The list of nominated hotels and destinations has been published, and Seychelles, along with Tahiti and Maldives, are the three tourism islands in the running for the Island Holiday Destination of the Year 2012. The China Travel & Meetings Industry Awards guides the industry and sets the programming for forward travel. It is organized annually by the Leisure & Business Travel of China. Under the heading Celebrate Excellence in the Asian Travel Industry, the Leisure and Business Travel have made public their long list of hotels, destinations, etc., which appears as their finalists for the next stage of the selection that will be determined by public vote.

Island holiday destinations has become more in vogue in China, and three islands (Tahiti, Seychelles, and Maldives) have made it on the most sought-after island holiday destination list.

This selection will be a boost to the marketing drive by all three islands. Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, said that this listing by China comes at a perfect time “We have intensified our visibility drive in China. We are preparing to launch our nonstop direct flights between China and Seychelles and are working on our new plan of action. We will use this recognition by China for the Chinese market as we prepare our new documentation. We knew that our destination stood out, but to see it so listed in a new target market is indeed pleasing,” Minister St.Ange said.

Elsia Grandcourt, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board who has the responsibility of the island’s office based in Beijing, said that the listing confirms the feedback received from all the visiting press and tour operators. “The beauty and uniqueness of Seychelles is remarkable. The white and clean sandy beaches with its warm year-round turquoise blue seas cannot be matched, the Chinese press and tour operators tell us. Connectivity was an issue that they brought up, and now this is being handled – we are ready for the Chinese holiday makers,” Elsia Grandcourt said.