Category Archives: Seychelles

Grenada and the Seychelles may be different in some ways but they also have some things in common.

ST GEORGES, Grenada, Friday May 19, 2017 A dreamy holiday destination for sun lovers and beach goers, Grenada, also called the Spice Island, is home to over 100,000 people. With an ocean area 80 times larger than its land space, a rich and pristine coastline and colourful coral reefs driving its tourism industry, and a real understanding of climate risks, this Eastern Caribbean Island has recently positioned itself as a real blue economy champion in the region.

Over 13,000 kilometers west, another small island developing state in the Western Indian Ocean with similar challenges and opportunitiesthe Seychellesis also leading on the blue agenda.

What common challenges and opportunities are facing small economies? What can the World Bank contribute to generate stable growth in small economies? These are key questions raised in recent conversations in the Caribbean and Washington.

Small size, yet great opportunities

Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, recently appointed as chair of the World Bank Group Small States Forum taking over from Seychelles Minister of Finance Jean-Paul Adam, called for the need to change the narrative from big to small, and in doing so, address opportunities for small states.

Small states can set an example for the rest of the world, said Prime Minister Mitchell. We do not come to the table cap in hand. Small and nimble, quick and cost effective, so lets look at specific opportunities.

A recently launched World Bank study, Open and Nimble: Finding Stable Growth in Small Economies, shows that economic size measured by the size of working age population does not matter to thedevelopment and economic growth of countries. While small economies are more open to trade and foreign investment and highly specialized in their export sectors, they are also more nimble and able to change the structure of their economies and exports over time. In fact, small economies such as Costa Rica and Caribbean countries have been more successful in reinventing themselves than some of the regions giants.

Small states of the Caribbean have also shown how the strength of their fiscal policies and financial sector can help them become more resilient in difficult times. According to the Bank report, Taming Volatility: Fiscal Policy and Financial Development for Growth in the Eastern Caribbean, countries in the region such as Grenada and St. Kitts, which have been able to save in good times and strengthen their banking system, have been able to endure more difficult times.

Thinking blue growth and climate resilience

Small island developing states such as Grenada and the Seychelles are looking at the ocean as the next frontier for sustainable economic development and are now starting to think blue. For the Caribbean, this means unlocking ocean wealth in a way that sustainably contributes to blue growth and returns long-term benefits to communities such as job opportunities and food security.

World Bank report, Toward a Blue Economy: A Promise for Sustainable Growth in the Caribbean, estimates that the Caribbean Sea generated US$407 billion in 2012, representing almost 18 percent of Caribbean GDP, including mainland Caribbean coastal countries. Last year, the Seychelles completed an innovative debt for nature swap to strengthen the countrys environmental sustainability and climate resilience by restructuring its debt and adopting a comprehensive marine special plan. In the Caribbean, the World Bank Group is accelerating progress in this areaby supporting the implementation of the Eastern Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Policy (ECROP) endorsed by all 11 heads of state of the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

The search for blue growth is now at the top of Grenada and many other small island developing states. This will also be part of the focus for the next heads of state meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in July.

Small states matter

The 50 percent increase of the International Development Association (IDA) from $50 billion to $75 billion, is a major opportunity for small states that are eligible for IDA (the World Bank Groups concessional financing window). This comes at a very uncertain time for development finance and for climate finance, said Mitchell during theSmall State Engagement Updateat the WB-IMF Spring Meetings.

For the Caribbean, the allocation for IDA-eligible countries including Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadine has more than tripled for the next IDA cycle.

With a larger allocation, these small states can strategically shift to larger and transformational projects that boost sustainable growth and generate inclusive opportunities for their population, especially youth, said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank country director for the Caribbean. (World Bank)

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What Grenada and the Seychelles Have in Common - Caribbean360.com (subscription)

Eden Bleu Hotel, Seychelles, creates awareness of its unique offering to the German Market ITCM Eden Bleu Hotel recently participated in a road-show with the Seychelles Tourism Board and Air Seychelles and continued to promote the Seychelles as a business destination to the German MICE market with positive results. Eden Bleu Hotel is the only ...

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Eden Bleu Hotel, Seychelles, creates awareness of its unique offering to the German Market - ITCM

The programme of EUR 3 million is part of the European Union Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA+) which aims at strengthening dialogue and cooperation with developing countries, in particular least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS)

Mah (Seychelles) The Head of Cooperation of the European Union to the Republic of Seychelles opened the second Steering Committee of the Seychelles Global Climate Change Alliance project. She reiterated the relevance of activities foreseen to address the recurrent flooding problems on La Digue.

According to Ms Carla OSORIO, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Seychelles: This important project provides the European Union with a formidable window to reiterate its commitment to support Government in the implementation of its National Climate Change Strategy, in line with commitments taken in COP 21 Conference. Last month the EU fielded a Results Oriented Monitoring (ROM) Mission to Seychelles to evaluate implementation progress. I am glad to point out that the project continues to remain highly relevant for La Digue. The activities are comprehensive being both science-based and practical. The Steering Committee had the opportunity to look into details in the recommendations of the monitoring mission and together we agreed on a common roadmap on how to ensure efficiency and sustainability for the remaining implementation period.

According to the UNDP, the project is being welcomed by the La Digue community and will help to alleviate the pressure from recent climatic events such as the Felleng cyclone event in 2013. Activities for components 1 and 4 are well under way and components 2 and 3 are expected to be launched soon.

At the margin of the Steering Committee meeting, the Head of Cooperation also met and discussed with the various stakeholders including local communities from La Digue. For the EU representative, it is essential to ensure the participation and involvement of local communities for the success of this project.

A major component of the project concerns the implementation of coastal climate change adaptation in risk-prone areas on La Digue

The Global Climate Change Alliance was established by the European Union in 2007 with a total envelope of EUR 285 million for the period 2008 to 2013. The objective is to support developing countries and small islands developing states in their endeavours to adapt to climate change.

To-date the programme, has supported more than 70 programmes in over 50 countries, including Seychelles, in Africa, Asia, Pacific and Caribbean and the Indian Ocean. In light of its success, the European Union has allocated an additional envelope of EUR 350 million for the programme for the period 2014-2020. In addition, another EUR 70 million are also available for climate actions from the European Union regional funds until 2020.

The programme for Seychelles was signed between the European Union and the Government of Seychelles in December 2014 to assist Government in developing its resistance to these changing climate patterns. The programme of EUR 3 million is part of the European Union Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA+) which aims at strengthening dialogue and cooperation with developing countries, in particular least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). The GCCA + is one of the most significant climate initiatives in the world.

A major component of the project concerns the implementation of coastal climate change adaptation in risk-prone areas on La Digue. These activities are being implemented by the UNDP (United National Development Programme), given their experience and expertise in the domain in Mah and in La Digue. The project is expected to run until 2019.

Activities that will be implemented include the preparation of an Integrated Shoreline Management Plan, hydrological and topographic studies on flood buffering and salinization control measures. The activities will also focus on the restoration of wetlands, as a sustainable means to reduce flood risks.

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EU partners Seychelles to address climatic conditions | News Ghana - News Ghana

The Seychelles Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Maurice Loustau-Lalanne attended the 105th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) executive council which took place in Madrid, Spain from May 11-12.

Minister Loustau-Lalanne was accompanied by the principal secretary for tourism Anne Lafortune. Seychelles has been a member of the executive council since 2013.

A day prior to the session, Mrs Lafortune attended two official events namely the high level task force on tourism and security and the round table on sustainable urban tourism.

The round table discussions presented an excellent opportunity to contribute to the visibility of the goals of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

The panel addressed five key areas namely: inclusive and sustainable economic growth; social inclusiveness, employment and poverty reduction; resource efficiency, environment and protection and climate change; cultural values, diversity, and heritage; and mutual understanding, peace, and security.

During the first day of the executive council session, the Secretary General, Dr Taleb Rifai presented reports on International Tourism in 2016 and 2017; mainstreaming tourism in the national and global agenda; promoting safe, secure and seamless travel; International Year of Sustainable Tourism in Development 2017; enhancing the role of technology in tourism and placing sustainability at the heart of tourism development, and other financial and administrative matters of the UNWTO.

It is worth noting that by taking part in the UNWTO, Seychelles has received many benefits through the various events, conferences, workshops attended.

UNWTO also supports Seychelles with the development of many programs such as the Hotel Classification Programme and the upcoming Tourism Satellite Accounts System which will be put in place soon.

The second day of the meeting was dedicated to the election of the new Secretary General. There were six candidates, from Brazil, Colombia, Georgia, Republic of Korea, Seychelles and Zimbabwe. However, members were informed at the meeting that the candidate for Seychelles, Alain St.Ange had withdrawn its candidature as a result of the government of Seychelles withdrawing its endorsement.

Voting for the new Secretary General was conducted by secret ballot in accordance with the rules of procedure adopted by the General Assembly. After two rounds of voting Zurab Pololikashvili from Georgia received the most votes with 18 out of 33 votes. Mr Pololikashvili will be recommended by the Executive Council to the General Assembly for the post of Secretary-General for the period 2018 2021.

The 22nd session of the General Assembly will take place in Chengdu, China from September 11-16.

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Seychelles takes part in the 105th session of the UNWTO executive council - eTurboNews

Earlier in Madrid, the Seychelles Candidate Alain St. Ange made an emotional speech to explain his side of the story on him withdrawing from the race to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

The Seychelles president had withdrawn the former minsiters candidacy to run for the post.

Alain St Ange made an emotional speech in Madrid today addressing the Executive Committee of UNWTO before the election of the new Secretary General:

I hope that the Seychelles people will be able to forgive me for not being able to now see this through

TRANSCRIPT I hope that the Seychelles people will be able to forgive me for not being able to now see this through

It with mixed emotions that I stand before you all today.

I am filled with pride first and foremost at how far our small Island Nation, the Seychelles, has come in the race for the prestigious role of Secretary General of the UNWTO, the highest office of tourism in the world.

However, I am also filled with disappointment and regret that I cannot see this race to completion and cross that finishing line with my fellow candidates and esteemed colleagues.

I have dedicated my career to the field of Tourism. I have served proudly in my country as CEO for Tourism, following which I was appointed as Minister for Tourism and Culture. Later I was entrusted with more responsibility; my portfolio was expanded to Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports, and Marine. In addition to this, I was a founding member of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Organization and elected as the first President thereof. I worked diligently and tirelessly for my country throughout this period.

I have served as an Executive Committee Member for the UNWTO for the past two years, working hard alongside most of you for the betterment of world tourism, a privilege which I alone enjoyed amongst my fellow candidates.

I have always been passionate about the field and I remain excited to work with all of you in the future in some shape or form to further our ideals.

I resigned from my Ministerial role when I was inundated with support from various countries to pursue the role for SG following Mr. Taleb Rifai announcing that the end of term was coming. I entered the race for the post with the firm, heartfelt belief that Seychelles, as a small Island State within Africa, has a voice, that we matter, and that we have the capacity to be a leader in tourism in the global arena. In addition, I had, and still have, the conviction that we would have brought something entirely different to the table, an element of diversity, which only a small country with a melting pot of cultures like ours could.

I put my heart and soul into my campaign over the past five months, incurring great costs at my own expense, and meeting great people along the way.

I arrived in Madrid a few days ago with my ever supportive family and friends, only to learn soon after landing that my tireless campaign had been turned abruptly on its head. I was informed informally via telephone by the Vice President of Seychelles that my Island Nation had revoked my candidature. A few moments later the news spread like wildfire on social media.

Following the threat of sanction communicated by the African Union to Seychelles, the Seychelles had little choice but to bow to the demand and hastily revoke its candidature. It could be perceived as a display of bad faith by the Seychelles to revoke its candidature a mere two days before the UNWTO elections, after months of campaigning, but it must be remembered that Seychelles is a small Island Nation which is highly dependent on support from its neighboring countries. Together we triumph, alone we fall.

Needless to say, I am saddened that I will not have the opportunity to see the promise that I made to many of you to fulfillment. I will forever be grateful to those of you who pledged support for me in todays elections, and to those of you who will continue to work with me for the benefit of global tourism.

My interests have always been and will continue to be for the furtherance of Seychelles and to forge important ties between the world tourism community.

I regret that I will not be able to honor my promise to the Seychellois people to take our Nation further than it has ever been before. I hope that the Seychelles people will be able to forgive me for not being able to now see this through.

It is important to note at this juncture and to bring to the attention of the Executive Council of the UNWTO the reason for my address this morning.

Despite President Faure of the Seychelles withdrawing my candidature by way of a letter three days ago, there are procedural irregularities in his withdrawal letter whichcannotbe overlooked. The power to withdraw my candidature rests with me alone. He can, however, withdraw the Letter of Endorsement that he wrote which accompanied my candidature. Had he withdrawn the endorsement he graciously gave me, it would cause my candidature to fall.

A win for me would have been a win for Seychelles, and a win for Africa. However, to contest his letter is to leave my country vulnerable to the threat of sanction.

Though I would have served the UNWTO well and to the best of my abilities, and that I would have made my small country proud, and Africa proud, I can assure you that I will continue to dedicate my life to world tourism. With that said, although technically I am still a viable member for the position of SG, I am bound to comply with the firm directive of the African Union and the wishes of my countrys President, and regretfully bow out at this very late stage of the race with my head held high.

There are now five remaining candidates for the post of SG. I have met and interacted with all of them along the way. There are a few excellent prospects for the role, and it is my humble view that, if they are elected, they are capable of serving you diligently and lead you competently into the new era. With that said, I pledge my support to the future SG. I will strive to unify the tourism leaders so that we can continue to prosper the tourism industry.

With these few words, I wish to end with a quote from one of the great leaders of Africa, and of the world: Nelson Mandela.

He said: A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.

God bless, and I am grateful to you all and to my country for having given me the opportunity to run for the position of SG of the UNWTO

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Home Associations Alain St.Ange: I hope that the Seychelles people will be able to... - eTurboNews

The 2017 African Sambo Championships, due to be held in the Seychelles, are set to begin tomorrow.

Competition is due to take place until May 14 at the Roche Caiman Sports Complex.

The Seychelles joined the African Confederation of Sambo in 2013 and this is the first time they have hosted these Championships.

The Seychelles Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture Idith Alexander has been personally overseeing preparations.

Taking centre stage tomorrow will be the men's 57 kilograms, 68kg and 82kg categories, the men's 62kg, 74kg and 90kg combat sambo events and the women's 64kg and 72kg divisions.

The men's 62kg, 74kg and 90kg divisions are scheduled for Saturday (May 13) along with the men's 68kg, 82kg and 100kg combat sambo divisions.

The 80kg event is the sole women's competition on Saturday.

Beach sambo is then set to bring the competition to a close on Sunday (May 14) in the men's 57kg, 62kg, 68kg, 74kg, 82kg and 90kg categories.

Women's beach action will take place in the 64kg, 72kg and 80kg weight divisions.

The Championships are set to be the venue for the testing of proposed changes to sambo weight categories.

Possible changes to the number of weight categories was discussed at an International Sambo Federation (FIAS) Executive Board meeting held in Russian capital Moscow in March.

The vice-president of FIAS, Sergey Eliseev, announced two approaches to this issue, which were developed during the analysis of proposals sent to the governing body.

The first was a reduction in the number of weight categories from nine to eight while the second suggested cutting the number to seven.

Following the discussion, members of the FIAS Executive Board agreed that the proposals should be tested at future tournaments.

After the testing in the Seychelles, it will then be decided whether to go ahead with either option.

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Seychelles set to host African Sambo Championships - Insidethegames.biz (blog)

When French settlers first arrived in the remote islands of the Seychelles, thick mangrove forests fringed the western shore of Mahe, the largest of the islands in the archipelago.

Inside the green coastal forests, giant crocodiles roamed through the tangled branches, as well as many species of fish, crab and birds. The woodlands were a paradise of diversity, and beyond the mangroves, a healthy and colourful coral reef ecosystem propagated.

But during french settlement in the late 17 and 18 00s, much of the mangrove forest was cleared to make way for development; houses, harbours and aquaculture. Today, one of the few mangrove forests on Mahe Island is found in a thin valley in the north of the Island called Port Launay, a Ramsar Site of International Importance.

This mangrove is one of the last and best-remaining mangrove in the Seychelles, Markus Ultsch-Unrath tells me as we paddle in a kayak along the tidal river the bisects the Port Launay mangrove forest, floating beside the tangled branches and mangrove trees that plunge into the muddy banks.

Markus is a sustainability manager at Constance Ephilia,a five star resort that surrounds the Port Launay wetland. Part of the responsibility of operating a hotel here is to ensurethis sensitive site is protected, and that it remains in a healthy condition.

After the paddle, Markus and I emerge in an open muddy clearing where a line of saplings grows under a wide shade cloth. This, he explains, is the lodges newly-constructed mangrove nursery. Its here where the Ephila team grow mangrove trees to make up for some of the losses that have occurred over the years, particularly in one area where gaps in the forest have been occurring.

The mangrove trees grow to a certain size in the nursery, and then the lodge teams plant them in the mud, with the hope that in time these barren areaswill be repopulated with trees.

Mangroves are one of the most underappreciated and important of the worlds forest ecosystems.

Thecoastal forests once occurred along the tropical and subtropical coasts of all the continents.

Over 80 species of mangrove trees have been described, and the trees are remarkably important to the functioning of the surrounding ecology. The forests are a home to numerous species of fish, bird and plant, and it is estimated that over 75 percent of commercially caught fish spend at least some time in the mangroves or depend on food webs that are associated with these coastal forests.

In addition, the roots filter fresh waterthat is washed down from theland and in doing so, they clean the silt has the potential to smother and kill coral reefs, trapping debris, rubbish, and pollution. This is why mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs are found together; because they are interconnected on an intricate level. The seagrass beds are the last line of defence against the harmful matter that isdestined to smother the reefs.

In return, the reefs generally protect the shore against strong ocean waves, allowing the underwater and above-water worlds co-exist.

The Port Launay wetland in Seychelles is just as important in terms of the functioning of the valley and the ocean. There are 7 species of Mangrove in Seychelles, and all seven species are found in this small wetland area, Marcus tells me.

It is remarkable how the trees are able to grow in such slaty water, he says. Salt water can kill plants, but mangroves have evolved a way to extract fresh water from the seawater by filtering out some 90 percent of the salt, and excreting the excess salt through glands in their leaves.

Marcuspoints out a massive bird-size bat flying over the forest. Thats a bat? I gasp, as the creature soars over us like an eagle. There are many fruit bats that frequent the forests of Port Launay, not to mention the endangered Seychelles Sheath-tailed bat that sometimes arrives in the area.

As we look down, a strange fish with eyes on the top of its head is flopping between the roots. This is a mudskipper,Marcus tells me. Found in most of the mangrove swamps around the world, this extraordinarily ambitious fish spends most of its time out of the water, using its pectoral fins to walk or skip on land, or climb the aerial roots of mangrove trees.

How do they do this?

They fill their cheek pouches with water, allowing their gills to function easily while they skip around the land, and between their funnel holes where they live.

As the afternoondescend overthe island, the rising tide steadily coversthe mangrove flats while crabs scuttle into their holes and the birds quietendown for the evening.

The mangroves of the Seychelles are a microcosm of some of the problems facing mangrove ecosystems globally.

Some estimates reckon that less than 50 percent of the worlds mangrove forests were intact by the end of the 20th century, covering three-quarters of the worlds tropical coastlines. Half of the remaining forests are in very poor condition. The coastal location of the forests has meant they have been cleared for farming and housing, as well as aquaculture in the form of shrimp farming.

As for the Seychelles, the crocodiles may be gone from the islands, but Port Launay remains one of the last pockets of mangrove forest left in the islands, and its a gentle and beautiful reminder of how fleeting wetlands can be, and how its important to leave at least a little space for these coastal forests to thrive.

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Port Launay: The Last Mangroves of the Seychelles - National Geographic

The National Youth Chefs Training Programme is the result of a partnership between the National Department of Tourism (NDT) and the South African Chefs Association (SACA) to address the urgent need for cooks and chefs in South Africas growing hospitality industry. This programme forms part of the National Governments Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) as an initiative to fund skills development projects to create employment.

The programme began in April 2011, enlisting 800 students in a platform that is designed to provide learners with both theoretical and practical training. The National Youth Chefs Training Programme (NYCTP) is facilitated by South African Chefs Association (SACA). NYCTP is a dynamic, practical and important project that trains and develops previously unemployed youths between the ages of 18 and 35.

The programme runs in all nine provinces and 26 SACA-accredited culinary schools have taken an active part in the creation and success of NYCTP. In addition to the solid theoretical training, the students in first, second and third year gain valuable practical experience in restaurant, hotel and resort kitchens across the country.

As a return on investment and with the objective of job creation, the Department chose to select graduate chefs from NYCTP. After a rigorous interview process, twenty chefs were selected to participate in a one year placement programme in Seychelles.

South Africa and Seychelles signed a tourism cooperation agreement in August 2013. The relationship between the two countries has been progressive; with the display of support for strategic tourism events, hosted in each country, and a shared vision for regional tourism development and integration. This cooperation agreement has also facilitated institutional agreements between South African and Seychellois tourism institutions adding depth to this country-to-country commitment.

The tourism cooperation agreement emphasises focus on capacity building initiatives towards the development of the tourism sectors in both countries. In response to this, numerous engagements have taken place between South African and Seychellois tourism and hospitality institutions.

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National Tourism Department sends 20 young chefs to the Seychelles - Independent Online

(PRESS RELEASE):

Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, the Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, made time on the sidelines of the WTTC (World Tourism Travel Council) Summit in Bangkok to meet Alain St.Ange, the former Seychelles Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine of Seychelles, who is now a candidate for the position of Secretary General for the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization).

Former Minister St.Ange was in Thailand to push his agenda for Tourism for All which he says is to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others, like President Nelson Mandela of South Africa said when he spoke about To be free is not merely to cast off ones chains, but to live is a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

Alain St.Ange, who launched his bid for SG of the UNWTO in January when he presented his official nomination documents to Mr. Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of the UNWTO, is recorded as having been the second official candidate when this was done for this UNWTO election set for May 12 in Madrid. Alain St.Ange believes in the Tourism for All platform, saying that discrimination in all its form must not be tolerated in the world of tourism, and he has always invited the other candidates to come out and make the commitment as well. This includes the fight against discrimination based on color of the skin, of religion, of politics, of gender, of sexual preference, of disability among others, and he says that this is simply pushing an agenda of RESPECT, because any form of discrimination is against our basic human rights.

In Bangkok, it was the opportunity for Alain St.Ange to table to the Minister of Thailand his Statement of Intent and discuss his vision in the presence of Mr. Pongpanu Svetarundra, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand. He was being accompanied at this meeting by Mr. Nico Barito, the Seychelles Special Envoy of the President to ASEAN Countries, and Mr. Pascal Viroleau, the CEO of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands, which comprises the Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, Reunion, and Mayotte islands.

The meeting was good. It was a great opportunity to speak openly and frankly, especially as Thailand and the Seychelles enjoy a very cordial relationship. The plans for a sustainable tourism agenda as well as the need to work for safeguarding safety and security was also discussed, said Alain St.Ange.

Previous to that meeting with the Thai Minister, the Seychelles candidate for SG at the UNWTO had met senior officials of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he also presented the Seychelles Agenda of Tourism for All.

For more information, contact: Alain St Ange, alain@saintange.com.au

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Tourism Minister of Thailand meets UNWTO candidate from Seychelles - eTurboNews

Suspended in the Indian Ocean, miles east of Kenya and north of Madagascar, is a 115-island archipelago so beautiful, early British explorers thought they had stumbled upon the Garden of Eden. While the Seychelles were reportedly first sighted by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in 1502, little if anything was known of the islands prior.

Though remote, the Seychelles attract visitors who come for the ultimate romantic escape. After all, there are few places more isolated than this heavenly cluster of islands. (Even Kate Middleton and Prince William came here after exchanging vows.)

Of course, there's more to the Seychelles than pristine beaches and water so clear, you never lose sight of your feet. In addition to unabashed natural beauty and wildlife, the main island of Mah, where the capital Victoria is located, boasts beautiful French and British colonial architecture. And that's to say nothing of the incredible seafood and incredible resorts.

Before you book full-day flight, consider our definitive guide to planning a perfect getaway in The Seychelles.

Since the Seychelles International Airport opened in 1971, tourism has boomed, and is now the leading industry in the Seychelles. United States passport holders are not required to obtain a visa for a visit of up to 30 days however, upon arrival, you must show proof of return transportation, lodging information, and sufficient funds.

The Seychelles has a tropical rainforest climate with substantial humidity that is tempered by cooling ocean breezes. Pack swimwear, loose-fitting clothes, and open-toe footwear, as much of your time will be spent on the beach. Hiking is also a popular activity, so consider bringing sturdy boots. Keep in mind that the rainy season runs from December through February.

Unsurprisingly, beaches are the main draw for this island nation. And since the islands are so far-flung, many of the beaches are virtually untouched and never very crowded. Particularly famous is the Anse Lazio beach on Praslin island, which is known for its clear blue waters and native takamaka trees.

Away from the beach on Praslin is the Valle de Mai Nature Preserve. While visiting this thick green jungle, with its primitive plant and animal species that have remained isolated since the islands were formed, try to catch a glimpse of the Seychelles black parrot. It's found nowhere else on Earth.

The island of La Digue is also known for the Anse Source dArgent beach. Here, youll find a shoreline framed by picturesque granite boulders. If you need a break from the beach, the capital city of Victoria, on the island of Mah, is home to incredible architecture, open air markets, museums, and a vibrant nightlife scene.

Budget lodging is not so common in Seychelles, so be prepared to splurge. Our favorite places to stay include the Six Senses Zil Pasyon, on the private island of Flicit (all of the 30 villas face the ocean and have private plunge pools) and the Four Seasons on Petite Anse. The pitch-perfect bathtub may be reason enough alone to make the trek.

The Seychelles were not known to be inhabited until the French began settling the islands in 1768. Over the years, control of the Seychelles passed between the British and French, until the nation gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1976.

Today, the country remains incredibly multicultural, with most Seychellois tracing their roots back to early French settlers and East Africans who came to the islands later on. There is also a sizable South Indian and Chinese influence on the cultural makeup of the islands.

This may be best manifested in the island's cuisine, which is a seafood-heavy homage to the countrys many influences. Specialties include shark chutney (mashed shark seasoned with bilimibi juice) and ladob (a sweet of savory plantain simmered in coconut milk).

Some 300 miles off the coast of mainland Africa, the best way to reach the Seychelles is by plane. Most connecting flights originate from Doha, Dubai, or Nairobi and travel between the islands is typically done on small planes or helicopters. Ferry service between the main islands of Mah, La Digue, and Praslin is operated by Seychellesbookings.com.

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A Guide to Vacationing in the Seychelles - Travel+Leisure