in tourism, fisheries and agriculture.

President Faure said Seychelles also faced with the menace of drug smuggling in to the country and said the two countries could share intelligence on drugs smuggling in their joint fight against drugs.

President Sirisena, referring to the powerful drug cartels, said that even many political leaders also fear to talk against drug mafia and said he was glad that President Faure fearlessly speak against drug smugglers. I consider you as a dear friend with a common cause, President Sirisena said and President Faure commented, I am strongly with you in our common fight against the drug menace.

President Faure thanked Sri Lanka for providing high professionals to Seychelles and said, Our students learn from Sri Lankan teachers, your doctors look after our health and your legal experts provide us excellent judiciary services. He said former Attorney General of Seychelles, Anthony Fernando is also a Sri Lankan and he is now a respected judge. Now we do not go to Europe for legal expertise, we come to Sri Lanka, Seychelles President said.

President Faure invited President Sirisena to be the chief guest at the function to be held in October 2018 to mark the 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Seychelles Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Michael Benstrong, Presidential secretary Ms Aude Labaleine, Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Esala Weerakoon and Seychelles Ambassador David Pierre also participated in the discussion.

SriLankan Airlines welcomes sophisticated Airbus A320neo to its fleet

Bond Commission members visit Central Bank

Mangala meets British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Ban in SL: Gunaratne and Dickwella in Sri Lanka Test squad

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Lanka and Seychelles to jointly fight drug menace - The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

The Oakfield Expo is dubbed the Gautengs favorite bridal show where high-quality exhibitors attend, and couples get to meet South Africas leading wedding specialists in the beautiful and romantic gardens of the Oakfield Farm.

It was from the prestigious Oakfield Bridal Expo at the end of January, the Seychelles Tourism Boards (STB) office in South Africa attended the Travel Expo and the World Leisure Holiday roadshow last week.

Located in close proximity between Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Oakfield Farm is one of the most sought-after wedding venues, and according to the Seychelles Tourism Boards Manager for South Africa, Lena Hoareau, it was an excellent backdrop to promote the destination.

It was a beautiful venue, with stands both inside and outside in the magnificent gardens, which set the stage for a different atmosphere, as opposed to the usual vast exhibition centers. We had a busy two days with lots of serious and genuine inquiries, she added.

I am happy to learn that some of the queries have actually converted into firm bookings after I touched base with the partnering tour operators a few days after the show.

The following weekend, the Seychelles Tourism Board moved to the heart of Johannesburg for South Africas biggest travel fair the Travel Expo. The expo is organized by the Flight Centre Travel Group, one of the largest travel outlets, pushing sales for Seychelles on the South African market.

Over 100 travel exhibitors were present at this years expo, presenting exclusive deals for the two days.

From domestic to international travels, visitors hunted the best deals on offer as they booked their next holiday and in some cases, their honeymoon.

The island destinations were a hit on that weekend, and the Seychelles stand was always full with consumers getting all the information they needed in order to make the ultimate decision of where they should go.

We always like exhibiting at Travel Expo, because it is full of buzz and excitement as consumers try to find the best deals of the weekend. Once they are happy with a particular deal, they can book then and there at the show itself. With several of the island destinations offering attractive packages, we get a lot of questions as to why someone should go for Seychelles and not another island like Zanzibar or Mauritius, said Mrs. Hoareau.

Such queries allow us to talk about Seychelles uniqueness and what it has to offer as opposed to its competitors. And I am glad to say it was another successful expo for us, and we registered several bookings in the post-expo days.

Right out of the Travel Expo, STO SA took to the roads for the World Leisure Holidays roadshow, starting off with 2 workshops in Johannesburg followed by Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town.

Mrs. Hoareau said over 500 agents attended the 4-city roadshow, and it allowed the office to present Seychelles products to a lot of new agents. Other exhibitors were destinations, resorts, and hotels offered by World Leisure.

STB shared a table with Air Seychelles on this roadshow, as the airline talked about its services and network, with the highlight being the introduction of the new Durban flights starting on March 30.

This annual roadshow allows World Leisure to introduce all its products in the Indian Ocean [region], and it is a great platform for us to capture the hundreds of travel agents, increasing their awareness on Seychelles. The workshop format allows you to have one-to-one contact with agents, and you are able to answer their questions then and there as you do your presentations, said Mrs. Hoareau.

The tourist office continues with its calendar of marketing activities as it targets the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) segment next week with the Meetings Africa (MICE) Fair in Johannesburg and the wedding/honeymoon niche with the NWJ Bridal Fair in Durban.

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Seychelles Tourism on the road in South Africa - eTurboNews

Every once in a while the gods smile upon Earth, and its good people discover a new island. Utter seclusion and spiritual renewal are the new touchstones of luxury, and for a few dozen lakhs you can kick back on your own piece of paradise.

Bawah (bawahisland.com), the newest find in the relatively unexplored Indonesian archipelago its address, a few coordinates in the South China Sea is set to become the next Bintan. Arriving via a tony seaplane from Singapore, as all guests must, is spine- tingling: The atoll glimmers as you approach. Coral gardens stretch for miles into abyssal depths, rare birds and flowers surround three lagoons and 11 empty beaches. And amidst it all is a mysterious jungle that rises from the centre, 150m tall, like a lost world from a James Cameron movie.

The 35 villas that have been built entirely by hand, using bamboo, stone and recycled teak, dont clutter the powdery sands. And with a maximum of 70 guests here at any given time, everything feels entirely folded away, a place to dream and read.

If you cant wait for the property to open this summer, theres the newly-launched Zil Pasyon on Flicit (sixsenses.com), a private island in celeb-magnet Seychelles. For nine years, the Six Senses team has been bushwhacking its way through a tangled mass of coco plum so that more delicate indigenous species can re-establish themselves. Jagged granite rocks on white sands provide a dramatic setting for a vacation thats entirely otherworldly. When you arent in your generously appointed villas with private pools and organic mattresses, there are paddleboards and kayaks, speedboats and jet skis and long walks that are medicinal for the soul. Nature feels different in places where man treads lightly.

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#TravelGoals 2017: Rent a private Island in Indonesia or the Seychelles - GQ India

Endorsements from the world of tourism for Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Candidate for the post of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) continues to accumulate. 'Memo Planet' - a French company promoting international tourism through video, new media and technologies, comes out boldly to say that they support the Seychelles Candidate.

"We have known Alain St.Ange as Minister responsible for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine and even before that when he only had the Tourism and Culture portfolios and admired his passion for tourism.

This is why, as a known tourism professional video company we are writing to publicly endorse him as the candidate for Secretary General for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

Mr St.Ange could never understand NO, and always wanted to find solutions. He believed in working beyond borders and coined many tag-lines to attach the lndian Ocean Islands together and also these lovely islands with mainland Africa.

We know, and many of my professional photographers share our views that Alain St.Ange is so well suited for the United Nations position, which is why we are today endorsing him from the 'tourism at large' community" said Remi Voluer of My Lovely Planet.

The Seychelles Candidate St.Ange continues to receive more and more letters of endorsement from tourism private sector trade and from the international press. The Seychelles Candidate has already received Letters of Endorsement from President Danny Faure of the Seychelles, from Sir James Mancham, Seychelles founding President who wrote an open letter about his support for the Seychelles St.Ange bid for the United Nations just a week before he passed away, the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Organisation (Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles), the Africa Ports Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA), Tanzania Society of Travel Agents (TASOTA), the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA), Fred W. Finn, the World's Most Travelled Person Guinness World Records, the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam Association, India's important N.R.I. Welfare Society, the Creole Travel Services of Seychelles and the Association of Tourism Professionals of Mauritius (ATP), Eden Island Seychelles, Bea Broda the known Producer/Writer/Host/Speaker from the Americas.

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French 'Memo Planet' supports Alain St.Ange - FTNnews.com (press release)

Footwear News

Seychelles Footwear's President and Director of Product on Overseeing the Brand Together Footwear News Sari Ratsula and Gabriel Morales have an unmistakable witty banter that adds to their dynamic working relationship. The president and director of product, respectively, have been at the helm of the company for almost 10 years. The energetic pair ...

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Seychelles Footwear's President and Director of Product on Overseeing the Brand Together - Footwear News

This is the second year that the Seychelles Tourism Boards (STBs) office in Dubai took part in the Jeddah International Travel & Tourism 2017 (JTTX7) consumer event. It was a very productive one, as a number of people visited the stand and showed interest in the destination, hence proving the destinations popularity in the market.

The consumer event, held at the Jeddah Hilton from February 15-17, was attended by more than 25,000 visitors from Jeddah and more than 150 exhibitors from 22 countries. Saudi Arabia being one of the main markets of the destination in the region is an apt venue to hold such consumer fairs.

Saudi Arabia is one of the main markets for Seychelles in the region having a 29.96% increase in visitor arrivals in January 2017 as compared to the same month last year. Though the business has been relatively quiet in 2016 until at the start of the year, the increase in the number of visitor arrivals indicates the valuable support Seychelles receives from Saudi Arabia.

We are jovial on the outcome of the JTTX7 event, as we were able to promote the destination further in the consumer sector in Jeddah and update them on the latest product offerings in Seychelles, said STBs regional manager for Middle East, Ahmed Fathallah.

This is our second year at this event and just like in 2016, it paved the way for us to better connect with the consumer sector from Jeddah. This trade and consumer activity opens doors for business opportunities and is also a fitting time for us to know more about the needs and wants of our target market, added Fathallah.

To further push and promote the destination, involvement in different trade and consumer fairs and carrying out of different consumer-focused activities have been planned out for this year.

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Seychelles' Dubai office welcomes visitors to Dubai travel and tourism event - eTurboNews

The BRIGHT program is an initiative launched in 2010 by Constance Hotels and Resorts in Seychelles.

Twenty-two employees from the Constance Ephelia Seychelles graduated from the Bridging the Gap Through Holistic Training (BRIGHT) level one program on Monday in a special ceremony held at the resort.

Attending the ceremony were the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, and Principal Secretary for Tourism, Anne Lafortune, among other guests.

All trainees passed with 12 of them getting awarded for 100% attendance. The Villas and Suites Supervisor and also Russian Specialist Antone Rytvin was the best overall performer.

Chef de rang Darrel Labourdallon was the second-best student, while Pool and Beach Supervisor Myra Solin settled in third place and also received the best project.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Loustau-Lalanne said it was important for him to attend the event so as to show his support towards the resorts efforts towards competency based in service training of its supervisors and middle managers.

Constance Hospitality Training Centre is a loyal and sincere partner of our own Seychelles Tourism Academy [STA]. It was among the first institutions that came forward to assist STA back in 2005, he said.

To those who were graduating, Minister Loustau-Lalanne saluted their commitment to improve on their professionalism and desire to excel in what they do.

Constance takes training seriously, because investing in training is investing in your future, he said.

Working for Constance hotels, if you deliver that little bit extra, they will invest in you in return. You start to gain in this partnership as the management of the resort will also discover your talent, he added.

We invest a lot at the national level to train some 500 students annually. With partners like Constance hotels, your continued professional development is assured, simply because they take over from STA and continue with your training, he said.

Constance Ephelia Seychelles General Manager, Kai Hoffmeister, said BRIGHT is Constance Hotels and Resorts own career development program, which identifies and develops internal talents, and aids in enhancing employees skills and getting them to take new responsibilities.

Congratulating the graduates, he said the process does not come to an end or stop; on the contrary it is merely the first step.

There will be additional responsibilities given to you; we will demand more and better from you. There will be more opportunities for you to practice what you have learned, and there will be rewards as well, he said.

Rewards which will not always be financial. They often are emotional or career-focused rewards. It is up to each one of you to drive your own goals and to have the desire to make it happen.

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Future is BRIGHT for Seychelles hospitality graduates - eTurboNews

23 Feb 2017, 10:25 a.m.

Work has started at Tarees Steber International on a fourth vessel for the Fregate Island Resort in the Seychelles archipelago.

Fregate Island Resort manager, Wayne Kafsak takes delivery of the 3800 from Steber general manager, Alan Steber.

Work has started at Tarees Steber International on a fourth vessel for the Fregate Island Resort in the Seychelles archipelago and is due for delivery later this year.

The Steber 5200 (52ft) will be used for a variety of resort activities covering extended excursions, game fishing and diving.

Features also include two sleeping cabins, two lounge areas, galley, two bathrooms, inflatable dinghy and crane and additional on-deck seating suitable for scenic tours.

The 5200 will join the fleet of three other vessels, the first of which was delivered back in 1999.

Late last year Fregate Island took delivery of a Steber 3800 (38ft) which is being used to transfer clients between the island and mainland.

Unlike the majority of fibreglass manufactured vessels, the hulls of the Fregate Island fleet vessels are finished in a unique Jade Mist Green colour.

Sketch showing the versatile layout of the 5200 under construction.

Footnote: The Seychelles archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean, north East of Madagascar and about 1600km east of Kenya. The archipelago consists of 115 islands.

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Fourth Steber vessel for Seychelles resort - Manning River Times

The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) took part once again in the Jeddah Intl Travel & Tourism 2017 (JTTX7) at the Jeddah Hilton from February 15-17.

The consumer event was attended by more than 25,000 visitors from Jeddah and more than 150 exhibitors from 22 countries. Saudi Arabia being one of the main markets of the destination in the region is an apt venue to hold such consumer fairs.

This is the second year that the STBs office in Dubai takes part in this consumer event. It was a very productive one as a number of people visited the stand and showed interest in the destination, hence proving the destinations popularity on the market.

Saudi Arabia is one of the main markets for Seychelles in the region having a 29.96% increase in visitor arrivals in January 2017 as compared to the same month last year. Though the business has been relatively quiet in 2016 until at the start of the year, the increase in the number of visitor arrivals indicates the valuable support we receive from Saudi Arabia.

We are jovial on the outcome of the JTTX7 event as we were able to promote the destination further in the consumer sector in Jeddah and update them on the latest product offerings in Seychelles, said STBs regional manager for Middle East Ahmed Fathallah.

This is our second year at this event and just like in 2016, it paved the way for us to better connect with the consumer sector from Jeddah. This trade and consumer activity opens doors for business opportunities and is also a fitting time for us to know more about the needs and wants of our target market. added Fathallah.

To further push and promote the destination, involvement in different trade and consumer fairs and carrying out of different consumer focused activities have been planned out for this year.

See more here:

Seychelles Tourism is in Jeddah promoting tourism - eTurboNews