Italians wants more true and authentic Seychelles experience says the tourism trade from Italy

Italians wants more true and authentic Seychelles experience says the tourism trade from Italy

Almasalla, ATP News- Tour Operators from Italy  this week had a chance to meet with the Seychelles Cheif Executive Officer from the Seychelles Tourism Board who was on working mission in Rome and Milan respectively to understand the challenges and opportunities of our tourism partners there as well as to share with them the new developments on the Seychelles islands.

The interaction took place through door to door visits  as well as an informal lunch in Rome and an informal dinner in Milan.

The series of events were also  also attended by Bernadette Willemin, the Tourism Board’s Director for Europe and Monette Rose the Tourism Board’s manager for Italy as well as the Seychelles Tourism Boards’ two marketing executives in Italy Yasmine Pocetti and Alessandra Dell’ Aira. Present at the lunch and dinner respectively were also  local representatives from a number of International Hotel Chains, the travel trade media. the event in Milan was also attended by two of the Seychelles Tourism Ambassadors in Italy.

Monette Rose, the Seychelles Tourism Board’s Manager for Italy was the first to address both the lunch  function in Rome and dinner function in Milan followed by Bernadette Willemin, the Seychelles Tourism Board’s Director for Europe. Both of them thanked the Italian operators for their continued support for Seychelles and for having been true Seychelles friend. "you did not abandoned us when the market was not doing as well," said Mrs Willemin, "You believed as much as us the potential of the market for Seychelles"

Sherin Naiken, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board said when she took the floor that Italy remained a very important market for Seychelles despite the decrease in visitors arrival for the past few years. She said " Italy has been and remained  our third biggest source market, and we have all the reasons to keep on supporting this market. our target is that we can at the very least this year stabilise this market  and in the next few years grow the market back to what is used to be before". Both functions then continued with open discussions across the table on the various challenges and opportunities which existed for the market. The tour operators were also very interested in knowing the various development taking place in Seychelles.

One of the tour operators’ greatest wish is for Seychelles to one day be able to establish back its direct flight with Italy.

One tour operator in Rome said "Italians misses their direct flight!" but still goes on in acknowledging that having Ethiopian Airlines back on the destination as well as the Etihad Alitalia code share agreement together with Emirates  will  help in providing more travelling choices to the Italian visitors. Additionally, one of their profound wish is that Seychelles can start offering more authentic experience for the Italians visiting Seychelles. "Anybody can buy a souvenir or a piece of jewellery from Seychelles" says a tour operator  present at the lunch "but the memory of an authentic true Seychelles experience will last a lifetime!"

on her side, Ms Naiken reassured them that Seychelles realised the importance of offering authentic holiday experience, this message was further emphasised through the launch of the Seychelles brand where more than ever Seychelles was being marketed as more than just the sand sea and sun but also through its people, culture, gastronomy and the Seychellois unique way of life. With the increasing need to provide more authentic creole experience, Ms Naiken has given commitment to work even closer with the various actors in Seychelles to ensure that the wishes of its Italian visitors are fulfilled.

The Italian market started on a very promising note in 2015 and by the 5th week of the year it has received 292 more passengers that the same period in 2014 which was a 32% increase.