Sao Paulo tour operators and travel agents got a taste of Seychelles when the island’s Tourism Board, in collaboration with Creole Travel Services (a Seychelles destination management company represented by Silvia Luise Hackmann), Kempinski Resort Seychelles, and Qatar Airways, an evening of Seychelles food, music, and dancing.

The Seychelles Tourism Board received the support of Seychellois-born Maryse William (nee Payet) who is currently residing in Sao Paulo and is an accredited Seychelles Tourism Ambassador. It is Maryse William who put together the Seychelles Creole menu for the evening and who organized the uniforms for all who gave a display in Creole Sega dancing.

Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, who addressed the evening alongside Luiz Picollo, the Seychelles Consul in Brazil, and David Germain, the Seychelles Tourism Board’s Director for Africa and the Americas, and Myra Fanchette, the Seychelles Marketing Executive for Africa and the Americas, were all present to showcase Seychelles to the gathered Brazilians.

Addressing the Seychelles evening, Minister St.Ange said: “Welcome to Seychelles in Brazil. Thank you for making time out of your busy schedule to join us to get a better understanding of Seychelles. We have come to Brazil because we know that you are all looking for a new holiday destination. Today we rank 140th on the list of countries most visited by Brazilians, and we want to work with you and with the airlines providing us with the most direct link to Seychelles from Brazil. We appreciate that you all want direct and nonstop air access, but this one would be long, so a stop in South Africa, Dubai, or Doha is needed. Together, let us work to push a desert safari and a beach holiday in Seychelles, or a Big Five safari and a Best Five Beach Holiday in Seychelles,” Minister St.Ange said.

The Seychelles Minister also informed the gathered Brazilian travel trade that the Brazilian Samba School had been selected to represent Brazil at the Carnaval International de Victoria and invited them to prepare special holiday packages for Brazil to accompany their delegation to the unique “Carnival of Carnivals” that is held in Seychelles annually.

The local dishes served received praise, and the Creole Sega Show was seen as a popular entertainment for the Seychelles evening in Brazil.