Category Archives: Seychelles

Linda Ramkalawan was born on Mah, the principal island of Seychelles, where she grew up in Bel Ombre. She is married to President Wavel Ramkalawan and mother of three boys: Samuel, Caleb and Amos.

Mrs Ramkalawan has had a long and successful career in the tourism industry. She joined Le Meridien Fishermans Cove hotel straight after completing her studies in 1980, occupying the post of receptionist. She later moved to the accounts department and occupied different positions in accounts over the years. In 2001, she was appointed Financial Controller and a few years later as the Finance Director.

Le Meridien Fishermans Cove was part of the Starwood hotels and resorts, an American hotel and Leisure Company based in Connecticut in the US, and Mrs Ramkalawan won the Starwood President Award twice during the course of her career with them. The Starwood President Award is an annual award the company bestows upon members in recognition of their passion for their work and their commitment to their employees. In late 2019, after almost 40 years at Le Meridien Fishermans Cove hotel (now part of the Marriott International) Mrs Ramkalawan retired.

On 26th October 2020, Mr. Linda Ramkalawan became the First Lady of the President of the Republic of Seychelles.

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First Lady - Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles

Seychelles this month became the first nation to welcome vaccinated travelers from all over the world, sparking excitement among international travelers.

But there are reasons some travelers even vaccinated ones may want to wait.

Throughout 2020, Seychelles reported enviably low Covid-19 infection rates. Except for a small spike in June, the beautiful country in the Indian Ocean typically registered zero cases most days last year.

Then Christmas arrived.

From Dec. 28, Seychelles started recording double-digit daily infections. To date, it has recorded 1,033 Covid-19 cases and three deaths. That number is still low for a country of nearly 100,000 people by comparison, the U.S. had reported nearly 7,500 cumulative Covid cases per 100,000 residents as of Jan. 24.

But over half of Seychelles' infections more than 500 cases have been recorded in the past two weeks. Unlike previous cases, which were largely found among foreign seafarers and visitors, the virus is now circulating among the local population.

After maintaining low infection rates in 2020, Seychelles has seen an uptick in cases this year.

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Despite new restrictive measures, including business closures and travel limitations in late December, cases on the 115-island archipelago have continued to climb.

On Jan. 14, Seychelles announced it was opening to vaccinated travelers from all over the world. Effective immediately, the new policy would not require those with vaccinations to quarantine or take Covid-19 tests upon arrival.

On Jan. 22, the nation registered 210 cases, a new one-day high.

CNBC Global Traveler was unable to reach Seychelles' tourism department for comment. The office closed on Jan. 6 until further notice "in order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus," according to the department's website.

The Seychelles government also announced that anyone who tests negative for Covid-19, vaccinated or not, may be able to enter as early as mid-March. The decision is based on the belief that Seychelles will have vaccinated almost 75% of its adult population by that time.

Seychelles began administering vaccinations to health workers, media personalities and political leaders, including Seychelles' President WavelRamkalawan, this month.

The country wants to be the first country in the world to use vaccinations "to achieve herd immunity," according to a press release issued by the Seychelles' Department of Tourism.

Vaccines are largely expected to help restart international travel this year, but there are unanswered questions that may make relying on them problematic.

Trials have indicated that some Covid vaccines are effective in preventing severe illness, but it's unknown whether they prevent transmission of the coronavirus. That means vaccinated travelers may not get very sick themselves, but they may be able to transmit Covid-19 to others.

Separately, vaccines have varying effectiveness. Separate trials of one vaccine made in China generated sharply conflicting data, authorities in Brazil revealed this month.

Seychelles has indicated plans to use the Moderna vaccine in the future, but the injections it has administered so far are made by a subsidiary of Chinese state-owned conglomerate Sinopharm.

Despite being approved for use in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, some immunologists have expressed concern about a lack of information around the trial results for the vaccine.

In addition, not everyone in Seychelles is eligible to be vaccinated right away. According to Seychelles' Ministry of Health, people who are under 18 years old, pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have a history of severe allergies, chronic conditions and suppressed immune systems, should not take the Sinopharm vaccine.

Seychelles is expected to receive hundreds of thousands of vaccines from donations from private investors or countries for what is being called "vaccine diplomacy." The United Arab Emirates donated 50,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine last month. India gave 50,000 doses of its Covishieldvaccine to Seychelles, according to Hindustan Times.

Vaccinated travelers who want to travel to Seychelles must show that they've taken a "complete dose" of a vaccine meaning two doses, if required at least two weeks before arriving, according to a press release from the Seychelles Tourism Board.

Travelers must show an "authentic certificate" of one of "the four vaccines currently receiving heavy media exposure" in addition to a negative result from a Covid-19 test taken less than 72 hours prior to traveling. Only RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test results are accepted.

Vaccinated travelers must also stay in hotels or guesthouses that have been certified for so-called "Category 1" travelers. As of Dec. 30, there are 532 such establishments, including Four Seasons Resort Seychelles and Six Senses Zil Pasyon.

Seychelles allows unvaccinated travelers to enter if they arrive via private jet or come from a list of 48 permitted countries. These travelers also have to obtain a negative PCR test result before arriving.

Unvaccinated travelers from "Category 1" countries such as Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam can enter the Seychelles, subject to testing and quarantine requirements.

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Like vaccinated travelers, those from "Category 1" countries arriving via commercial flights are required to stay in certified accommodations, but they can't leave the hotel premises for 10 days. Those staying longer than six days are required to take a PCR test.

Travelers from "Category 2" countries are subject to the same requirements but must choose a hotel or guesthouse from a smaller list of approved accommodations. These countries, which Seychelles calls "key source market countries," include Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UAE.

The U.K. was removed from the "Category 2" list in late December.

It's impossible to know when vaccinated people will feel comfortable traveling, but there are indications some may be ready to venture out again.

Vienna-based travel company TourRadar is seeing an increase in "vaccine vacationers."

"We have received a substantial amount of calls from older individuals telling us that now that they have received their vaccine, they're good to go for travel in July," Vanessa Subramaniam, the company's global director of customer support said.

TourRadar reported that of its 2021 bookings, 52% are from people older than 50, and 30% are over 60 years old.

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One island welcomes all vaccinated travelers but some may want to wait - CNBC

The Seychelles has become the first country in the world to allow vaccinated tourists to enter the country without the need to quarantine.

Travellers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will still need to follow social distancing measures, but they will now be allowed to visit the Indian Ocean archipelago without self-isolating upon arrival.

The country began vaccinating its population earlier this month, rolling out the Sinopharm vaccine on 10 January.

Tourism is arguably the most important industry to the Seychelles economy, with 15 per cent of the working population directly employed by the sector. The relaxed restrictions for vaccinated tourists are being introduced in the hope that this can give a much-needed economic boost to the country.

The Seychelles has had 746 cases of COVID-19 in total and there is an upward trend of infections there at the moment.

As a result, the government has tightened entry restrictions, depending on the risk in the country youre coming from.

If you are travelling there, you will need to send an application form to the Public Health Authority before you travel. This applies to all travellers, even those who have received the vaccine.

Until 28 January, the government has said that international tourists must have a negative PCR test result before departure and be prepared to self-isolate at their accommodation for 10 days upon arrival.

To be exempt from self-isolating on arrival, youll need to have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine two weeks before you depart for the Seychelles.

As well as easing restrictions for vaccinated tourists, the Seychelles are also launching a major push for conservation-focused travel.

While most tourists flock to the inner islands of the Seychelles, the more remote places such as Alphonse Island remain largely undisturbed, which means theyre teeming with wildlife.

Alphonse is the only outer island to currently have accommodation for tourists - in the form of luxury beach bungalows and villas. Its a one hour flight from Mah, the largest island in the Seychelles.

A lot of the tourism activities on Alphonse revolve around the sea: from popular water sports such as paddle boarding to conservation and marine safaris. And from May this year, a new experience could give you a real taste of being a marine conservationist.

Visitors to Alphonse Island will have the opportunity to see the islands beautiful marine life up close - and even have the chance to help with conservation projects.

The Explorer Season Conservation Experience is due to run between May and November this year. Activities include: underwater wildlife photography, planting trees, feeding giant tortoise and beach clean-ups.

With travel accounting for 30 per cent of the GDP, the Seychelles has been hit hard by the current pandemic, so, like other tourism-dependent nation, the country is hopeful that a vaccine will help restart the industry soon. .

But the World Health Organisation (WHO) have warned governments not to rush to relax restrictions on immunised travellers while the full effectiveness of the vaccine is still unknown.

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Vaccinated tourists can now visit the Seychelles without quarantining - Euronews

Best Places To Stay

The accommodation available in the Seychelles ranges from super luxury to luxury to normal and budget. It really all depends on your budget and the occasion. But sometimes the occasion is simply being in the Seychelles, so why not?

A private island reached by helicopter or small plane from Mahe, Fregate Island Private is a nature reserve where humans take second place to nature. Sixteen villas nestle in the greenery, each offering a large living room villa, a bedroom villa, indoor and outdoor bathrooms, a small pool, all connected by private boardwalks, and any meals you wish delivered right to your front door. Each villa comes with a golf buggy to get around, and each beach has an occupied sign and a phone to call up for cocktails or snacks brought down to you. Not cheap, but also not the priciest, and so worth it.

Au Font De Mer is one of several self-catering options available on the main island and has good ratings. Also, look at the Airbnb options; you can get apartments and beach villas at reasonable prices.

For a mid-range hotel chain, you could do a lot worse than the Hilton on Mahe island. With its private beach, private pools in their villas, restaurants overlooking the ocean and clean, and modern styling, this is a good choice.

You will not need a visa to enter the Seychelles, and you will get your lovely stamp upon arrival. It is recommended that all your routine vaccinations are up to date, but you do not need any specific vaccinations, nor any malaria prophylaxis.

The language is Seychellois Creole, which is rooted in French, but English and French are also widely spoken and understood, and all the hotel staff speaks English. The currency is the Seychelles rupee, but prices are often listed in euros and dollars, both of which are accepted in larger stores and hotels, but not necessarily in street stalls or by market vendors.

It might be worth mentioning that there really is plenty of wildlife in the Seychelles, even in the luxury resorts. When I stayed on Fregate Island, a couple had to be helicoptered out after one night because the bride could not cope with the lizards that shared their villa. That said, Fregate is a nature reserve where all creatures are encouraged to enjoy themselves, but if you are squeamish, it may be better to stay on the main island in a hotel where lizards and geckos are kept firmly outside.

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Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting The Amazing Seychelles - TravelAwaits

But I stray from my point. The main thing is, avoid the settlement of Glod which means mud. Spend the first few days of this, your holiday of a lifetime, in Bucharest. Contemplate the shockingly huge white palace and thoughts of what might have been yet more international debt and oppression and indeed what was. All aristocrats were rudely awoken en masse, loaded onto trucks and shipped over the border.

Then set off with a glad heart and perhaps a stiff drink into the countryside, there to explore the wonders of Romania today fields worked as our ancestors did, 200 years ago. Over yonder, stoic horses pull their plough. Near at hand,scarfed ladies scuttle homeward crossing themselves fearfully, as the skies strangely darken and mists roll in.

Now, far be it for me to indulge in crude rustic stereotypes of backward Middle Europe the very idea! But I feel no homage to Romania would be complete without reference to Count Dracula. Really, theres no escaping him ever since Vlad the Impaler (c. 142877) began impaling local denizens, and Bram Stoker for good measure threw in howling wolves and vampirism.

The poor Romanians. Just because a certain Late Victorian author successfully found a means of channelling our repressed Gothic fantasies some of these blatantly sexual, I tell you the Transylvanians have been lumbered with a whole lot of other peoples wants.As if Romania hasnt suffered enough. Have I mentioned the plague of 181314?

Look, theres much more to say less silly stuff, about castles decaying in splendour,exquisite forests, crumbling spa towns and a thriving shoe manufacturing sector.The serious point is this: Romania has a profound depth which the Seychelles do not.The latter have got fine nature reserves but for the most theyre just islands of superficiality, beaches of childish delight.They too feed on fantasies, but of calmlylapping waters and a land where you might forget. And thats the trouble. The place is forgettable. Romania, though, offers consequence. Yes there are still a few horses and carts, yes there are wolves if youre lucky. Also, theres history, and a population emerging from a great darkness.

And that I find immeasurably reassuring in these unsettling times. Romania has no turquoise sea but its got the blue Danube, and its also got meaning and resilience. I love the place.

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Why Romania is a better post-lockdown holiday option than the Seychelles - Telegraph.co.uk

The exotic island of Seychelles known for its pristine beaches reopens borders to all countries worldwide. The much-anticipated news by the tourism industry, considering the recent launch of the immunisation campaign, was announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde during a joint press briefing with his counterpart from the Health Ministry, Peggy Vidot.

This announcement has come at a time when the Indian government has signed an air bubble agreement with Seychelles allowing 'Air Seychelles' to fly into the destination from India.

If you're planning to visit Seychelles island anytime soon, keep these important dos and don'ts in mind.

Vaccinated Visitors:

In the first phase of the opening, travellers would be required to produce proof of a valid vaccination certificate from the National Health Authority (minimum of two weeks since administration of the second dose of the vaccine) along with a negative Covid-19 PCR report obtained less than 72 hours prior to travel. These visitors need not quarantine upon arrival to Seychelles.

Non-Vaccinated Visitors:

The Seychelles islands is currently open to Indian visitors through private jet transfers only. Such travellers would be required to submit a negative Covid-19 PCR report obtained less than 72 hours prior to travel. Visitors who haven't taken the complete dose of vaccination or not travelling via private jets, would not be permitted entry into Seychelles. This would be in force until mid-March once Seychelles has vaccinated a large majority of its adult population.

Mid-march Onwards:

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government donated 50,000 doses of a Chinese-manufactured Covid-19 vaccine to Seychelles while the Indian government has offered 1,00,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine by the end of January. By the ongoing numbers, the country has forecasted that 25 per cent of its population is likely to be vaccinated by mid-March which would witness the rollout of the second phase of welcoming international tourists to the island nation. The country would open up to all visitors, vaccinated or not. Travellers planning a vacation during this time would only have to present a negative Covid-19 PCR certificate with the test taken maximum of 72 hours prior to departure with no quarantine upon arrival into the country.

Irrespective of when one might travel to Seychelles, visitors have to abide by the existing health measures (like wearing face masks, social distancing etc.) which remain applicable as per the travel advisory published on the Department of Tourism website.

Similarly, all tourism operators would still be required to follow their existing Covid-19 standard operating procedures and protocols.

Speaking of an optimistic future, Lubaina Sheerazi, CEO & Co-founder, BRANDit, the Marketing and PR office for the Seychelles Tourism Board in India said, "2021 has kicked off on a positive note presenting us with a wide scope to promote safe holidays to the Seychelles islands. Until now, the destination was limited to visitors only through private jet transfers but this move will offer a much-needed new option to Indians looking for an international holiday."

The ongoing trend of leisure travel is expected to prosper in the coming months as there is a pent-up demand for long pending vacations with family and friends. Seychelles welcoming tourists with limited restrictions is certainly a positive step towards tourism recovery worldwide.

More details about the new measures are published in the Seychelles Travel Advisory that can be accessed on http://www.tourism.gov.sc.

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Plan an Exotic Island Trip to Seychelles with These Important Dos and Don'ts in Mind - News18

19 January 2021 | Foreign Affairs

The President of the Republic, H.E Wavel Ramkalawan bade farewell to the outgoing Ambassador for United States to the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. David Reimer via a video conference call from Mauritius this morning, at State House.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions, the farewell call was done virtually in the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr Sylvestre Radegonde.

On behalf of the government and the people of Seychelles, President Ramkalawan expressed his appreciation to the Ambassador for the exceptional contributions made in deepening ties between Seychelles and United States during his tenure. In echoing my sincere appreciation for the friendship and commendable work done in strengthening the friendship between our two nations, I wish you great success and prosperity in your new endeavours, said President Ramkalawan.

On his part Ambassador Reimer, reassured the President of the continuous support of his government through his successor and expressed hope that relations between Seychelles and the United States would be further consolidated in the various areas of cooperation.

Amd. Reimer was accredited as the Ambassador for United States to the Republic of Seychelles on 6th February 2018 and was based in Mauritius.

The United States of America and the Republic of Seychelles established Diplomatic relations on 29thJune 1976.

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Ambassador for United States to the Republic of Seychelles bids Farewell - Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles

21 January 2021 | State House

It was a busy morning for State House as more donors came to present their contribution to the Covid-19 Relief Fund in order to show their support for the vaccination programme that the country is engaged in. The President of the Republic, H.E Wavel Ramkalawan met with each donor not only to receive their contribution, but also to engage with them on their plight at this time.

The donations came from the following:

The President commended the donors for the extraordinary response so far.

There is a new sense of solidarity in the country and this should help us surmount the economic difficulties we are facing at the moment. Now, more than ever, we should unite as a country in order to get through the present difficulties. The National COVID-19 Immunisation Campaign is an important milestone in achieving that, said the President.

On their part, the donors congratulated the government for forging ahead with the vaccination programme to ensure the population is protected and expressed the hope that economic activities would resume at the soonest for the best interest of Seychelles.

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More contributions to the Covid-19 Relief Fund - News - Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles

By Lee Rondganger Dec 26, 2020

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Durban - Visitors to the Seychelles looking for the complete island holiday are spoilt for choice. With 115 islands forming the archipelago, choosing the right island to visit may be a daunting task.

But if you had to choose just three islands in the Seychelles to visit, these are IOLs recommendations.

MAHE

Mahe is the Seychelles main island and home to the capital, Victoria. At least 90% of the countrys population of 97000 people live on Mahe which has a bustling port, the international airport, modern shopping malls and a vibrant city centre.

Mahe has more than 60 beaches from where visitors can hire a small charter or a yacht to fish, snorkel, swim and scuba dive.

For the those that love a hike, Mahe offers the Copolia hiking trail, a two-hour hike up a mountain which when you are at the top gives you a 360 view of the island.

The city centre of Victoria is rich in history, with its busy market, cathedrals and Esplanade where you are sure to find that souvenir to take home.

Another must-see is Eden Island, built on reclaimed land, that has a mall, casino, bars and restaurants that serve both traditional and western cuisine.

PRASLIN

Praslin is the Seychelles second largest island and very popular with tourists, many of who set up base here. The island is a 15-minute flight from Mahe and being based here allows easy access to other islands via ferry.

Boasting some of the best beaches you could find anywhere in the world, perhaps the islands most famous attraction is the Valle de Mai, a world heritage site where the Coco de Mer a double-lobed coconut grows. It is the only place in the world where this giant palm grows naturally.

So beautiful is the Valle de Mai that when General Gordon of Khartoum visited in the 18th century, he returned to London claiming that it was the original site of the biblical Garden of Eden.

According to locals, Anso Lazio beach, north-west of the island, is considered the worlds best beach.

LA DIGUE

La Digue is the Seychelles fourth largest island, and lies 43km from the main island of Mahe and 6.5km from Praslin.

Measuring just 5km by 3km, La Digue is home to some of the Seychelles most iconic beaches, and has a population of just 3000.

Compared to Mahe, life on the tiny island of La Digue is slow and there are not many cars, with the main means of transport being the bicycle.

A bike ride around the island will take one about 40 minutes, and a walk from one end to the other, an hour.

A must-visit destination is the LUnion Estate, where one will get a glimpse of the islands coconut industry in the form of coconut kiln and rustic mill where coconut flesh is turned to oil.

The Anse Source dArgent beach on the island, with its giant boulders that ribbon the beaches, is considered the worlds most pristine beach and a must-see for any tourist visiting the island.

IOL

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3 islands in the Seychelles you must see - IOL

Like many airlines, Air New Zealand once flew that workhorse of the skies, the Boeing 767. It wasnt the quietest or most fuel-efficient plane ever built, but the aircraft type remained a firm favorite with passengers worldwide. Air New Zealand only retired their last 767s a few years ago. Whats surprising is how many of their former 767s are now flying for other airlines.

Between September 1985 and March 2017, Air New Zealand variously operated 22 Boeing 767s. All up, the airline flew ten Boeing 767-200s and 12 Boeing 767-300s. Over those 32 years, the Boeing 767 was a staple on Air New Zealands long-haul flights around the Pacific. The plane was superseded by the arrival of the 787-9 Dreamliners. The last Air New Zealand Boeing 767 flight was March 31, 2017, operating NZ108 from Sydney to Auckland.

The Boeing 767 aircraft has been a stalwart at Air New Zealand, said Captain David Morgan at the time. Stalwart or not, the aging aircraft could not compete against the Dreamliner and Air New Zealands other wide-bodied aircraft, the Boeing 777.

The first Air New Zealand Boeing 767 to arrive, ZK-NBB, now flies cargo for Danish airline Star Air as OY-SRF.

ZK-NBC started service with Air New Zealand in September 1986, left in May 2004, and is now also with Star Air as OY-SRG.

The third Boeing 767-200 at Air New Zealand, ZK-NBD, is now operated by Atlas Air on behalf of DHL. Its current registration is N655GT. ZK-NBE left Air New Zealand in May 1993. It flew for multiple airlines afterward, finally ending up at Air Seychelles as S7-SEZ. The plane was retired from service in 2011.

ZK-NBH started flying for Air New Zealand in 1989. It stayed with them until 1995. The plane ended up with Air Canada as C-FUCL before been retired in 2006. It is now stored at Phillips Army Airfield in Maryland.

ZK-NBF also left the Air New Zealand fleet in 1995 and went to Jet Midwest Group via Air Canada in 2012. Its current registration is N753JM.

The first of the Boeing 767-300s to come to Air New Zealand was ZK-NCE. It entered the fleet in 1991 and exited in 2002. Since then, the plane has had a storied life, flying for multiple carriers. Air Transport International now flies it as N331AZ on behalf of Amazon Prime Air.

ZK-NCF arrived at Air New Zealand in 1992 and left in 2006. It last flew for Air Jamaica as N767WA before getting withdrawn from service in October 2018.

One of Air New Zealands last Boeing 767-200s, ZK-NBI, has also ended up at Star Air as OY-SRK. ZK-NCG, a 767-300, which Air New Zealand got in 1993 and kept until 2017, is now also flying under Amazon Prime Air colors as N367AZ.

G-BNYS, a Boeing 767-200, which Air New Zealand briefly flew on a lease from Brittania Airways in 1994, wound up at Air Seychelles as S7-EXL before getting handed back to its lessor in 2013.

ZK-NCF, an extended range 767-300, has also wound up at Amazon Prime Air after 12 years of flying for Air New Zealand.

ZK-NCI stayed at Air New Zealand until March 2017. The Boeing 767-300ER is now at Amazon Prime Air. Another extended range 767-300, ZK-NCJ, started at Air New Zealand in 1995 and finished up in 2016. Thats also now with Amazon Prime Air as N389AZ. ZK-NCK went to Icelandair in 2016 is now registered as TF-ISP. Icelandair was also the destination for another 767-300ER. ZK-NCLnow flies in chillier climes as TF-ISW.

ZK-NBJ, a Boeing 767-200, flew for Air New Zealand on an on and off basis for 13 years, often spending time at other airlines. It was retired in 1997. After flying for Air New Zealand for a couple of years in the late 1990s, ZK-NCM has gone on to multiple other airlines and ended up at iAero Airways at N827RC.

ZK-NBA, an extended range Boeing 767-200, started at Air New Zealand in 1985 and stayed there for over 10 years. It is now at Star Air and registered as OY-SRN. SP-LPA was briefly at Air New Zealand over 1999/2000, on lease from LOT Polish Airlines. The Boeing 767-300ER is now with Aeronexus Corporation as ZS-NEX.

The final two Air New Zealand 767s, both 767-300ERS, are ZK-NCN and ZK-NCO. Both went o Icelandair. ZK-NCN is now flying as TF-ISO, and ZK-NCO is TF-ISN.

Whats the takeout from this? There are a lot of former Air New Zealand Boeing 767s in the skies. Is that due to Air New Zealands formidable maintenance and aircraft upkeep practices? Is it the fact the Boeing just built a really reliable aircraft? Probably a fair bit of both.

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What Happened To Air New Zealands Boeing 767s? - Simple Flying