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The South of England rediscovers the Seychelles islands

The South of England rediscovers the Seychelles islands

The Seychelles Tourism Board’s (STB) office in the United Kingdom together with a partner airline and a team of Seychelles hoteliers recently embarked on an intensive roadshow in the South of England namely at Plymouth, Bournemouth, and Brighton from March 14-16.

This was part of a series of The Seychelles Discovered Roadshow, which is a twice annual event that takes place on the UK market.

High-profile travel operators, travel agents, and journalists were in attendance at each of these events in the various cities.

“The support and numbers attending at each event, was really impressive,” said STB’s manager based in UK Tinaz Wadia. She added that UK tourists were looking for safer and more reliable destinations to visit, and that Seychelles featured high on their list of countries that enjoyed this status.


Based on this, there has been a marked increase of tourist arrivals from this sector, year on year, into the Seychelles, and has continued to grow further, in the first three months of this year as well. Last year UK passenger arrivals to the destination closed with an impressive 14% increase.

The series, was based on the same train and dine formats that were used in the past, as they have once again proved to work really well when it comes to networking, imparting of information as well as having the agents and operators see Seychelles and its products on large screens – creating a magnificent sound and visual, virtual experience, as well as allowing the partners to present their products and services with the ultimate attention and focus – from the audience.

“Gauging from comments and feedback received from each event, it was heart-warming to see that, not only how much the audience enjoyed their evening, but how much information was garnered from the event,” Miss Wadia said.

The events were booked out well in advance, and as numbers of agents and tour operators taking part had to be restricted in each city, due to venue space and capacity, it was amazing to see how enthusiastic the UK travel trade were, to ensure that they had a place guaranteed at the event, well in advance.

The imparting of information on the destination and its products, was key in bringing these events together, as it is one of the best marketing tools that one could have, when one meets face to face, the people that are in direct contact with the clients who are the ones that will ultimately visit the destination. There was an across the board involvement of partners, from the airline, to a mixed category of hotel partners ranging from three, four and five star properties in attendance.

STB was represented by Miss Wadia and marketing executive Miss Eloise Vidot. Representing and presenting their various products were: Nisheen Daya/Melanie Blasi and Kofi Mable from Etihad & Air Seychelles – at various cities, Mr. Andrew Sharpe – Banyan Tree Seychelles, Ash Behari – Hotel Coco de Mer and Black Parrot Suites, Bessie Etienne – Denis Island, Indian Ocean Lodge and Carana Beach Hotel, Amanda Lang – Alphonse Island Resort, Lauren Mills from Avenue Sales representing Coral Strand Smart Choice Hotel & the Savoy Seychelles Resort and Spa.

As part of their ongoing awareness campaign, “Affordable Seychelles” STB’s office in UK also made the audience aware of the Seychelles Secrets program, reiterating that Seychelles provided a wide range of products from top-end private island resorts, to luxury four and five star hotels as well as economically priced three star properties and also very affordable local Island options, provided by the charming guest houses that are available on the various islands. In essence, Seychelles is proud to provide a range of accommodation that suits all budgets.

The next Seychelles Discovered Roadshow will take place in November prior to World Travel Market at Excel.

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