Breaking Travel News

Chiniese tour operators unify to market Seychelles

In the presence of His Excellency Shi Zhongjun, the Ambassador from the People’s Republic of China to Seychelles, and Mr. Barry Faure, the Chairman of the Seychelles Tourism Board, all the nation’s Destination Management Companies (DMCs) gathered at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort&Casino, to collectively sign a memorandum of understanding, and as the MOU reads, “do pledge and confirm that we are unified in our welcome and management of this most important travel market, the People’s Republic of China, and to that end will provide the best care and value as is our custom.”

The Chinese Ambassador in a short speech welcomed the initiative, adding that the embassy would help to promote the islands as a destination for the Chinese travel market, adding: “When I was first posted to these beautiful islands, truly like Heaven on Earth, there were two principal reactions from my counterparts. The first was one of compliments and how fortunate I was to be given such a posting to such a friendly and beautiful country as the Seychelles, and the other was a question, and that was, where is the Seychelles?”

Mr. Alain St. Ange, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, having just returned from an important overseas mission that morning added his compliments to all the assembled DMCs, saying that the Chinese market would work and prove to be of importance to the Seychelles travel market. “This signing of an MOU between all the DMCs comes at the right time. The government of Seychelles has decided to open direct air access between Seychelles and China. To make this initiative, we all need to work together, and today’s show of unity among all the local tour operators is, therefore, welcomed,” Alain St.Ange said.

The meeting was coordinated by the office of the Seychelles Hospitality&Tourism Association (SHTA) and in brief remarks, an official from the trade thanked all present, adding that with the signing it was time to get to work to welcome Chinese guests to Seychelles’ shores.

The six DMCs signing the pledge were Elite Club, 7 degrees South, Creole Travel Services, Select-Seychelles, Masons Travel, and Vision Voyages.

ADVERTISEMENT