The recent ministerial working visit to France by Joel Morgan, the Seychelles Minister for Internal Affairs and Transport, and Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, has been followed by an unexpected number of press coverage for the islands.

Minister Morgan and Minister St.Ange were accompanied to Paris by Mrs. Elsia Grandcourt, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, and Captain David Savy, the Chairman of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, and they held a forum with all tour operators selling Seychelles, and this in the presence of the airlines providing the link between Seychelles and France. Following the tourism trade meeting, the Seychelles delegation held a press conference to update the French public on the recent happenings in Seychelles and on the available air access between France and Seychelles.

“Seychelles is today accessible as never before” was the key message echoed by Minister Alain St.Ange as he explained the increased frequencies between all the airlines flying to Seychelles from France and also the new range of accommodation network now available in Seychelles.

“Today, we have more airlines, and they are providing more frequencies to Seychelles. Today we also have the range of accommodation network offering to our visitors from 6- to 7-star boutique resorts, to the one island - one hotel resorts, to the large four- and five-star resorts and also the small Seychellois-owned establishments providing the Creole-friendly atmosphere and ambiance to visitors wanting to connect with the Seychellois when in Seychelles,” Minister St.Ange said.

Minister Joel Morgan, who holds the responsibility for air transport in his Ministry, said, when he addressed the French press, that Seychelles was today open for business. “We have opened our airspace and would welcome airlines wanting to provide more air links to Seychelles from France and Europe. Seychelles is open for business,” Minister Morgan said.

Following the Seychelles ministerial visit to France, the press has come out with an unexpected number of reports that spelled out the Seychelles position as the tourism destination wanting to claim its fair share of the French tourism market.

France remains the first tourism market for Seychelles, both Seychelles Ministers explained, and they want to maintain this status quo and would be providing Mrs. Bernadette Willemin, the Director for Europe for the island’s Tourism Board, with more support to better penetrate the market.