Seychelles Tourism moves to consolidate its presence in India as Air Seychelles announces India Rupees 33,000 fares (inclusive of all taxes) between Mumbai and Seychelles
ATP- Arab tourism portal- On Thursday the 27th, August in the presence of President James Michel, the President of the Republic of Seychelles and Minister Jean Paul Adam, the island’s Minister responsible for Finance, Trade and Blue Economy H.E. Sanjay Panda, the Indian High Commissioner accredited to Seychelles joined Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St.Ange and Foreign Affairs and Transport Minister Joel Morgan to address a Press Conference at the Trident Hotel in Mumbai that was aimed to consolidate Seychelles as the new tourism destination for Indian holiday makers.
This tourism Press Conference coincided with the State visit to India by President James Michel of the Seychelles. H.E. Panda, the Indian High Commissioner in Seychelles opened the press conference by spelling out the friendly ties that existed between the two countries and appealed to the large number of press present to echo to the People of India that Seychelles remained accessible to Indian holiday makers. The Indian High Commissioner also listed the unique selling points of the islands inclusive that a flight between India and Seychelles was just over four hours and that no one required a Visa to travel to Seychelles.
Minister Joel Morgan, the Seychelles Minister of Foreign Affairs and Transport explained as he took to the podium the work by Air Seychelles to connect India and Seychelles. Minister Morgan spoke about the drive to connect the Indian Ocean region using Air Seychelles and explained that to-date the airline was already flying to Mauritius, Madagascar, Mumbai in India, Tanzania and Johannesburg in South Africa. He also said that as passenger load increases Air Seychelles would also increase its frequency to India with the aim of having daily connections as soon as possible.
Seychelles International Airport is also already convinced to Reunion Island with Air Austral, Kenya with Kenya Airways, Sri Lanka through Mini Lanka Airline, Abu Dhabi through Etihad and also Air Seychelles and Dubai through Emirates.
Last to address the press conference in Mumbai was Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture. He said that Seychelles tourism was in India in force to work even harder than before in order to claim their fair share of the tourism market. "We are today here to say that we have heard your comments and listened to your advice. It is with pleasure that we can confirm that Air Seychelles has now reduced its air fare between Mumbai and Seychelles to Indian Rupees thirty three thousand and this inclusive of all applicable taxes" Minister St.Ange said to great applause form all present. The previous fare on the market between Mumbai and Seychelles was closer to fifty thousand Indian Rupees.
The island’s Tourism Minister then spent time addressing the different niche markets the Seychelles Tourism Board was targeting through their Blue Square Representation Office of Lubaina Sheerazi. "Today I will not speak to you about our white sandy beaches that is clean because this you all know because you are all experienced and respected journalists. I will also not speak about the turquoise blue seas that lap our white sandy beaches, because that also you know. I will also not speak about our climate that has given us the name of the islands with perpetual summer, because that also you all know. What I want to highlight to you today is our culture, the unique selling point we have that differentiates us to other tourism destinations. The Creole People of Seychelles, the Seychellois is and remains the perfect melting pot of cultures with historical lines coming from France, Africa, Great Britain, India and China. This has given us a unique culture and it has been placed at the centre of our tourism marketing. When we say culture we are in fact putting our people at the centre of our development because we cannot have our culture without having our people placed at the centre of our country’s life"the Tourism Minister said before highlighting that Seychelles is today the new holiday destination for India and for Indian Honeymooners and Wedding saying that if Seychelles was good for Prince William and Kate Middleton of Great Britain it must also be the destination for the lovely Indian brides.
After touring the long list of unique selling points of Seychelles Minister St.Ange spoke about the recent Bollywood action thriller "Rocky Handsome" with the popular John Abraham and said that Seychelles was expected to attract more Indian Films shortly.
The address was followed by a Q & A session where Minister Alain St.Ange, Minister Joel Morgan, H.C. Sanjay Panda were joined by Roy Kinnear, the CEO of Air Seychelles and the Seychelles Tourism Board’s India Office Manager Lubaina Sheerazi of Blue Square Representation Office.
