Seychelles at the French Tourism Trade Fair of Paris
aTP- Arab tourism portal News- Seychelles is again at the French Tourism Trade Fair, the IFTM Top Resa 2016 on Paris and delegates from the mid-ocean islands have been busy with meetings with press, tour operator partners and this year airline meetings as well.
The private sector tourism trade from the islands wanting their share of this important source market were represented by a 23 member delegation representing 12 companies: Air Seychelles, 7°South Ltd (DMC), Alphonse Island Seychelles, Berjaya Resort Seychelles, Bird Island, Coral Strand Smart Choice Hotel, Creole Travel Services (DMC), Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Masons Travel (DMC), Maia Luxury Resort & Spa, Savoy Resort & Spa and The H-Resort Beau Vallon Beach Seychelles.
Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture accompanied by Sherin Francis, the CEO of the island’s Tourism Board were also in Paris for this year’s IFTM Top Resa, and they were joined by Bernadette Willemin, the Tourism Board’s Director for Europe and her Team from the Paris Office. Ambassador Bernard Sham-Laye, the Seychelles Ambassador in Paris, Rita Romain, the Tourism Ambassador in Paris and Christine Barbier, Miss Seychelles 2016 were also on the island’s IFTM Top Resa Stand.
The Seychelles stand was busy with meetings organised with the French travel trade, press and media, all eager to meet the partners who had travelled from Seychelles showing the importance and interest of the market for the local Seychelles industry.
France is still the number one market for Seychelles with 3 direct flights a week operated by the national airline Air Seychelles and the various airlines flying daily via their respective hubs in Middle East and Africa.
This year both Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines used the IFTM Top Resa to spell out their new flights to the Seychelles. Qatar Airlines with banners around the fair grounds and Turkish Airlines with a Seychelles branded Paris Taxi positioned on their stand itself.
Last year 37,356 French nationals travelled to the island destination. According to the Seychelles National Statistics Bureau 28,926 people from France arrived in Seychelles during the first 8 months of the year. This represents an increase of 17% from the previous year, which shows that Seychelles is still very much considered as a favourite and safe destination.
So far the trend indicates that the French market is set to maintain its number 1 position for tourism arrivals for Seychelles.
"Another good tourism trade fair for Seychelles. The private sector were united in the promotion of their destination and forecast from French Tour Operators is positive"said Minister St.Ange.
