Affordable Seychelles campaign bears fruit
Local tour operators have praised the Affordable Seychelles campaign and said they are satisfied with the progress made since it was launched exactly a year ago at the ITB trade fair in Berlin.
Seychelles’ tourism delegates have again gathered at the annual fair in Germany and the delegation leader, Vice-President Joseph Belmont, said they were happy with the results from the campaign.
The positive reaction by tour operators shows that Seychelles has reclaimed its place in the German market, with forward bookings showing an increase in arrivals from that country.
Mr Belmont, accompanied by tourism marketing director Alain St Ange and the new Seychelles director for Europe, Bernadette Willemin, met different partners including the Emirates Group and Le Méridien Starwood Hotels.
Mr Belmont and Mr St Ange were interviewed by RTL Radio, which had set up their base on the Seychelles stand, broadcasting live daily with competitions for a prize of a holiday here, sponsored by Air Seychelles and Silhouette Cruises.
Mr St Ange also used the ITB setting to sign a memorandum of understanding with Cape Town, South Africa, to open joint marketing possibilities in the Americas and Europe.
During a Seychelles lunch on the stand, Mr Belmont announced new appointments to the tourism ambassadors programme, which now has 60 representatives in 25 countries.
Mr St Ange said Seychelles’ tourism is on the right track for a successful year; three months into the new year, the arrival figures are above those registered in the same period in 2009.