The much sought-after tourism destination of the Seychelles was last week seen promoting in Spain, displaying to the world the exceptional beauty of these mid-ocean tropical islands.

It was Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, who lead the island`s delegation to FITUR 2014 in Madrid. He was accompanied by Bernadette Willemin, the Seychelles Tourism Board`s European Director, and Monica Gonzalez Llinas the Tourism Board`s Marketing Executive based in Madrid. Also represented at FITUR 2014 was the Seychelles European Reservations of Daniella Payet-Allis who was represented by Maria Sebastian, her Spanish Market Manager.

Spain is the home of the UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organization), and FITUR, the Spanish tourism trade fair continues to attract a very large number of government tourism ministers from the four corners of the world and tourism board or tourism authorities from countries serious in the development of their tourism industry.

Madrid is also the base for the annual INVESTOUR, the event bringing together African business opportunities to Spanish and Portuguese investors.

FITUR 2014 was seen as busy, when compared to 2012 and 2013 the level of business interest had grown and FITUR had also brought for the exhibitors solid interested parties to the discussion tables. Press from Europe were very present and ensured that exhibitors received the needed coverage for increased visibility.

Seychelles Minister St.Ange said to the press before his departure from Spain that his delegation remains satisfied with FITUR 2014. “We leave satisfied that we have achieved our objectives of keeping our Seychelles relevant in the world of tourism as a viable and serious tourism destination. Tourism is for our islands the pillar of our economy, we are, therefore, compelled to nurture this important industry of ours and ensure it always remain in the mind of would-be travelers as the preferred option for their next tropical holidays. It was important for us to keep repeating that we are a year-round tourism destination with a weather pattern that gives us the tag line of the islands with perpetual summer, and this because we are but four degrees south of the equator,” Minister St.Ange said.