Seychelles has long been a dream destination for many German travellers, and when Maisie and Wolfgang Därr realised their own dream of running a tour-operator business, it was an obvious choice to call it Trauminsel Reisen, which translates as “dream-island travel”.

The Bavarian operator, which has been selling Seychelles holidays since it was founded in 1985, has just celebrated its 25th anniversary with a big party at an elegant Munich venue. Needless to say, Seychelles played a major role in the celebration.

The highlight of the occasion was a musical performance by Seychellois recording artist Emmanuel Marie, who played live at the Kokon Lifestyle Haus throughout the event, which started at 3pm on Sunday July 4 and went on well into the night.

The Seychelles Tourist Office manager for Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Edith Hunzinger, was present at the event, as were several Seychelles hotels, notably the Constance Ephelia Resort, Frégate Island Private and Labriz Seychelles.

At designated desks, these co-sponsors of the event were able to give guests information on the destination and their product.

In the evening, Mrs Hunzinger presented a promotional video about Seychelles on a large screen, while two cocos de mer, sponsored by the Seychelles Tourist Office, were raffled off among the lucky guests.

Trauminsel Reisen was founded by Maisie, a native Seychellois, and her husband Wolfgang, a lawyer who was already the author of a popular travel guide on the Indian Ocean at the time. He has since been appointed honorary consul for Seychelles in the southern part of Germany.

It was one of the first tour operators to sell directly – without the intervention of a travel agency – to their clients.
 
The Därrs have expanded their range to other Indian Ocean and tropical island destinations, but the Seychelles islands remain at the focal point of their range – not least because it is so close to their own hearts.