“We work in such a beautiful place that we do not find the work too hard,” says a Chinese student, adding that she and other students have worked in all departments of a hotel during their three months of study.
Chinese students are working in and learning about the hotel industry in Seychelles through an agreement between the Seychelles Tourism Academy and the Hebei Tourism and Vocational College from North China.
According to the Student Affairs Coordinator of the academy, Monique Hoareau, the students work in various departments of a hotel for six months.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Seychelles Tourism Academy and the Chinese college five years ago, allowing their students to come to Seychelles and work in some of the top deluxe hotels found in the archipelago.
Before their placement in Seychelles, Hoareau says the students are interviewed by the Student Affairs Department as a high proficiency in English is required.
In exchange, Seychellois lecturers are given opportunities to visit the college which is one of the most reputed institutions in the Hebei province.
The Hebei Tourism Vocational College is the only tourism college in Hebei Province where the tourist attraction Chengde City is located.
In her third year at the college, Zhang Chaoxiang, 21, is among the Chinese students currently working in Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean.
The Seychelles Newspaper Agency (SNA) spoke with Chaoxiang at the arrival lounge of Le Domaine de l’Orangeraie, a hotel found a few minutes’ walk from the main jetty of La Passe on La Digue, the third-most populated island of Seychelles.
“Currently, I am in working in this department, and my work is very easy, because I like talking to other people,” says Chaoxiang.
While she greets her first visitors of the day, Chaoxiang’s two other colleagues were clearing tables after breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant.
China has sent 11,594 visitors to Seychelles this year – a five percent increase compared to 2015 – making it the sixth leading market for the island nation. With more visitors from China coming to Seychelles, a representative of Le Domaine de l’Orangeraie says the students also acts as translators for the Chinese nationals.
“They are not only here to work. On their day off, they get to enjoy the island and other neighboring islands,” says Naddy Matombe, adding that by mingling with the locals they are also learning the Seychelles’ culture.
Seychelles is a founding member of the <A HREF=”http://www.tourismpartners.org/” TARGET=”_NEW”>International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) </a> .
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