The Seychelles Week in Tanzania was launched at the Movenpick Royal Palm Hotel, Dar es Salaam, on Monday night in the presence of some 180 guests.

The event was sponsored by Maryvonne Pool – Seychelles’ tourism ambassador and consul based in Tanzania – and the guests included Dr Ladislaus Komba – the Tanzanian Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism – as well as Tanzanian government officials, diplomats accredited to both countries and representatives of the travel trade, airlines and media.

In the hotel grounds, a 40ft banner depicted a dream picture of a wave and turquoise-blue seas, with models acting as hotel guests enjoying a relaxing moment on a specially created “Seychelles beach”. In the background were the sounds of the Zez band performing.

Opening the event, Mrs Pool thanked all her sponsors in Tanzania who had helped make the Seychelles Week a reality. She had also rallied the support of other Tanzania-based members of the Seychellois community including Trevor Camille, who was behind the Creole buffet that was served.

Alfonso Kioko, the group managing director and chief executive of Tanzania’s Precision Air, congratulated Seychelles on wanting to work with Africa and went on to say that his airline is now studying the possibility of starting direct flights between Tanzania and Seychelles.

He added that the visibility and continued marketing initiatives of Seychelles are a lesson to Africa.
Mr Kioko was followed by Alain St Ange, chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, who stressed the need for Africa to work with Africa if it is to be a strong continent.

He explained the twin-centre possibilities – a holiday in Seychelles combined with a Tanzanian safari and a trip to Mount Kilimanjaro. Visitors from the Far East, the Americas and Europe who continue to flock to Tanzania could now be such a package, he added.

Mr St Ange went on to talk about the possible new carbon tax and urged the Tanzanian travel trade to be ahead in proposing add-ons to visitors as this one-off tax finds its way in Europe.

He also explained the new Seychelles Brand of tourism being developed as a people-centred style and approach.
Describing the concept of the 2011 International Carnival of Victoria, he invited Tanzania to take part and urged the diplomats present to pass the message to their governments.

“After the annual gathering of countries in New York for the UN General Assembly, Seychelles is now offering a get-together for the community of nations to meet, to socialise and to showcase their cultures and attractions in a fun-filled three days,” said Mr St Ange.

After a short DVD film on Seychelles, Dr Komba took the podium to thank Seychelles for offering to work together with Tanzania.

“Seychelles’ sun, sea and sand alone, a Mount Kilimanjaro holiday alone, or a safari in Tanzania alone faces competition from other destinations that offer similar tourism products,” he said.

“However, if we promote Seychelles and Tanzania as twin destinations in the sense that a safari experience in Tanzania is complemented by a beach holiday in Seychelles, we will be creating a unique destination with an outstanding appeal.
“That is why today's inaugural event is a cricial step towards achieving a long-standing promotion and marketing of Tanzania and Seychelles as twin tourist destinations."

Dr Komba went on to congratulate Precision Air for announcing its intention to work to set up direct air links between Dar es Salaam and Seychelles.

He added that Tanzania will work together with the Seychelles Tourism Board and will be present at the 2011 Seychelles carnival.
 

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