Monthly Archives: March 2024

When is the best time to visit Seychelles?

The best time to visit the Seychelles is in the transitional months, which include April, May, October and November. The temperatures are milder, with the humid northwest trade winds changing to the cooler southwest tradewinds, so the weather conditions are perfect. There are fewer crowds during these transitional periods so you won't have to fight your way to the beachside chairs.

The months with the highest levels of rainfall are December and January. January tends to be the rainiest, with about 300mm of rain throughout the month. However, the rain tends to be short and heavy, so there will be plenty of bursts of sunshine during your trip.

Its always scuba diving time in the Seychelles, but unsurprisingly, the best conditions are in the transitional months, when the seas are calm and visibility is high. You can expect to spot butterflyfishes, spotted eagle rays and even green sea turtles.

A young green turtle

Both island getaways offer stunning scenery and a relaxing holiday experience, but it depends on what type of holiday you want. The Maldives is a hotspot for romantic trips, with all-inclusive resorts setting the bar high for a luxury holiday, and while there are plenty of luxury stays in the Seychelles, it is definitely an adventure lover's dream.

First published on CNT US

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The best time to visit the Seychelles - Cond Nast Traveller India

The United Arab Emirates has recently updated its visa policies to provide a more streamlined entry process for international visitors. Under the new regulations, citizens from 87 nations can obtain a visa on arrival.

According to the updated regulations, countries that have been granted the eligibility for visa on arrival include Argentina, Canada, the United States, China, the Maldives, France, and Russia, among others. Eligible travellers will be granted a 30-day visa on arrival, with a 10-day grace period to extend their stay. Additionally, visitors from certain countries can obtain a 90-day visa at their entry point.

In Africa, Mauritius and Seychelles stand out as the only countries whose citizens can obtain a visa on arrival. Several African nations, including Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Liberia, Burundi, Kenya, Gambia, and Togo, have not been included in this update.

This update from the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs marks a significant development in making the UAE more accessible to international tourists, reflecting its commitment to being a welcoming global hub.

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Mauritius and Seychelles are the only African countries eligible for visa on arrival to the UAE - Business Insider Africa

Palais de Justice building which houses the Supreme Court. (Seychelles News Agency)

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(Seychelles News Agency) - The Seychelles Supreme Court has sentenced a 50-year-old Tanzanian national to 12 years in prison for the importation of a controlled drug, the Seychelles Police said on Thursday.

According to the police, ShabaniKizamba Shabani was arrested on September 26 in 2022 upon his arrival in Seychelles on a Qatar Airways flight by police and airport officials. A total of 984.78 grammes of cocaine was found in his possession after he was searched.

Under the Misuse of Drug Act, 2016, the maximum penalty for importing a controlled Class A drug is a term of life imprisonment and a fine of up to SCR 1 million ($74,200).

Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, has a zero-tolerance drug policy and has stepped up measures to combat the trafficking of illicit drugs on its shores.

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Tanzanian national sentenced 12 years in prison in Seychelles for importation of cocaine - Seychelles News Agency

In October 2022, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)imposeda visa ban on Nigerians. The UAE authorities issued a notice to trade partners and travel agents, instructing them to reject all applications from Nigeria. While the UAE cited increased criminal activity as a reason, some speculated it stemmed from ongoing diplomatic disputes. Notably, Emirates Airlines suspended flights to Nigeria around the same period. his came amidst a dispute concerning $85 million in revenue allegedly trapped in Nigeria due to currency transfer restrictions.

This incident wasnt isolated. The UAEs visa policy towards several African nations changed in 2022. Citizens from approximately 20 African countries, including Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Liberia, and others, faced similar visa restrictions. While the specific reasons for each restriction were unclear, a correlation between these actions and diplomatic relations was plausible. According to the Fragile States Index, most of the affected countries score high on fragility indicators, which could influence visa policies focused on security concerns.

The pattern from these other African countries contrasts with Mauritius and Seychelles, the only two African countries that are allowed visa-on-arrival access in the UAEs recently updated list. Both Mauritius and Seychelles are renowned for their pristine beaches, luxurious resorts, and political stability. Both Mauritius and Seychelles boasted over 300,000 tourist arrivals in 2022, according to the World Tourism Organization. This aligns with the UAEs goal of attracting high-spending visitors, evident from their tourism industry surpassing 16 million visitors in the same year

Both island nations also boast a reputation for good governance and low crime rates. The Ibrahim Index of African Governance ranks Mauritius and Seychelles in the top 10 for Safety & Security and Rule of Law. This addresses potential security concerns the UAE might have with other African nations. Moreover, strong economic ties between the two countries can potentially influence visa policies. Mauritius, for example, is the UAEs 18th largest trading partner in Africa. Strong economic ties can incentivize the UAE to maintain a smooth flow of visitors for business and investment purposes. These distinctions highlight the UAEs focus on security and economic benefits when tailoring its visa policies.

Why is the UAE visa so notable?

The UAE visa system has garnered significant global attention, making it a notable exception in visa policies for some African nations. The UAEs strategic location positions it as a vital hub for trade, tourism, and investment, connecting the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. This geographical advantage translates to a visa system designed to attract talent and business from across the globe. Dubai International Airport consistently ranks among the busiest airports globally in terms of international passenger traffic. The airport serves over 90 million passengers annually.

A specific aspect that adds to the UAE visas notoriety is the Golden Visa program. This program offers 10 years of residency to investors, entrepreneurs, and individuals with specialized skills and qualifications. According to a report by an investment monitor, this program has been particularly successful in attracting foreign direct investment. A World Bank report ranked the UAE 11th globally in terms of ease of doing business, partly due to its streamlined visa application procedures.

The UAE has made significant efforts to simplify its visa application process in recent years. The most recent is the UAEs updated regulations that grant visa-on-arrival eligibility to citizens of 87 countries. The adjustment grants a 30-day visa on arrival, with a 10-day grace period to extend their stay. Also, visitors from certain countries can obtain a 90-day visa at their entry point. While the UAE has implemented stricter visa requirements for some African nations due to security concerns, they are also engaged in dialogue to address these issues. Positive developments have emerged from countries like Rwanda, a nation recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and technological advancements. This suggests that African nations demonstrating strong governance, economic growth, and a focus on tourism may see future improvements in their visa access to the UAE.

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Why Mauritius and Seychelles are the only African countries granted visa-on-arrival access to the UAE - Ventures Africa

the agreement between the two parties was signed in July 2021. (Seychelles Nation)

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The Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and the United States Coast Guard have completed a second bilateral operation within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the island nation under an agreement signed between the two countries in July 2021.

This year is the second such operation conducted since the signing of the agreementon countering illicit transnational maritime activity operations in the Seychelles waters and the Indian Ocean. The first one was held in March last year.

The director of operations for the Seychelles Coast Guard, Major Hans Radegonde, told reporters that the operation lasted seven days at sea with eight boardings conducted.

"Our missions were mainly intelligence-based, we collaborated closely with our maritime operations centre,"he said.

The bilateral agreement between the Seychelles and the United States government came about after both countries saw the need to promote greater cooperation in dealing with illicit transnational maritime activities. It was the first of its kind between the two countries and the first one between the U.S. and an eastern African country.

Such cooperation is achieved through the planning and execution of combined maritime operations where U.S.forces embarked on board the SDF vessels and conducted missions within the Seychelles' waters.

The cooperation allows both states to understand better the challenges that a small country like Seychelles faces to conduct operations over a vast maritime space effectively. It also allows the SDF personnel to operate with and learn from seasoned maritime forces with much more experience.

Apart from operational successes, the bilateral operation also allows the SDF to assess the training its personnel has participated in. This year participants who had just completed training as part of Cutlass Express 2024were deployed and this provided an opportunity to validate everything they had learned.

The U.S. Chargd'Affaires for Seychelles, Adham Loufti, said, "Our cooperation on maritime security is a visible sign of our mutual goal of a more secure and prosperous Indian Ocean region. It gives me great satisfaction to know that Seychelles and the United States continue to work side by side, demonstrating great dedication, courage and sacrifice to ensure the safety and security of our maritime spaces."

Loufti emphasised the importance of protecting the Indian Ocean region, especially considering the resurgence of piracy and the conflict in the Red Sea, which could impact the shipping routes in the area and in return the cost of food, medicine and fuel.

He said that the U.S. will continue to support Seychelles by transferring defence articles and services via the foreign military financing programme, and implementing a significant security cooperation initiative for maritime domain awareness in the western Indian Ocean.

This will also include "conductingassessments and sharing information to support institutional capacity building, sending dozens of students to the United States for professional military education and conducting subject matter expert exchange right here in Seychelles."

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Seychelles and US complete 2nd bilateral military operation within EEZ - Seychelles News Agency

Ambassador Conrad Mederic, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Seychelles to the African Union represented Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, at the 22ndExtraordinary Session of the Executive Council held on Friday 15 March 2024 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The session was tasked with exploring the most suitable ways to elect senior officials within the African Union Commission, additionally, the session had to define the process of selecting the team that will lead the AU in 2025 for four years, by prioritizing considerations of cohesion, equity, rationality, and a spirit of consensus.

In his intervention, Ambassador Mederic recognised the importance of the Agenda item and noted the need for African Union Member States to prioritise the Continents interest in the preparations to elect the next leadership of the Commission. He further emphasized the importance for countries within the eligible regions to have equitable chances to serve the Leadership of the Commission.

The Session, without any objections, endorsed that the next Chairperson of the Commission should be from the Eastern Africa Region, which Seychelles falls into. The position of the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission shall be for the Northern Africa Region. Both the Eastern and Northern Regions are to submit female and male candidates for both positions respectively. The principle of rotational gender parity shall also be applied to the posts of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson ensuring that if a male is elected as Chairperson, then the Deputy Chairperson shall be a female and vice versa. It was also decided that the three other regions; Central, Southern, and Western, would compete for the six positions of Commissioners, with the principles of gender equality and meritocracy.

Ambassador Mederic was accompanied by Mrs. Patricia Ilunga, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Seychelles in Addis Ababa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

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Seychelles participates in the 22nd Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council - Africa.com

In a proactive move to enhance the relationship between Seychelles and Turkey and to explore new avenues in the tourism sector, a high-level delegation from the Seychelles Tourism Department embarked on a significant work visit to Istanbul, Turkey.

The central focus of the visit was a crucial meeting held on Thursday, March 14, with executives from Turkish Airlines.

The delegation was headed by Minister Sylvestre Radegonde, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, accompanied by Mrs. Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary for Tourism, and Mrs. Bernadette Willemin, Director General for Destination Marketing. The Seychelles delegation met with Mr. Bilal Eksi, Chief Executive Officer of Turkish Airlines and members of his team including Mrs. Ozlem Salihoglu, Senior Vice President of International Relations and Alliances and Mr. Hikmet Turkseven, Vice President of Sales.

The meetings discussions centered around optimizing airline routes, improving connectivity, refining promotional strategies, devising collaborative tourism partnerships, and promoting sustainable tourism practices.

Minister Radegonde expressed his optimism about the meetings outcomes, remarking:

This was important to strengthen Seychelles-Turkey ties in tourism.

We are confident that the discussions and collaboration with Turkish Airlines will enrich the overall travel experience for our potential and returning visitors.

Echoing similar sentiments, the Turkish Airlines delegation re-affirmed their dedication to strengthening the relationship with Tourism Seychelles. Both parties shared enthusiasm about the potential growth in tourism traffic and subsequent economic benefits for Seychelles and Turkey that would result from these collaborations.

During their mission in Turkey, the Seychelles delegation also toured the recently inaugurated cruise ship terminal, Galataport in Istanbul, renowned globally for its excellence in facilitating cruise ship operations.

Presently, Turkish Airlines facilitates connections to Seychelles with three weekly flights via its Istanbul hub, providing seamless access for travelers.

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Tourism Seychelles and Turkey Tourism Enhance Relationship - eTurboNews | eTN

The Tourism Seychelles representative office in Middle East organized a strategic Travel Agent Networking Dinner in Bahrain on March 5, 2024. Held at Flavours, Downtown Rotana, the event enhanced Seychelles presence in the Bahraini travel market.

Gathering travel agents from Bahrain, the dinner targeted both budget-conscious travelers and high-profile individuals. With the goal of bridging the gap between the two markets, the event aimed to raise awareness about Seychelles and foster collaborations within the tourism industry.

Ahmed Fathallah, representing Tourism Seychelles in the Middle East, led the initiative, emphasizing the importance of strong ties between Bahrain and Seychelles in tourism.

Our aim was to create an interactive environment where travel agents could connect with Seychelles offerings.

Ahmed Fathallah added, Engaging with key stakeholders in Bahrain can stimulate tourism growth between our regions.

Feedback from attending agents described the event as an intimate gathering with effective interactions, indicating a promising start to strengthening ties with the Bahraini travel trade.

While this event was initiated by the Tourism Seychelles Middle East Office as part of its ongoing efforts to tap into the Bahraini market, it is worth noting the prior memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Seychelles and Bahrain on June 19, 2021.

This MoU underscores the importance of travelers from Bahrain and highlights the ongoing collaboration between the two countries in the tourism sector. Furthermore, the MoU reflects the mutual aspiration to revitalize the civil aviation and tourism sectors and to facilitate and enhance safe travel between the two countries as part of economic recovery initiatives following the Covid-19 crisis.

Moving forward, the Tourism Seychelles Middle East Office aims to build on the momentum gained from the Travel Agent Networking dinner by engaging with key stakeholders and exploring further collaboration opportunities.

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Seychelles and Bahrain Enjoy Tourism Networking Dinner - eTurboNews | eTN