Vice Present Belmont spells out Seychelles’ new strategy at Berlin’s Press Conference
The Seychelles Vice President, Mr Joseph Belmont, led the Seychelles Delegation at the press conference called to launch the new Seychelles Marketing Campaign and the revamped Seychelles Tourism Board.
Vice President Belmont told the 32 German press gathered that Seychelles was reacting to the economic difficulties facing the world by re-launching itself as an affordable destination and by giving the country’s private sector the challenge to manage and lead their industry.
The Seychelles Vice President who was answering questions from the German press at the ITB Funkturm Restaurant on the first day of Berlin’s Tourism Fair, was accompanied by Alain St. Ange, Seychelles new Director of Tourism – Marketing, Dr Rajiv Bisseseur, CEO of Air Seychelles and Edith Hunzinger, the Seychelles Tourism Board’s Regional Manager for Germany.
Alain St. Ange, the Seychelles Director of Tourism – Marketing said in his statement to the German press that Germany remains a main producing market for Seychelles, and that the new tourism board, led now by the private sector, wanted to use the 2009 ITB Trade Fair to reaffirm Seychelles\' commitment for tour operators promoting the islands. Alain St. Ange explained the new strategy to make Seychelles more accessible and affordable, and he went over new developments that have empowered the private sector trade to, not only influence, but to manage the country’s tourism industry.
The Seychelles Director of Tourism – Marketing also took the opportunity of the conference to update the press on the new hotel developments, on air access additions, on the freezing by the President of the tourism tax increase, the GST, and on the new fast tri-maran cruiser that would be making the hideaway islands of the Seychelles islands more accessible to the visitors, including the World Heritage Site of Aldabra.
The Air Seychelles CEO, Dr Bissesseur on his part, presented his new services linking Seychelles to Frankfurt and Zurich from April. He reconfirmed the airline\'s commitment to the market and the determination of Air Seychelles to remain the main partner of the islands tourism industry.
The Seychelles Vice President who was in Germany for the ITB Tourism Fair, was heading a 55 strong delegation, who had travelled to Berlin to support the launch of the new sales pitch of the island as an affordable destination offering in this period of economic turmoil “a once in a lifetime vacation at a once in a lifetime price”.
“The Seychelles delegation are united in their mission and are all determined to re-launch our country’s tourism industry with the current world’s economic situation in mind” said Mr. St. Ange. “We are taking the situation we are facing as a challenge and after the first days of the ITB Fair, we are confident that our tour operator partners remain solidly behind our country as they are reporting that bookings were holding and that they were receiving continued interest from the potential holiday makers.”
Photo: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB)
Kontakt:
Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) | Bel Ombre | PO Box 1262 Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
tel + 248 67 13 00 | fax + 248 62 06 20
info@seychelles.com | www.seychelles.travel
