New partnership to attract more visitors to the Indian Ocean

Air Seychelles and the Vanilla Islands organisation have signed an agreement with the aim of increasing visitor numbers to the Indian Ocean.

Signing the memorandum of understanding yesterday at the Air Seychelles VIP lounge at the international airport at Pointe Larue were the airline’s chief executive Cramer Ball and that of the Vanilla Islands organisation Pascal Viroleau.

Witnessing the signing of the accord were Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange, who is also the president of the Vanilla Islands, Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Paul Adam, president of the regional council of La Reunion Didier Robert and representatives of the Indian Ocean Commission among other guests.

Speaking before the signing Mr Ball said it is yet another significant milestone to the concept of the Vanilla Islands.

Inter-island connectivity has been and is an ongoing challenge in the Indian Ocean as there is an under-served market there, he said.

Mr Ball added that partnering with the Vanilla Islands and working closely with other airlines and tourism bodies in the region can help us enhance business, leisure traffic and connectivity to and within the Vanilla Islands region.

“We believe that there is great benefit co-working with other airlines, developing synergies, coordinating with other networks within the Vanilla Islands,” he said.

“Our partnership with Air Austral is a great example how carriers in the region can work together to define networks, to build partnership and to share the synergies,” he added.

“Air Seychelles is today pledging its support to the Vanilla Islands concept and to make sure that it is good for all of us and that connectivity within the region is a success, it is great for our economy and for tourism.”

Mr Viroleau said the main objective of the Vanilla Islands is to increase the number of visitors coming into the region.

Promoting the region means carrying tourists there and the two partners have the same objective, thus such partnership with our national airline is welcome, he added.

“Our organisation will work very closely with Air Seychelles to promote the region,” he said.

“We are delighted to work with Air Seychelles, the region’s first four-star airline, and to develop new products that will attract travellers to and within the region.”

“With the addition of an A319 later this year and the launch of new regional services, Air Seychelles adds a powerful new dimension to the marketing of the Indian Ocean," he added.

Addressing those present Mr St Ange thanked Air Seychelles for accepting to be a partner to the Vanilla Islands organisation.

He added that there is a need for the region’s airlines to come on board and be a united group to work together for the benefit of the islands.

Mr St Ange said other hotel groups should follow the example of the Constance groups of hotels which signed an accord recently with the Vanilla Islands, to work together with the organisation.

 “I salute Air Seychelles because not only are they becoming a partner of the Vanilla Islands group, but they have already committed themselves to be the airline partner of the event of the organisation which is the Carnaval International de Victoria,” he said.

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