Tables are turned as the Seychelles Tourism Minister Honors Journalists
Once again our friends in the Seychelles make us proud to be promoting this incredible country...Sandy Dhuyvetter
Seychelles being showcased to
French press
The visibility of the Seychelles has
long been measured on the number of publications issued on the destination.
Journalists converging to the Seychelles
islands, especially those specialising in travel chronicles or current affairs
have helped to propel to the world the key unique selling points of this tourism
island destination and in so doing making it today one of the destinations
rating high on the barometer among the most visible ones.
There is always a good reason for
journalists to come to Seychelles. In October 2014, when Ethiopian Airlines resumed
its flight to the country, the Seychelles Tourism Board firmly committed its
support to this African mainland airline as it does to all the other airlines
in its skies.
Another good news for the Seychelles’
tourism industry was Ethiopian Airlines’ opening of its direct Addis-Ababa,
Paris and Brussel routes. The latter, was seen as a good reason for the
Seychelles Tourism Board’s office in France to put together an Ethiopian
Airlines’ press trip and bring to the islands, a group of French press for first-hand
experience of the destination and experiencing flying to Seychelles on
Ethiopian Airlines.
On January 7, TOURMAG Magazine, ‘’ Le
Quotidien du Tourisme’’, ‘’ Deplacement Pros’’, ‘’Oopartir’’, ‘’ Class & Relax’’
and ‘’ Air Journal’’ together with a representative of Ethiopian Airlines
arrived in Seychelles for their island
experience on most one of the sought after
holiday destination. This life time experience by these french press
personalities will be shared it to their readers. The journalists have another
important mission; to tell their readers about the experience of flying on the
Ethiopian Airlines route as they propel the good news about the unique product
called Seychelles and its unique attractions.
There is one thing that journalists on
press trips in Seychelles never miss and this is taking Alain St Ange, the
island's Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture out of his busy schedule
for something he has proven to do pretty well ̶ talking about one
of his most passionate subjects, the tourism industry of Seychelles. The French
press have been passionate in listening to Minister St.Ange and many questions
that followed his introductory remarks was the issue of direct non-stop flights
which they said was still lacking on the French market. Minister St.Ange
emphasised the importance of the French market to Seychelles, and echoed the
same message that Seychelles needs a direct non-stop flight on this route to
growth this source market.
Minister Alain St.Ange also emphasised
on the importance of French market to Seychelles and role of Press in promoting
Seychelles. The Minister could not conclude his interview without thanking the
press for their close collaboration with the Seychelles Tourism Board because
without their articles, Seychelles would not be as visible as it is
today. Through the destination articles published by the French
journalists there is hope the Seychelles visibility and Ethiopian Airlines can
get an extra boost in France . The Seychelles Minister ended the press
conference by saying "Welcome again to
Seychelles. You are invited to discover our islands. What we will be showing is
what we are because we are transparent with nothing to hide. We remain sure
that when you leave our shores you will all become good ambassadors of our
beautiful islands" Minister St.Ange said. Also present at the press
conference were Sherin Naiken, the CEO of the Tourism Board and Bernadette
Willemin, the Seychelles Tourism Board's Director for Europe.