The Seychelles private sector interested to develop the Chinese market and who traveled to Hong Kong with the Seychelles Tourism Board were: Stephen Kwong of Air Seychelles [email protected], Lindy Cadeau of 7 Degrees South DMC [email protected], Guillaume Albert of Creole Travel Services DMC [email protected], Sun Weiwei of Mason’s Travel DMC [email protected], Dereck Savy of Elite Club Limited DMC [email protected], Freddy Karkaria of Select Seychelles DMC [email protected], Carol Tsang of Constance Hotels Experience [email protected], Peter Pomeroy of La Reserve Hotel [email protected], Robert Payet of Le Duc de Praslin Hotel [email protected], Ahmed Kamal of Le Meridien Hotels Seychelles [email protected], and Amanda Lang of Desroches Island Resort [email protected].

After a show of the China Airlines film on Seychelles (Wings of China) to show the mid-ocean tropical islands as seen from the eyes of a Chinese film crew, Alain St.Ange, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, showcased the attributes of the Seychelles for Chinese holiday makers. As he addressed the gathered tour operators, a colorful DVD on the islands was being beamed on a large screen, keeping the audience glued to the Seychelles presentation.

Every member of the Seychelles delegation in attendance, then presented highlights of their respective businesses, and then met most of the tour operators on a one-to-one basis. The Seychelles Tourism Board has been spearheading the opening of the Chinese market for Seychelles in their bid to diversify the tourist markets for the Seychelles. “This is so needed in this new economic climate. We are working hard to regain our fair share of the European market, which was seriously affected when Air Seychelles dropped its European routes late last year, but we have to be more innovative in this moment in time and look to open new markets for the benefit of all our hoteliers and those dependent on tourism for their livelihood. We know that those who depended only on the French market, for example, are today suffering because of the drop in visitor arrival numbers from that key market, but that should be reason enough for everyone to join forces to open new markets as we relook at ways and means to recapture our affected markets,” Alain St.Ange said.

Jean Luc Lai-Lam, the Seychelles tourism attaché, and HE Philippe Le Gall, the island’s Ambassador to China, were both present at this important dedicated Seychelles workshop meeting in Hong Kong.

Seychelles remains committed to the tourism industry and is one of the island destinations where tourism is the pillar of their economy.