In a press conference at Akoya & Spa Hotel with local Reunion press, Minister St.Ange outlined how the time is right for the Seychelles Tourism Board to open its office in Reunion and set a new benchmark for the development of the market.
Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, announced the opening of a Tourism Board office in Reunion during the second edition of Seychelles road show held in Reunion between October 4-6.
“Since March 2016, the Seychelles Tourism Board has posted a permanent representative in Reunion. This new approach has opened up new working partnerships with travel agents and tour operators, and bridged solid working ties, which can be an added boost for development of the Seychelles tourism drive in Reunion,” the Minister said.
Minister St.Ange said Seychelles main amenities should continue to remain an added value for the Reunion market. He gave a thumps up to Air Austral for on-going marketing efforts for the Seychelles market.
“We would like to say thank you to Air Austral for their continued effort by injecting so much added support to push forward the Seychelles destination. The yearly promotional offers and the revised rates have contributed to a win-win situation for both parties,” St.Ange added.
The 2016 road show on Reunion brought together representatives of Seychelles from three main Destination Marketing Companies (DMCs) in the Reunion market. 7 degrees South was represented by Stephanie Ernesta, their reservation Consultant. Mason’s Travel is being represented by Lucy Jean Louis, their senior Marketing Executive, and Creole Travel Services has Eric Renard, Deputy the company’s General Manager, and Melissa Quatre as their representatives. Also present were Fabrice Maingard representing Constance Hotels, Daniella Payet of Seychelles European Reservation, and Nathalie Du Buisson from the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association.
Minister St.Ange used the press conference to urge the private sector trade “to consolidate the market and grasp the opportunities in the Reunion market to push for more visitors from Reunion to Seychelles.”
Bernadette Willemin, Seychelles Tourism Board Director for Europe and responsible for the Reunion market, said that with the Seychelles Tourism Board’s presence in the market “we’ve been able to consolidate the existing segment market and tap into a new segment – the incentive group which will help to bring more traffic to Seychelles.”
Minister St.Ange also took the opportunity at the press conference to unveil a new project for the forthcoming 31st edition of Kreol Festival held between October 21-31.
Minister St.Ange said the new initiative to bring families in Reunion with a Seychelles connection falls within the Ministry of Tourism and Culture’s plans to further develop the bilateral ties between Reunion and Seychelles.
Seychelles Tourism Board’s newly-opened office in Reunion will be based at Seychelles Honorary Consul offices in Saint Denis.
The Seychelles Tourism Board is represented in Reunion by Bernadette Honore, Senior Marketing Executive.
For more information on Seychelles Minister of Tourism and Culture Alain St.Ange, <A HREF=”http://www.alainstange.com/” TARGET=”_NEW”>click here</a>.
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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