Category Archives: Seychelles

By Travis Levius CNN

(CNN) -- The Maldives isn't the only spot for Indian Ocean indulgence.

The Seychelles -- a string of 115 tropical islands 1,000 miles east of Tanzania -- boasts some of the world's best beaches with a renowned collection of luxurious getaways.

It's long been a sun-drenched playground for the rich and famous, so there's no shortage of villa resorts with 24-hour butlers, private swimming holes, gourmet cuisine and spa treatments alongside arrestingly beautiful beaches.

From family-friendly resorts to hyperexclusive private islands, here's a guide to eight of the Seychelles' greatest escapes:

1. MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa

This private peninsula resort, based on the secluded and picturesque Anse Louis, is as exclusive as it gets on the mainland of Mah.

Only guests of the all-inclusive 30-villa retreat have access to its lush grounds, which includes a beach-level restaurant, swimming pool and bar as well as a stunning open-air Balinese spa.

Most clientele spend most of their stay in spacious thatched beach or hillside villas -- each with its own ocean-facing infinity pool, outdoor sunken tub and 24-hour butler/in-room dining service -- to make most use of MAIA's space for ultimate privacy and comfort.

MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa, 5th June Ave, Anse Boileau, Seychelles; +248 4 390 000

2. North Island

For ultra-luxury there's North Island, the Seychelles' preeminent private island where one night's stay can set you back more than $5,000.

The 11-villa butler-serviced island has hosted many an A-lister -- including the Clooneys, the Beckhams and most famously the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge -- plus other wealthy travelers who seek complete privacy in a "barefoot luxury" setting.

North Island features an intimate cliffside spa, three unspoilt beaches and a chef who cooks whatever you wish (In the mood for lobster? Octopus curry for lunch? No problem). Beyond the exclusive beaches and massive beachfront villas, the eco-conscious resort runs a lauded nature conservancy program, which has led Hawksbill and green turtles to nest once again on its pristine shores.

North Island, Seychelles; +248 4293 110

3. Six Senses Zil Pasyon

The Six Senses brand makes its splashy African debut with Zil Pasyon ("Passion Island" in Creole) in 2016, becoming the country's "it" resort of the moment. It's a private island sanctuary of 30 modern villas, each with a generous personal infinity pool and in-villa wine cellar.

"Butlers" are not a thing here; instead, designated Guest Experience Makers cater to guests' needs 24 hours a day. There are six restaurants and bars, including The Chef's Kitchen, an exclusive gourmet treat for up to six guests for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Activities include daily yoga, beachside cinema nights and outdoor spa treatments between two enormous boulders, and should guests have a bit of "private island fever," the more populous La Digue and Praslin islands are just a short boat ride away.

Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Felicite Island, Seychelles; +248 467 1000

4. Four Seasons Seychelles

The Four Season Seychelles is based along the gorgeous Petite Anse beach in Mah, with 67 well-appointed villas scattered among a large, lush hill.

Many of the stilted villas along the jungle-covered slopes resemble treehouses -- only a lot more palatial -- with personal infinity pools, daybed pavilions, indoor and outdoor showers and ample outdoor space. Serious spa-goers will feel at home here, as quality treatments such as the Hilltop Fusion Massage -- blending Malaysian, Indian and European techniques -- are carried out in private pavilions among the resort's highest altitudes.

The resort's westward profile makes for brilliant sunset views, best enjoyed either on a villa's ocean-facing deck lounger or on the spa's breathtakingly placed rooftop, overlooking all of Petite Anse and onto the horizon.

Four Seasons Seychelles, Petite Anse, Mahe Island, Seychelles; +248 4 393 000

5. Constance Lemuria

Golf, gastronomy and gorgeous beaches define Constance Lemuria, a sprawled resort on Praslin's northwest tip.

It boasts the Seychelles' sole 18-hole championship-ready golf course, where you can channel your Tiger Woods in exotic environs; the famed 13th hole, located on a steep hill, offer splendid views of the jungle and Indian Ocean.

The newly refurbished resort sports over 100 suites and villas along Grande Anse Kerlan. Though this beach and Petite Anse Kerlan hug the resort's main area, it's worth the shuttle ride or 15-minute hike to visit Anse Georgette, one of the world's highest-rated beaches.

Dining options include modern international restaurant Diva, sleek buffet restaurant The Legend (with premium themed dinners), and The Nest's deck "on the rocks": a coveted, private dining space for two amongst boulders and stellar beach views.

Constance Lemuria, Anse Kerlan, Praslin, Seychelles; +248 4 281 281

6. Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie

Family-owned Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie is known as laid-back La Digue's swishest resort. The Asian-inspired getaway has 63 villas, including the recent introduction of eight Garden Suite Residences fitted in earthy elements such as stone and wood.

Its convenient location next to the La Passe village makes for a brief stroll to Anse Svre Beach or a brisk journey via bicycle -- complimentary for each guest -- to the world-famous Anse Source d'Argent.

There's a spa, two restaurants, a terrace-based bar and a spa, but The Pool Bar is the place to be, with its infinity edge leading towards breathtaking views of Praslin's peaks.

Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie, Anse Svre, La Digue, Seychelles; +248 4 299 999

7. Raffles Seychelles

Raffles Seychelles, based in the north along Anse Takamaka, is located minutes from Anse Lazio, one of the best beaches on Earth.

The resort sports 86 villas, each with a private plunge pool and an outdoor pavilion/dining area, and 24-hour butler service is available for the higher-end one- and two-bedroom villas.

All villas come equipped with easels and sketching paper, allowing guests to express their inner Monet or van Gogh with endless inspiration from the beach and ocean views.

Raffles Spa, purported to be the largest spa in the Seychelles, is a true standout which includes 12 treatment pavilions, a sauna and steam pool, a fitness studio and yoga and meditation classes along the beach.

Raffles Seychelles, Anse Takamaka, Baie Sainte Anne, Seychelles; +248 4 296 000

8. Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa

Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa isn't based on a private island, but it might as well be. There are only 200 inhabitants on the island on which it is based, Silhouette, which happens to be the Seychelles' third largest.

Villa options in this tropical getaway accommodate a wider scope of budgets than most others, ranging from the affordable King Garden Villas to the nearly 12,000 square feet Silhouette Estate, said to have the largest private pool in the Seychelles.

It remains a popular choice for families with a state-of-the-art Kids' Club and babysitting services, and it also offers plenty for the active traveler, including a PADI diving center and varied guided hike excursions around the island's lush, virgin rainforests.

Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, La Passe, Silhouette Island, Seychelles; +248 4 293 949

Travis Levius is a globetrotting writer, editor and photographer for the likes of BBC Travel, Business Insider and Forbes Travel Guide. You can follow his adventures on Instagram and his travel/inspiration blog MisterLevius.com.

TM & 2017 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

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WENY News - 8 Of the best resorts in the Seychelles - WENY-TV

Seychelles as a destination has much to offer visitors thanks to its natural environment, turquoise-colored waters and pristine beaches. For those interested in the marine life, the Indian Ocean archipelago can also be described as a storehouse for marine biodiversity.

While taking a plunge into the deep ocean is the way to way for a close encounter with amazing sea creatures; a snorkeling or diving expedition may not be everyones cup of tea.

In the quest to provide other options to those unable or unwilling to get their feet wet, local Destination Management Company, Creole Travel Services (CTS) has made a new addition to its fleet of vessels.

A new glass-bottom boat baptized Zephir is what CTS is proposing to visitors and locals alike, wishing to get up-close with the coral reefs that provide homes to brightly-colored fish, among other marine species.

Zephir a LOOKER440 GB forms part of the LOOKER series, a new & unique set of glass bottom boats designed and built by Paritetboat a Russian boat-building company.

According to the Paritetboat website, the LOOKER series boast unique ultra-durable bottom window shaped as an optically regular spheroid. They allow passengers to sit in comfort while they are taken on a tour of the Ocean depths.

Zephir started its operations on July 14 and the Creole Travel Services is promoting excursions to the marine parks and private charters, to both locals and tourists. In an effort to promote learning, especially among the children, the crew have devised boards encouraging guests to identify several types of fish while out on the excursions.

CTSs Deputy General Manager Eric Renard said: The product is ideal for family with kids as its safe and a unique way of discovery Seychelles marine life.

Commenting on the added value to the Seychelles tourism products, Mr. Renard noted that Zephir, which can carry up to 30 persons, is a product that can cater for all markets, while highlighting that it is expected to be well received especially among the Asian and Middle Eastern visitors. Currently, its a hit among European tourists who account for the majority of the bookings.

Mr. Renard said the price range for visitors can be between 45 to 65 while special rates apply for residents.

Seychelles is among the first countries to test drive the new LOOKER glass-bottom boat alongside others like Greece, Canary Islands, Caribbean, Maldives, Fiji, Palau among others.

Aside of Zephir, Creole Travel Services has also brought in a new Catamaran baptized Odezir earlier this year, which offers the Starfish Excursion in the Ste-Anne Marine park with visits to Moyenne Island.

Additionally, the catamaran offers the Surf n Turf Excursion, which includes a trail walk to the famous Anse-Major beach And catamaran excursions along the scenic Baie-Ternay and Anse-du-Riz. Both activities allow for swimming and snorkeling in the marine parks.

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Unique view of Seychelles underwater world - eTurboNews

The recorded history of Seychelles dates back to the 16th century. The islands were appropriated and settled by France in the 18th century. African slaves were brought to the island, and the characteristic Seychellois Creole language developed. Britain took possession of the islands in the early 19th century. The Seychelles became an independent republic in 1976. A socialist one-party state ruled the country from 1977 to 1993. The subsequent democratic elections were won by the same socialist party.

The early (pre-European colonisation) history of Isle de Schelles or Seychelles is unknown. Malays from Borneo, who eventually settled on Madagascar, perhaps lingered here circa 200-300 AD. Arab navigators, on trading voyages across the Indian Ocean, were probably aware of the islands, although they did not settle them.

Arabs were trading the highly valued coco de mer nuts, found only in Seychelles, long before European discovery of the islands. The rotted-out nuts can float and were found washed ashore in the Maldives and Indonesia.

In 1503, Vasco da Gama, crossing from India to East Africa, sighted islands which became known as the Amirantes. The granitic islands began to appear on Portuguese charts as the Seven Sisters.

In March 1608, a trading fleet of the English East India Company set sail for India. Lost in a storm, the Ascension's crew saw "high land" on 19 January 1609 and headed for it. They anchored "as in a pond". They found an uninhabited island with plentiful fresh water, fish, coconuts, birds, turtles and giant tortoises with which to replenish their stores. The Ascension sailed, and reported what they had found, but the British took no action.

Towards the end of the 17th century, pirates arrived in the Indian Ocean from the Caribbean and made a base in Madagascar, from where they preyed upon vessels approaching and leaving the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.

The French had occupied the Isle de France (now Mauritius) since 1715. This colony was growing in importance, and in 1735 an energetic administrator, Bertrand-Franois Mah de La Bourdonnais (16991753) was appointed. His brief was to protect the French sea route to India. La Bourdonnais, himself a sailor, turned his attention to making a speedier passage from Mauritius to India. To this end, in 1742, he sent an expedition under the command of Lazare Picault to accurately chart the islands northeast of Madagascar.

On 21 November 1742, the Elisabeth and the Charles anchored off Mah at Anse Boileau (not Baie Lazare, later mistakenly named as Picault's landing place). They found a land of plenty. In fact, Picault named the island Ile d'Abondance. Picault's mapping was poor, so in 1744 he was sent back and renamed the main island Mah (in honor of his patron Mah de La Bourdonnais), and the group the Iles de la Bourdonnais. He had high hopes for the Iles de la Bourdonnais. However the islands were once more forgotten when La Bourdonnais was replaced in 1746.

The outbreak in 1754 of what would become the Seven Years' War between England and France reminded the authorities on Mauritius about the islands. Two ships were sent to claim them, commanded by Corneille Nicholas Morphey. He renamed the largest island Isle de Schelles in honour of Viscount Jean Moreau de Schelles, Minister of Finance during the reign of Louis XV (later Anglicised as Seychelles). This name was later used for the island group, whilst Mah was again used for the largest granitic island. Morphey took possession for the French king and the French East India Company on 1 November 1756.[1]

The end of the Seven Years' War, with France's loss of Canada and its status in India, caused the decline of the French East India Company, which had formerly controlled Mauritius. This settlement, and thus Seychelles, now came under direct royal authority. The new intendant of Mauritius, Pierre Poivre (17191786), was determined to break the Dutch monopoly of the lucrative spice trade; he thought Mah would be perfect for spice cultivation.

In 1768, Nicolas Dufresne arranged a commercial venture, sending ships to collect timber and tortoises from the Seychelles. During this expedition, French sovereignty was extended to cover all the islands of the granitic group on Christmas Day.

In 1769, the navigators Rochon and Grenier proved that a faster route to India could safely be taken via the Seychelles, and thus the importance of the islands' strategic position was realised. Meanwhile, Poivre had finally obtained seedlings of nutmeg and clove, and 10,000 nutmeg seeds. His attempts to propagate them on Mauritius and Bourbon (later named Runion) met with little success, and he thought again of Seychelles. It was considered fortuitous when Brayer du Barr (unknown-1777) arrived on Mauritius with royal permission to run a settlement on St Anne at his own expense.

On 12 August 1770, 15 white colonists, seven slaves, five Indians and one black woman settled on St Anne. Du Barr stayed in Mauritius seeking funds. After reports of initial success, he begged the government for more money. However, reports reached the authorities that ship captains could get no supplies of fresh produce from the islands. Du Barr's appeals for help to Mauritius and Versailles fell on deaf ears. In desperation, he went to the Seychelles to try and rescue the situation, but to no avail. A ruined man, he left for India and died there shortly afterwards.

In 1771, Poivre sent Antoine Gillot to Seychelles to establish a spice garden. By August 1772, Du Barr's people had abandoned St Anne and moved to Mah or returned home. Gillot worked on at Anse Royale, establishing nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and pepper plants.

When British ships were seen around Seychelles, the authorities were spurred into action, despatching a garrison under Lieutenant de Romainville. They built Etablissement du Roi (Royal Settlement) on the site of modern Victoria. Gillot was nominally in charge of the civilian colonists, but had no real authority over them. Mauritius sent as replacement a man of stronger mettle, Jean Baptiste Philogene de Malavois, who assumed command of the settlement in 1788. He drew up 30 decrees which protected the timber and tortoises. In future, only sound farming techniques and careful husbanding of resources would be tolerated.

In 1790, as a result of the French Revolution, the settlers formed a Colonial Assembly, and decided they would run their colony themselves, according to their own constitution. Land in Seychelles should only go to the children of existing colonists, who should dispose of the colony's produce as they chose, not as Mauritius dictated. They deemed the abolition of slavery impossible, because they believed that without free labour, the colony could not survive.

Jean-Baptiste Queau de Quincy (17481827) took command of the colony in 1794. A wily man, he used skill and expediency to steer Seychelles through the years of war ahead. Seychelles acted as a haven for French corsairs (pirates carrying lettres de marque entitling them to prey legally on enemy shipping). Quincy hoped this might go unnoticed, but in 1794 a squadron of three British ships arrived. The British commodore, Henry Newcome, gave Quincy an hour in which to surrender. Through skillful negotiations, Quincy obtained a guarantee of his honour and property and surrendered.

The British made no effort to take over the Seychelles; it was considered a waste of resources. The settlers decided that unless they were sent a garrison, they could not be expected to defend the French flag. Therefore, they would remain neutral, supplying all comers. The strategy worked. The colony flourished. Quincy's favourable terms of capitulation were renewed seven times during the visits of British ships.

On 11 July 1801, the French frigate Chiffonne arrived with a cargo of French prisoners sent into exile by Napoleon. Then HMS Sybille arrived. Quincy had to try to defend the Chiffonne, but after a brief battle, the Chiffonne was taken. Captain Adam of the Sybille wanted to know why Quincy had interfered, in contravention of his capitulation terms. Quincy managed to talk his way out of the difficulty, and even persuaded Adam to agree to Seychelles' vessels flying a flag bearing the words "Seychelles Capitulation", allowing them to pass through the British blockade of Mauritius unmolested.

15 September 1801 was the date of a memorable sea battle just off the settlement. The British ship Victor was seriously disabled by damage to her rigging, but she was able to manoeuvre broadside to the French vessel La Flche and rake her with incessant fire. La Flche began to sink. Rather than surrender her, her captain ran her aground, torching her before abandoning ship. The opposing commanders met ashore afterwards, the Englishman warmly congratulating his French counterpart on his courage and skill during the battle.

The British tightened the blockade on the French Indian Ocean colonies. Runion surrendered, followed in December 1810 by Mauritius. In April 1811, Captain Beaver arrived in Seychelles on the Nisus to announce the preferential terms of Quincy's capitulation should stand, but Seychelles must recognise the terms of the Mauritian surrender. Beaver left behind a Royal Marine, Lieutenant Bartholomew Sullivan, to monitor the Seychelles situation.

There was little Sullivan could do alone to stop the settlers continuing to provision French frigates and slavers. Slave ownership was not then against British law, although slave trading was illegal. Sullivan, later given the title of Civil Agent, played cat and mouse with the pro-slaver colonists. Once, acting on a tip off, Sullivan was rowed over to Praslin and was able to confiscate a cargo of newly landed slaves. It was but a small triumph amidst many frustrations, and Sullivan, complaining that the Seychellois had "no sense of honour, shame or honesty", resigned.

The first civilian administrator of the British regime was Edward Madge. He had a bitter feud with Quincy, who remained in the administration as Justice of the Peace. In the following years, the islands became a backwater ticking over quietly. Seychellois landowners had a pleasant life, though making ends meet given the fickle markets for their produce was not always easy. The British had allowed all customary French practices to remain in place. The administrator may have been British, reporting to London, but he governed according to French rules. The biggest grievance the colonists had with their new masters was the colony's dependence on Mauritius.

The other cloud on the planters' horizon was British anti-slavery legislation. In 1835, slavery was completely abolished. The plantations were already in decline, their soils exhausted by years of cultivation without investment in renewing fertility. Some planters took their slaves and left. The liberated slaves had no land, and most squatted on the estates they had tended in bondage, and the colony entered a period of stagnation. There were no exports, and no money to pay for new infrastructure.

The situation was only improved when planters realised they could grow coconuts with less labour and more profit than the traditional crops of cotton, sugar, rice, and maize. Soon, they also had a source of virtually free labour once again. The British took their anti-slavery stance seriously, and operated patrols along the East African coast, raiding Arab dhows transporting slaves to the Middle East. Slaves liberated south of the Equator were brought to Seychelles, and apprenticed to plantation owners. They worked the land in return for rations and wages. Over a period of thirteen years from 1861, around 2,400 men, women and children were brought to Seychelles.

The town, called Victoria since 1841, began to grow. Licences granted in 1879 give some idea of the range of businesses in the town. There was a druggist, two auctioneers, five retailers, four liquor stores, a notary, an attorney, a jeweller, and a watchmaker.

There was a disaster on 12 October 1862, when torrential rain and strong winds hit Mah. An avalanche of mud and rocks fell on the town from the hills. It has been estimated that over 70 persons lost their lives.

Seychelles yearned to be a colony in its own right, and the authorities in the mother colony, Mauritius, supported them. Sir Arthur Gordon, the Mauritian governor, sent a petition on their behalf to London. Concessions were made, but Seychelles did not become a Crown Colony in its own right until 1903, when its first Governor, Sir Ernest Bickham Sweet-Escott took office. Befitting its new status, the colony acquired a botanical gardens, and a clock tower in the heart of Victoria. The French language and culture remained dominant, however.

The British, like the French before them, saw Seychelles as a useful place to exile troublesome political prisoners. Over the years, Seychelles became a home to prisoners from Zanzibar, Egypt, Cyprus and Palestine, to name but a few. The first in the line of exiles was Lela Pandak Lam, the ex-chief of Pasir Salak in Perak who arrived in 1875 after his implication in the murder of the British Resident of Perak. Like many of the exiles who followed, he settled well into Seychelles life and became genuinely fond of the islands. He took home with him one of the popular local tunes, and incorporated it into the national anthem of his country. With new words, it later became Negaraku, the national anthem of Malaysia.

Perhaps the most famous of the political prisoners was Archbishop Makarios from Cyprus, who arrived in 1956. He likewise fell in love with his prison. "When our ship leaves harbour", he wrote, "we shall take with us many good and kindly memories of the Seychelles...may God bless them all."

World War I caused great hardship in the islands. Ships could not bring in essential goods, nor take away exports. Wages fell; prices soared by 150 percent. Many turned to crime and the prisons were bursting. Joining the Seychelles Labour Contingent, formed at the request of General Smuts, seemed to offer an escape. It was no easy option however. The force, 800 strong, was sent to East Africa. After just five months, so many had died from dysentery, malaria and beriberi that the corps was sent home. In all, 335 men died.

By the end of World War I, the population of Seychelles was 24,000 and they were feeling neglected by Great Britain. There was agitation from the newly formed Planters Association for greater representation in the governance of Seychelles affairs. After 1929, a more liberal flow of funds was ensured by the Colonial Development Act, but it was a time of economic depression; the price of copra was falling and so were wages. Workers petitioned the government about their poor working conditions and the burden of tax they had to bear. Governor Sir Arthur Grimble instigated some reforms, exempting lower income groups from taxation. He was keen to create model housing and distribute smallholdings for the landless. Many of his reforms were not approved until World War II had broken out, and everything was put on hold.

The Planters Association lobbied for the white land owners, but until 1937 those who worked for them had no voice. The League of Coloured Peoples was formed to demand a minimum wage, a wage tribunal and free health care for all. During World War II, a seaplane depot was established on St Anne to monitor regional shipping. A garrison was stationed in the islands and a battery built at Pointe Conan to protect the harbour. Some 2,000 Seychellois men served in the Pioneer Companies in Egypt, Palestine and Italy.

At home, Seychelles had turmoil of its own. The first political party, the Taxpayers Association, was formed in 1939. A British governor described it as "the embodiment of every reactionary force in Seychelles", and it was entirely concerned with protecting the interests of the plantocracy. After the war, they also benefited by being granted the vote, which was limited to literate property owners; just 2,000 in a population of 36,000. At the first elections, in 1948, most of those elected to the Legislative Council were predictably members of the Planters and Taxpayers Association.

In 1958, the French bought back the Glorioso islands from the Seychelles.

It was not until 1964 that any new political movements were created. In that year, the Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP, later Seychelles People's Progressive Front, SPPF) was formed. Led by France-Albert Ren, they campaigned for socialism and independence from Britain. The late James Mancham's Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP), created the same year, by contrast represented businessmen and planters and wanted closer integration with Britain.

Elections were held in 1966, won by the SDP.

In March 1970, colonial and political representatives of Seychelles met in London for a constitutional convention, with the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP) of James Mancham advocating closer integration with the UK, and the Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP) of France-Albert Ren advocating independence. Further elections in November 1970 brought a new constitution into effect, with Mancham as Chief Minister. Further elections were held in April 1974, in which both major political parties campaigned for independence. Following this election, negotiations with the British resulted in an agreement under which the Seychelles became an independent republic within the Commonwealth on June 29, 1976. The newly knighted Sir James Mancham became the country's first President, with Ren as Prime Minister. These negotiations also restored the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar, and Des Roches, which had been transferred from Seychelles in November 1965 to form part of the new British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), to Seychelles upon independence.

On June 5, 1977, a coup d'tat saw Mancham deposed while overseas, and France-Albert Ren became President. The Seychelles became a one-party state, with the SPUP becoming the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF).

In 1981, the country experienced a failed coup attempt by Mike Hoare and a team of South African backed mercenaries. The author John Perkins has alleged that this was part of a covert action to re-install the pro-American former president in the face of concerns about United States access to its military bases in Diego Garcia.[2]

The government was threatened again by an army mutiny in August 1982, but it was quelled after 2 days when loyal troops, reinforced by Tanzanian forces & several of the mercenaries that had escaped from the prison,[3] recaptured the rebel-held installations.

Grard Hoarau (7 December 1950 29 November 1985) the exiled opposition was head of the Mouvement Pour La Resistance (MPR).[4] His opposition to the dictatorship of Ren was based in London and he was assassinated on 29 November 1985 by an unidentified gunman on the doorstep of his London home. Hoarau is buried in London.

In 1985 after the assassination of Hoarau, the Seychelles community in exile put together a programm titled SIROP - Seychelles International Repatriation and Onward Program. Involving an alliance of CDU, DP, SNP and SNP it outlined negotiations for a peaceful return of the exiles supported by a strong economic program.

In February 1992, Conrad Gresl (19 August 1937 - July 1993), a local accountant, landowner and advocate of multi-party democracy in Seychelles was arrested and charged with treason for allegedly planning to overthrow President Ren's rgime with the apparent aid of foreign mercenaries and with supposed CIA involvement. Gresl died in Seychelles in July 1993 and is survived by his wife Sylvia, son Neville and daughters Natasha and Yvette Gresl.[5]

A number of Seychellois were displaced and exiled by the dictatorship. The Gresl family were one of a few landowners of largely French descent to remain after the coup d'tat of 1977 - most had their land confiscated and were exiled. Any individual who publicly resisted the Ren rgime was vulnerable to threats, intimidation, or exile throughout the 1980s. Disappearances and what appear to be politically motivated killing did take place but these are not officially documented or acknowledged. A number of Seychellois families are now calling for official acknowledgement of politically motivated violence subsequent to the 1977 coup.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, at an Extraordinary Congress of the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF) on December 4, 1991, President Ren announced a return to the multiparty system of government after almost 16 years of one-party rule. On December 27, 1991, the Constitution of Seychelles was amended to allow for the registration of political parties. Among the exiles returning to Seychelles was James Mancham, who returned in April 1992 to revive his party, the Democratic Party (DP). By the end of that month, eight political parties had registered to contest the first stage of the transition process: election to the constitutional commission, which took place on July 2326, 1992.

The constitutional commission was made up of 22 elected members, 14 from the SPPF and 8 from the DP. It commenced work on August 27, 1992 with both President Ren and Mancham calling for national reconciliation and consensus on a new democratic constitution. A consensus text was agreed upon on May 7, 1993, and a referendum to approve it was called for June 1518. The draft was approved with 73.9% of the electorate in favor of it and 24.1% against.

July 2326, 1993 saw the first multiparty presidential and legislative elections held under the new constitution, as well as a resounding victory for President Ren. Three political groups contested the electionsthe SPPF, the DP, and the United Opposition (UO)--a coalition of three smaller political parties, including Parti Seselwa. Two other smaller opposition parties threw in their lot with the DP. All participating parties and international observer groups accepted the results as "free and fair."

Three candidates contested the March 2022, 1998 presidential electionAlbert Ren, SPPF; James Mancham, DP; and Wavel Ramkalawanand once again President Ren and his SPPF party won a landslide victory. The President's popularity in elections jumped to 66.6% in 1998 from 59.5% in 1993, while the SPPF garnered 61.7% of the total votes cast in the 1998 National Assembly election, compared to 56.5% in 1993.

In 1999, Mancham switched to the centrist liberal Seychelles National Party (SNP) which emerged as the major opposition party, losing to the SPPF in 2002 with 42% of the vote. In 2004, Ren turned the presidency over to his former vice president and long-time comrade, James Michel. Michel won the 2006 presidential elections against SNP leader Wavel Ramkalawan with 53.5% of the vote.

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History of Seychelles - Wikipedia

The Seychelles Roadshow took place at the Cape Sun Hotel in Cape Town on 20 July 2017. The first leg of the Roadshow included a MICE speed networking session, which was presented by 18 Seychelles tourist offices that served as information links between the Seychelles, potential visitors, tour operators, travel agents and the media. These offices included Air Seychelles, Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Association, Vision Voyages, Alphonse Island, Berjaya Hotel, Constance Hotels, Eden Bleu Hotel, Hilton Seychelles, Six Senses, Sunsail and the Moorings, SeyUnique, The Holiday Factory, Thompsons Holidays and Variety Cruises.

We caught up with David Germain, the director for Africa and America's Seychelles Tourism Board and Amanda Lang, marketing manager for Alphonse Island, to find out more about MICE services and its positioning within the Seychelles.

David Germain, Director: Africa and America's Seychelles Tourism Board and Amanda Lang, marketing manager, Alphonse Island.

Germain: Very much so, this is the reason why we are actually promoting Seychelles as a MICE destination, because we didnt have the various facilities and services, maybe establishments as well, in Seychelles that can properly service the MICE industry. I think I use the word properly because it takes into consideration equipment and professional staff as well so the real professional package to service MICE in the Seychelles. This is why, today, we are positioning Seychelles as a MICE destination, specifically for a certain group of people, because as a small island nation, we also have our limitations.

Germain: So far, I think that its been very successful, more specifically from the European market, which is our traditional market. As I said, its new to the African continent, but it has been quite successful in various ways, particularly the work and play kind of programmes and conferences. Remember, Seychelles has a lot of islands and each island has its own unique attractions this gives delegates and business travellers a lot of opportunities to discover the unique attractions of the Seychelles. Travellers can come down with their children during school holidays and join up with them. Our hotel services provide a variety of programmes for MICE and conferences to be able to visit all of the islands like Alfonse.

Germain: Seychelles continues to host quite a lot of big events. Conferences on the government side - SADC conferencing, RETSO, African Union - are frequently being hosted by Seychelles and it's been good in the past four to five years. They keep coming to Seychelles for two reasons. First of all, it allows them to discover the uniqueness of the Seychelles and its natural beauty. Secondly, there are a lot of aspects attached to it as well, such as safety, no diseases, no vaccinations and the friendliness of the people. Its a combination of positive factors which continue to grow and boost the success of the Seychelles.

Lang: Because we have such a wide variety of star rating hotels, visitors can look at cost conscious or cost effective hotels as well as the larger ones like Berjaya, for instance, where one can fit up to 200 people. Then there are the high-end hotels like Ephelia where conference facilities can be housed. As Germain mentioned, most hotels are work-and-play compatible, especially that of Eden Bleu which has the capacity to host conferences as they have before with SADC, African Union, etc.

Lang: At my property, for instance, we had fly fishing, where the likes of Columbia and Yeti came through for two weeks, enjoying both work and play aspects. However, I think with other products, we did target a lot of African countries, like Ethiopia and Angola.

Germain: I think it's been more individual in the past with each property doing their sales calls, exhibitions all over the world, depending on the nature of the hotel and the promotion of their offering. Now the Tourism Board has taken it as part of our marketing activity to include MICE because weve made an assessment and can see that Seychelles can properly promote MICE. We also have to take into consideration the standard required to properly service clients. We have to be able to match the international level. There was a time when we thought that we could host MICE, but found that we were unprepared. Now we can rightly say that we are capable of hosting events.

We do need to be careful that we don't overestimate our capacity - invite 400 to 500 people to come and then have a disaster if we cannot manage it.

Lang: We've also seen an increase in airlines coming through, so seat allocation has become a lot easier.

Germain: Taking everything into consideration - man power, equipment, buses, airport, and arrival, etc. - we like to do things properly. I think this is the reason why Seychelles Tourism continues to grow - because we take it seriously. People need to know exactly what it is that we offer.

Connect with the Seychelles Islands Tourism Board on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Speed networking at the Seychelles Roadshow - Bizcommunity - Bizcommunity.com

Though she was born and raised in the Seychelles, it wasn't until she started working for the local Marine Conservation Society that she witnessed her first nesting sea turtle.

"Every encounter is like my first one," Didion says. "I go a little bit crazy and then I remember I need to measure the turtle, watch out for what she is doing, so every encounter is like the first one for me."

Four years ago, she left her job as a science and maths teacher to start a family. Along the way she discovered an unexpected passion for marine conservation. Through a warm smile, she admits that while teaching she'd use any excuse to get her science students outside, encouraging them to play in the dirt and explore.

"It's always been in me, the environment had been calling me for some time," she says.

The Seychelles archipelago hosts one of the largest remaining global populations of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, and significant populations of the endangered green turtle.

In 1994 the Seychellois government made it illegal to harm, kill, or be in possession of sea turtles, including their meat and their eggs. The penalty is up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $37,000.

But despite the strict laws, Didon says poaching is still a major issue because of the country's traditional appetite for turtle meat.

"Some people would say it's in the culture, but in terms of population we know that the turtle population had gone down, and the human population has gone up, so of course there is going to be some sort of problem there," Didon says.

October marks the beginning of the nesting season in the Seychelles, when female hawksbill and green turtles emerge out of the comfort of the Indian Ocean to lay their eggs on the very beaches where they hatched.

During the nesting season, Didon and her colleagues can be seen patrolling the beaches where they know turtles might come to nest. If there are no turtles on the beach, they look for tracks and the tell-tale signs that a female has laid her eggs.

"Sometimes it's very apparent that the turtle has nested," she says. "You can see sand thrown around, but sometimes if you are not too sure, it's quite good to just feel the sand and if you feel loose sand, this gives you an indication that there is a nest there."

If a nest is found, its precise location is recorded using GPS, to monitor its status until the hatchlings appear after a two-month incubation period.

Despite no longer teaching in a classroom, Didon says a big part of her job is educating others about the plight of sea turtles and other local marine wildlife. During the off season, she visits schools and hotels to host awareness programs and presentations.

"I want future generations to be able to see all these lovely things that we have, like the wildlife," she says.

"People have kids, I have kids, and I would want them to grow up maybe doing the same job that I'm doing."

Read more from the original source:

The teacher protecting marine turtles in the Seychelles - CNN International

Cable & Wireless Seychelleshas tapped Syniverse to improve roaming experiences for inbound and outbound roaming customers.

The agreement builds on a multiyear relationship and marks another step in Cable & Wireless Seychelles ability to deliver the highest level of roaming experience and maximise revenues in a rapidly growing tourism market.

LTE is quickly moving from a preferred service to a must-have service, and its increasingly a standard that our customers expect to have access to anytime, anywhere, said Jack Maher, Head of Roaming and Carrier Relations, Cable & Wireless Seychelles. Following our launch of full LTE roaming service, our goal is now ensuring that our roamers have the best-possible LTE roaming quality of experience.

LTE roaming has become a critical mobile service in the Seychelles as the number of tourists and visiting, or inbound, roamers has soared over the past few years and far exceeded the nations 94,000-plus citizens. According to theUnited Nations World Travel Organisation Tourism Barometer, the Seychelles saw a more than 18% rise in number of tourists in 2015, making it one of the worlds top 10 fastest-growing countries for tourism, and in 2016 this number rose by almost 11% to304,000 visitorsfrom 275,000.

To help Cable & Wireless Seychelles better manage the roaming experiences for this growing number, Syniverse will implementits Network Monitoring and Alertingas part of its global, reliable and secure platform. The service uses Syniverses roaming-data-monitoring product, Total Visibility, to provide a holistic approach to roaming that enables operators to efficiently and proactively solve subscribers problems and tailor their individual experiences in real time. With a flexible, cloud-based framework, Syniverse Network Monitoring and Alerting enables an operator to select only the capabilities that specifically pertain to its specific service features and implementation requirements.

With the GSMA predicting that 75% of the worlds population will be covered by 4G-LTE networks by 2020, it's mission-critical for operators to be able to ensure that they can deliver the highest quality of roaming experience possible to meet customers rising demands, saidNour Al Atassi, Regional Vice President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa. Our Network Monitoring and Alerting and global platform will give customers greater insight into their roaming usage and ability to manage roaming costs. At the same time, Cable & Wireless Seychelles will be able to better provide the best customer experience and maximise its roaming revenue.

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Syniverse Enables Cable & Wireless Seychelles to Improve LTE Roaming User Experience - Developing Telecoms

Winning accolades across various categories at the World Travel Awards 2017, demonstrates that Seychelles, in spite of being small in size, remains relevant as a tourist destination.

The Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Mrs. Sherin Francis said this on Wednesday last week, while addressing representatives of the award-winning businesses.

STB and the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine joined together to honour the national airline, port authority and hotels, who were voted the Indian Ocean best and the best in Seychelles, in their respective categories at this years World Travel Awards. This was also an opportunity for the award winners to be presented to the local media.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Francis said: For the people who did the voting; in spite of being small in size, those people still found us [STB, Air Seychelles, Port Authority and hotels] to be relevant.

The World Travel Awards 2017 were announced in a ceremony held in the Maldives earlier this month, in the presence of tourism and hospitality leaders from the region and international media.

For the third consecutive year, the Seychelles Tourism Board took home the award for the Indian Oceans Leading Tourist Board, while Seychelles was voted the Indian Oceans Leading Cruise Destination for the fourth consecutive year.

In the airline category, the travel awards crowned Air Seychelles as the Indian Oceans Leading Airline for the third consecutive year and also the regions best for Business Class and Cabin Crew service both for the fourth consecutive year. And for the first time, Air Seychelles was named the Indian Oceans Leading Airline Brand.

Port Victoria was voted the Indian Oceans Leading Cruise Port for the fifth consecutive year. Two hotels Constance Ephelia and Raffles Praslin Seychelles were voted the Indian Oceans Leading Green Resort and Leading Villa Resort, respectively.

Mrs Francis noted that what sets Seychelles apart from its Indian Ocean neighbours is the people working in the tourism industry, who are passionately working to sell the destination as a product which they firmly believe in.

Commenting on STBs achievement as the Leading Tourist Board, Mrs Francis emphasized on the hard work and devotion of the organisation overseas and local staff who strive to maintain good relationships with their key partners.

The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to recognize the very best travel organizations in the world, through a global vote including by travel and tourism professionals.

Awards are presented for excellence in providing services in different categories of the worlds travel and tourism industry. This includes air services, car rental services, spas, travel agencies and tour operators, hotels and resorts, among others.

Air Seychelles bagged four out of five accolades in the airline category. The airlines Chief Executive Mr. Roy Kinnear said winning the Indian Oceans Leading Airline Brand for the first time is one accolade that should not go unrecognized.

It is the first time it had been awarded in the airline category. The word brand is very very important and for Air Seychelles against many competitors in the region and also in a wider spread worldwide geographic form to win the leading airline brand says something about the airline name, it says something about the word Seychelles, it says something about the reputation of the airline, and the awareness of it. And we really should not underestimate the value of being brand recognised, said Kinnear.

In the hotels category, Raffles Praslin Seychelles featuring 86 villa, emerged as the Indian Oceans Leading Villa Resort, for the third consecutive year. The General Manager of the hotel, Mr Joerg Roterberg said with the discerning traveller having a choice nowadays it is important to take note of the competition, which hotels in Seychelles are up against in the Indian Ocean region.

We are comparing ourselves with Mauritius, the Maldives, a lot of high profile luxury destinations. So it makes us especially proud to bring this award to the Seychelles and to our little rock called Praslin, said Roterberg.

For Constance Ephelia, winning the accolade for the Indian Ocean Leading Green Resort ties in well with the United Nations declaration of 2017 as theInternational Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. This is also the second consecutive year that Constance Ephelia was presented with the same award.

The General Manager of the hotel, Mr. Kai Hoffmeister said its the small gestures they do, including recycling, cleaning up, reducing the use of plastic and educating the staff that have not gone unnoticed.

I think all of us can be more green. Everyone that comes to the Seychelles as a tourist, and even we realize how lush this country is. So the contribution to the environment is definitely at the heart of our prioritiesWe are also green certified, which is quite a lengthy processbut we do believe its something worth investing in. The environment and surroundings where we finds ourselves in are uniqueand we need to do all we can to protect it, said Hoffmeister.

The clear turquoise Ocean of the Seychelles islands which offer great island hopping experience are attributes that attract cruise visitors to the archipelago. The Seychelles Ports Authority is another organisation that has been recognised for the services rendered to the cruise ships that call to the island nations shores.

The Port Authoritys Deputy CEO, Herbert Houareau said: Our ports remains open 24 hours a daywe will work harder to ensure safety and further improvement to the port functions. It is a collective work encompassing everyone from all sectors involved in the tourism industry.

Aside of businesses coming out on top in their respective categories for the Indian Ocean awards, other Seychelles hotels and one car hire business were also voted the best in their respective categories in Seychelles and they were also honoured at last weeks event.

They are:

Seychelles Leading Boutique Hotel 2017 MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa

Seychelles Leading Car Rental Company 2017 Hertz

Seychelles Leading Conference Hotel 2017 Eden Bleu Hotel

Seychelles Leading Family Resort 2017 Constance Ephlia

Seychelles Leading Green Resort 2017 Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa

Seychelles Leading Hotel 2017 Constance Lmuria Seychelles

Seychelles Leading Hotel Suite 2017 Two Bedroom Presidential Villa @ Hilton

Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa

Seychelles Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2017 MAIA Signature Villa @ MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa

Seychelles Leading Resort 2017 Enchanted Island Resort

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World Travel Awards 2017 winners honored by the Seychelles Tourism Board and Ministry - eTurboNews

Seychellois Naomy King won the title of the most photogenic model at the Top Model of the World 2017 competition, held in El Gouna, Egypt.

The pageants grand finale was held on Friday 14th July.

King who also made it to the top 6, was ranked fourth at the end of the competition.

I feel very proud as I was not expecting to be among the top 6 out of 40 contestants, she said.

The 17-year-old model was chosen to represent Seychelles at this years Top Model of the World, after she had to renounce her participation in the Miss Intercontinental competition last year, due to school commitments.

Her selection was done by a representative of the international event in Seychelles, Joelle Fabre, who is also the director of the Coral Models Seychelles agency.

Fabre who has been working to groom Naomy into a confident model, was also nominated as the chief chaperone for all contestants at the Top Model of the World 2017.

She said that Naomy who stands at 1.75metres did a great job on the catwalk.

In spite of her timidity she was able to use her perfect height and photogenic face to her advantage, said Fabre.

The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) was among the sponsors of Naomys trip to the 24th edition of the Top Model of the World alongside other local and international sponsors.

The Chief Executive of the STB, Mrs. Sherin Francis said: We are proud of Naomys achievement, her win is also a win for Seychelles. I would like to congratulate her and her mentor for this.

Ukraines Julia Gershun, 20, was crowned Top Model of the World 2017, ahead of the contestants from San Andres and Mexico.

The Top Model of the World, a competition searching for the ultimate model, started in the U.S. city of Miami and is organized by the World Beauty Organization every year. The pageant attracts many international models seeking to be recruited for photo shooting, movies and modelling contracts.

This was Seychelles third participation in the Top Model of the World competition. In 2009, Nathalie Domingue, represented the island nation, winning the best catwalk award, while Mariette Dine showcased the natural Creole beauty of Seychellois women at last years edition.

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Seychelles' contestant wins Photogenic Model title at Top Model of ... - eTurboNews

We are all familiar with the expression green fingers', however, in the Indian Ocean Island of Seychelles it would probably be more fitting to say reef fingers'.

Scientists and marine biologists have in particular identified the damage caused by the Indian Ocean Dipole and El Nio phenomena which caused high-scale coral bleaching in 1998 and reduced live coral by close to 97%.

The damage was so severe that the coral was unable to regenerate and at the same time it became less resistant to disease.

In June this year, marine biologist Jude Bijoux told the Seychelles News Agency (SNA) that the coral reefs of Seychelles are in grave danger due to the damage sustained during last year's warm El Nio and the general effect of climate change. He added that the level of coral bleaching is currently similar to the bleaching catastrophe which happened in 1998.

According to Bijoux, should the reefs not get sufficient time to recover, they will become smaller and eventually upset the ecosystem as many underwater species depend on the coral reefs for food and shelter.

For an island state like Seychelles, coral reefs are also extremely important as they contribute to the two most important sectors of the countrys economy - tourism and fisheries.

The first scientific restoration programme was launched by non-governmental organisation Nature Seychelles in 2010. The organisation took corals that had survived the 1998 bleaching, and began to grow over 45,000 fragments of corals in underwater nurseries and planted them in a degraded area in the Cousin Island Special Reserve.

In 2015, the Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA) also embarked on another coral nursery project off Curieuse Island to try and restore the reefs.

While the scientists are yet to measure the long-term success, of coral gardening, the projects have been successful in terms of gathering data about the coral reefs and how to repair them.

In its simplest form, coral farming is best described as the process whereby samples of healthy corals are collected from the local reefs, raised in nurseries until mature, and then installed at an identified site of restoration.

Coral farms are basically not very different to underwater gardens, requiring plenty of nutrients and the right temperature. After about a year or two, the corals have more than tripled in size and are ready to be harvested.

A single coral finger may grow into several new ones, all ready to be planted back onto the reef or into a new nursery to promote regeneration of the ecosystem.

While the long-term success of coral gardening is yet to be monitored, the short-term success is already evident in some of the reefs where restoration has taken place.

The rest is here:

#CSIMonth: How the Seychelles is restoring its marine ecosystem through coral farming - Bizcommunity.com

Activities and natural attractions supported by the culture of the destination bolsters the Seychelles tourism industry.

Yield from tourism is not just pricing more (and giving less). It is opening doors for visitors to enjoy and, in so doing, spend their holiday budget. The next challenge is for the country to see the earnings of the tourism industry, but this is a discussion for another time.

Christopher Gill has opened one facility at his Iles Des Palmes Eco Resort on Praslin that needs to be seen by visitors as well as by Seychellois. Gill explains that pirates arrived to the Seychelles islands and greater Indian Ocean towards the end of the 17th century, and that they came from the Caribbean where royalist naval ships of England, Spain, France were making their trade more challenging. They initially based out of Madagascar, St. Marie island, and preyed on vessels approaching and leaving the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf.

Oliver Le Vasseur, famously known as La Buse, was born in Calle, France, in 1760. He was a famous pirate of the Indian Ocean laid to rest in the Mariners cemetery St. Paul, La Reunion. In 1721, he offended the government of France as a Corsair gone rogue, associating with English pirate Captain Taylor. Together, they attacked French and English ships alike.

The first maps of Mah demarcate Beau Vallon to Danzille area as La Place De La Buse. This area was a key treasure exploration site by Cruise Wilkins from 1958 onwards.

When the warrant for Le Vasseur, known to be on Mah, was issued, it is believed that he fled his lair to set sail.

La Buse is known to have been on the run from 1729-1730, when he was eventually caught on St. Marie, Madagascar, alive. He was escorted to St. Denis, ILe De Bourbon, accused of high piracy. The sentence was to be hanging in town on the gallows.

Olivier Le Vasseurs body was carted from St. Denis to St. Paul, and laid to rest at the Mariners cemetery where he still rests today, along with his secrets.

There are three known pirate ovens in Seychelles, one being the Silhouette oven, belonging to Jean Francois Hodoul (privateer). The other pirate oven is at Anse Forban, belonging to Corsaire Nageon. >This third oven, its owner unknown, is speculated to have belonged to La Buse, who built it while on the run, hiding from the French Navy.

A Hawthorne Dew Thom and Cameron Tappit jug (whiskey flask from Scotland) were found on the property near the pirate oven. These were common in mid-17th century and 18th century. The term Tappit refers to the spout above the flask, similar to a bar tap.

These items, among others, such as a musket trigger with hand engraved Fleur de Lys and hearts, can be found in the display room of the hotel.

On the same property also lies a calorifere, distillery and patchouli house, all national heritage sites. This property remains the only coastal plantation on Praslin, its structures the most intact and undestroyed.

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The Pirate Era left its mark in Seychelles - eTurboNews