Category Archives: Seychelles

Seychelles, an island paradise in the middle of the Indian Ocean, topped Travel & Leisures list of Best Islands in Africa & the Middle East in 2016, and thats not all. At the recent Travel Show hosted by the New York Times, the destination ranked in the top 10 of client-pleasing takeaways.

There are any numbers of reasons to feel lucky to live in New York City. One is being on location for the annual 3-day New York Times Travel Show, this year drawing a record number of participants: 9,253 from the travel industry and 20,846 consumers. Some 170 countries participated from A (Argentina) to Z (Zagreb), so one will understand the dilemma of picking just 10 client-pleasing takeaways, says Carla Hunt, from Recommend Magazine, USA.

Making the list at number 8: Seychelles Opens New Resorts

This is all good news to David Germain, Seychelles Tourism Bureau Director for Africa & the Americas. The Seychelles are attracting more U.S. visitors, mostly those in search of a beautiful place in the sun following an African safari, or an idyllic addition to a Middle East business or leisure stay, Germain reports. Dotted among islands and private islands are some of the worlds most beautiful resorts with new openings including Six Senses Zil Pasyon on the private island of Felicite, which opened last year, and Desroches Island Resort, re-opening as a Four Seasons this year, with 40 beach suites. According to Germain, the Seychelles are in a cyclone-free zone, so any times a good time to visit; however, the optimum time is for the spectacular annual Creole Festival, held on Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue islands from October 25-31 in 2017.

Mr. Germain said: The North American market contributes significantly towards overall tourism arrivals to Seychelles each year. Arrivals from the Americas continue to increase with a 58% increase in arrivals to date for 2017, compared to the same time in 2016.

For more information, visit seychelles.travel

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Destination Seychelles: Topping travel lists in the US - eTurboNews

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Seychelles Tourism is in Jeddah promoting tourism - eTurboNews

During a courtesy call of the Mauritian Minister for Ocean Economy Marine Resources Fisheries and Shipping, Remdut Koonjoo, on Minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Minister Loustau-Lalanne said air connectivity between Seychelles and Mauritius is vital, and there is a need to increase the flights between the two destinations.

Minister Loustau-Lalanne, has made a proposal for Mauritius to look at the possibility of having daily flights between the two islands. He added that if needed, a code-share agreement between their national airline, Air Seychelles, and Air Mauritius could also be signed.

The two ministers spoke on the latest developments relating to the sectors under their ministries. Mr. Koonjoo briefed Minister Loustau-Lalanne on the new developments in the Mauritian ports, adding that the aim is to double the capacity, as ports are vital in the development of the marine and blue economy sectors.

Minister Loustau-Lalanne said tourism is very important for their region and outlined the importance of the Vanilla Islands Organization and the need to keep working together to promote tourism within this group of islands.

The two ministers also talked about cruise tourism sector. Also present during the meeting held at Minister Loustau-Lalannes office in the Espace building were the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Michael Benstrong.

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Seychelles Tourism Minister works for daily flights with Mauritius - eTurboNews

Mr. Jacques Devoud, the owner/General Manager of Valmer Resort in Seychelles, is putting a lot of emphasis on product enhancement and infrastructure improvements.

Valmer Resort in Seychelles continues to enhance its guests comfort factor with recent upgrades in its customer service experience. The secluded homegrown hotel located in the picturesque Baie Lazare area, is aiming to provide the best hospitality experience in the 4-star category by constantly adding amenities and features to the benefit of its ever-discerning clients.

A complete coverage Wi-Fi system is now operational and clients can have access to the worldwide web at the touch of their mobile devices. The technological enhancement also extends to a television entertainment package with 31 channels spanning several languages catering to the many nationalities making up its clientele mix.

A personal Nespresso service has also been introduced, with all villas and rooms equipped with a Nespresso machine with a pods selection for the private convenience of guests. This added touch is already being appreciated.

As Valmer Resort positions itself as one of Mahs best small homegrown hotels, we are aiming for higher standards and constantly upgrading to ensure we give our clients excellent value for money. With our new rooms and spa/gym we are now aiming for new niche markets. These new additional facilities will further raise the quality of the experience that we offer at Valmer Resort, said Mr. Devoud.

Valmer Resort is a tourism establishment offering a variety of accommodation options in a stunning setting of a naturally-landscaped backdrop of granite boulders and endemic palms. The resort prides itself in delivering an authentic Seychellois holiday experience in affordable luxury comfort.

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Enhancements and improvements: Seychelles resort gets upgrades - eTurboNews

A new blog designed by Seychelles Tourism was created to engage with readers and drive tourism business to the destination.

As part of its ongoing drive to raise its profile across social media platforms and fill the all-important knowledge gap about the islands, the Seychelles Tourism Board has launched a new blog.

We are always looking for new ways to create interest about our islands, explains the manager of the digital marketing section, Vahid Jacob.

Blogging has become a very effective way of reaching our audience as it touches consumers at a very personal level, allowing us to impart knowledge about Seychelles and what it offers to tourists in a way that they can relate to, and also react to, by leaving comments on the blog.

The new Seychelles Diary blog presents a fresh, user-friendly interface with a category section for quick identification of the readers specific interests and a galley featuring enticing images of the destination.

Resources allows access to various downloads and tips while the latest tweets about Seychelles appear conveniently in a box along with all of the islands social media platforms.

Completing the comprehensive design of the landing page is information about visitor arrivals to the archipelago and also an archive section. Every week, a new article covering the many attributes of the destination will be posted to the blog.

We are confident that this new additional to our social media arsenal will become an important influencer when it comes to choosing a tourism destination, adds Mr Jacob.

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New Seychelles Diary blog enhancing tourism - eTurboNews

Latest Articles

The pirate said $1.5 million had been paid for the release of the sailors, seized in 2012 and among the few hostages still in the hands of Somali pirates.

The head of Lindblad Expeditions on finding rare natural wonders by ship and promoting conservation consciousness.

By ELAINE GLUSAC

The deal for Columbus International, a privately held company based in Barbados, is valued at $1.85 billion, including the assumption of debt.

By CHAD BRAY

Autopsies of Jeffrey Reynolds and Mark Kennedy, the former SEALs, revealed that the men died of respiratory failure and possible heart attacks.

Troubling questions surround how two former Navy SEALs working as ship guards ended up dying inside the Maersk Alabama, the ship made famous in the movie Captain Phillips.

The two men, who had been hired to protect a ship that was attacked by Somali pirates in 2009, were found dead while the ship was docked in the Seychelles.

Two Americans providing antipiracy security on the Maersk Alabama, a ship made famous by the 2013 Hollywood film, were found dead on the vessel, a shipping group said Wednesday.

Genetic research reveals a surprisingly high level of monogamy and paternal diversity in hawksbill sea turtles, hinting that populations may be on the rise.

The worlds poor will be more affected as resources grow scarce, Mr. Singh said.

The movement of the 15 men from Djibouti to the Seychelles was a welcome development for the United States in a high-profile case with no clear legal resolution.

An unarmed American military drone that had been used to monitor piracy off the East African coast crashed Tuesday at an airport on the Seychelles during a routine patrol, officials said.

China is considering an offer from the Indian Ocean island nation of Seychelles to allow Chinese naval ships to visit for rest and resupply there, Chinas Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

Paradise is paradise, even if there are problems.

The Seychelles has a population of around 90,000 and a small real estate market. But size has been a significant factor in keeping prices stable, despite the global downturn.

Somali pirates released 36 crew members of a Spanish fishing vessel Tuesday after the government paid a ransom of nearly $3.5 million.

European Union naval officials announced they had captured seven pirates who had attacked a fishing ship a day before the British couple went missing at sea.

A couple sailing from the island nation of Seychelles vanished after a distress signal was picked up.

Seychelles took custody of nine piracy suspects on Tuesday, accusing them of trying to hijack a cruise liner carrying 1,000 tourists.

Explore temples of indulgence in Bhutan, Zambias less-beaten jungle path, and other exotic destinations.

James Michel, the longtime vice president, was sworn in as president of the Indian Ocean archipelago of 90,000 people, replacing France Albert Ren, who seized power in a 1977 coup. Mr. Ren, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, announced his retirement last year but said he would remain chairman of the governing Seychelles Peoples Progressive Front. Marc Lacey (NYT)

The pirate said $1.5 million had been paid for the release of the sailors, seized in 2012 and among the few hostages still in the hands of Somali pirates.

The head of Lindblad Expeditions on finding rare natural wonders by ship and promoting conservation consciousness.

By ELAINE GLUSAC

The deal for Columbus International, a privately held company based in Barbados, is valued at $1.85 billion, including the assumption of debt.

By CHAD BRAY

Autopsies of Jeffrey Reynolds and Mark Kennedy, the former SEALs, revealed that the men died of respiratory failure and possible heart attacks.

Troubling questions surround how two former Navy SEALs working as ship guards ended up dying inside the Maersk Alabama, the ship made famous in the movie Captain Phillips.

The two men, who had been hired to protect a ship that was attacked by Somali pirates in 2009, were found dead while the ship was docked in the Seychelles.

Two Americans providing antipiracy security on the Maersk Alabama, a ship made famous by the 2013 Hollywood film, were found dead on the vessel, a shipping group said Wednesday.

Genetic research reveals a surprisingly high level of monogamy and paternal diversity in hawksbill sea turtles, hinting that populations may be on the rise.

The worlds poor will be more affected as resources grow scarce, Mr. Singh said.

The movement of the 15 men from Djibouti to the Seychelles was a welcome development for the United States in a high-profile case with no clear legal resolution.

An unarmed American military drone that had been used to monitor piracy off the East African coast crashed Tuesday at an airport on the Seychelles during a routine patrol, officials said.

China is considering an offer from the Indian Ocean island nation of Seychelles to allow Chinese naval ships to visit for rest and resupply there, Chinas Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

Paradise is paradise, even if there are problems.

The Seychelles has a population of around 90,000 and a small real estate market. But size has been a significant factor in keeping prices stable, despite the global downturn.

Somali pirates released 36 crew members of a Spanish fishing vessel Tuesday after the government paid a ransom of nearly $3.5 million.

European Union naval officials announced they had captured seven pirates who had attacked a fishing ship a day before the British couple went missing at sea.

A couple sailing from the island nation of Seychelles vanished after a distress signal was picked up.

Seychelles took custody of nine piracy suspects on Tuesday, accusing them of trying to hijack a cruise liner carrying 1,000 tourists.

Explore temples of indulgence in Bhutan, Zambias less-beaten jungle path, and other exotic destinations.

James Michel, the longtime vice president, was sworn in as president of the Indian Ocean archipelago of 90,000 people, replacing France Albert Ren, who seized power in a 1977 coup. Mr. Ren, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, announced his retirement last year but said he would remain chairman of the governing Seychelles Peoples Progressive Front. Marc Lacey (NYT)

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Seychelles - The New York Times

South African Airways has announced a new codeshare route with Air Seychelles from Seychelles to Durban.

Air Seychelles will be introducing direct services between SEZ-DUR effective 30th March 2017. The flight will operate twice a week on Thursdays and Saturdays.

The codeshare partnership between South African Airways and Air Seychelles was established back in October 2013 with SA as a marketing carrier between Seychelles Johannesburg and Seychelles Praslin Island operated by HM.

As South African Airways, we value our current relationship with Air Seychelles. We look forward to strengthening this partnership and creating a seamless travel experience for our customers travelling to various destinations on the African continent and the Indian Ocean subcontinent, says Aaron Munetsi, SAA Acting Chief Commercial Officer.

Air Seychelles has been a marketing carrier on the following domestic services operated by South African Airways: Cape Town (CPT), Durban, Port Elizabeth (PLZ) and East London (ELS).

The ties between South Africa and Seychelles are strong and evident for everyone to see, linking leisure, trade and commerce and visiting family and friends opportunities, saysRoy Kinnear, Air SeychellesChief Executive Officer.

Building on these strong ties and the existing five weekly services between Seychelles and Johannesburg, Air Seychelles has taken the commitment to start the twice weekly operation to Durban on 30 March, 2017.

Our codeshare relationship with South African Airways is an incredibly strong partnership and we are extremely pleased to work with South African Airways team in developing our codeshare relationships even further, for the mutual benefit of both airlines. We are confident these air links will bring our countries closer and contribute to the development of our respective economies and tourism industries.

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South African Airways announces codeshare agreement with Air Seychelles - BizNis Africa

Details February 18, 2017

Crystal Cruises said its Crystal Esprit yacht conducted a rescue at sea yesterday (February 16) after responding to a distress call in the Seychelles Islands. The ship rescued 12 French nationals and brought them onboard -- three children and 9 adults.

The groups catamaran was dragged from their mooring buoy and ran aground close to shore. The area was experiencing extremely inclement weather yesterday, causing fatal damage to the catamaran which the group ultimately had to abandon, and faced potential loss of life.

The crew aboard Crystal Esprit along with the Seychelles Coast Guard operated under darkness, heavy rain and high swell but carried out the operation efficiently, and safely transferred the group onto a Zodiac and they yacht before they were relocated to land, according to a statement.

Crystal Esprit departed as planned this morning, heading for Aride Island. The rescued passengers from the catamaran were transferred to Praslin Island.

Excerpt from:

Crystal Esprit Performs Seychelles Rescue - Cruise Industry News ... - Cruise Industry News

2017-02-17 14:32 - Unathi Nkanjeni

(iStock)

Cape Town - The South African Airways (SAA) withAir Seychelles have announce another code-share routeservicefrom Seychellesto one of South Africa's largest city, Durban,starting from March 30, 2017.

The new service is scheduled to operate twice a week, Thursdays andSaturdays and is already open for sale,offering a greater travel choice to guests travelling between South Africa and Seychelles.

The code-share partnership between South African Airways and Air Seychellesdates back to October 2013 with SAA as a marketing carrier between Johannesburg and Seychelles - with a five weekly services between Johannesburg and Praslin Island operated by Air Seychelles.

Added to this, Air Seychelles has already been the marketing domestic services operator for by South African Airways on its Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London routes.

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Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles, Roy Kinnear, saysthe ties between South Africa and Seychelles are strong and evident for everyone to see.

"Building on these strong ties and the existing five weekly services between Seychelles and Johannesburg, Air Seychelles has taken the commitment to start the twice weekly operation to Durban on 30 March, 2017."

"We are confident these air links will bring our countries closer and contribute to the development of our respective economies and tourism industries, says Kinnear.

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Excerpt from:

SAA adds new codeshare route with Air Seychelles | Traveller24 - News24

VISAKHAPATNAM: After completion of her medium refit, Seychelles Coast Guard Patrol Ship (SCGPS) Topaz was handed over to Colonel Simone A Dine, Commander Seychelles Coast Guard by Rear Admiral Narayan Prasad, NM, admiral superintendent, Naval Dockyard, here on Thursday. The ship underwent a medium refit at the Naval Dockyard from March 2016 to January 2017. An event was held at the naval jetty inside INS Circars and attended by dignitaries from Seychelles Coast Guard and the Indian Navy. SCGPS Topaz arrived in Visakhapatnam during the International Fleet Review and subsequently the refit programme commenced. Various upgrades in machinery, equipment and habitability were undertaken as part of the refit. The ship is now fitted with latest navigation, communication and weaponry to enhance performance of the ship in the years to come. The event commenced with the introduction of the officers and crew of SCGPS Topaz to Colonel Simone A Dine Commander Seychelles Coast Guard and Rear Admiral Narayan Prasad ASD (V). Commodore IB Uthaiah, general manager (refit) gave a brief account on the progress of the refit, which was followed by an address by Lieutenant Lyndon Lablache, commanding officer SCGPS Topaz. The event concluded with customary exchange of crests between the dignitaries and a walk around of the ship. This event marked the culmination of the refit of SCGPS Topaz undertaken by the Indian Navy as a diplomatic courtesy to strengthen relations between India and the island nation of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. SCGPS Topaz, formerly called INS Tarmugli, was gifted to the Government of Seychelles by India in 2005 to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations and work together to ensure the safety of the Indian Ocean region. The ship, used as a patrol vessel by Seychelles Coast Guard is a fast attack craft which served the Indian Navy from 2001 to 2005 before being handed over to Seychelles.

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Navy completes Seychelles ship refit - Times of India