Inside Seychelles - The Voice of Seychelles Tourism

‘THE VOICE OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY’

March 2016, Issue I

CEO’s message It is with pride that I witness the birth of a valuable new media outlet for Seychelles which has been redesigned to perform the best possible job for advertising Seychelles tourism, its attributes, products and services.

What is even more gratifying is that we have a great many successes to be proud of that we can promote using the magazine, ranging from the success in diversifying our markets to include those in the Americas, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Far East, and the success being enjoyed by our e-marketing campaigns to how we are using aspects of our culture to market the destination and not just our sun, sea and sand.

2016 edition of the Carnaval International de Victoria: melting pot of cultures set to spring to life between 22nd and 24th April

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he time is fast approaching when carnival fever will once again descend on Victoria, the world’s tiniest capital, and Seychelles will find itself in the media spotlight via the many international press in attendance.

The reason is, of course, the 6th edition of Seychelles very own carnival dubbed the carnival of carnivals for the way it brings together the representatives of the world’s top carnivals for three days of excitement, spectacle and carnival razzmatazz.

In 2016, the carnival falls between the 22nd and 24th April and already this year’s participants are gathering for the grand, island-style party, including old favourites such as South Africa’s Cape town Minstrels, Germany’s Düsseldorf Carnival, China, Italy, Madagascar, Sweden, Cambodia and Swaziland, among others. “This promises a wonderful balance between east and west,’’ stated Mr. Alain St. Ange, Seychelles’ charismatic minister for Tourism & Culture, “and it breathes life into the other popular tag for the carnival which is melting pot of cultures.”

On the local front, several well-known companies have signed up to participate in the now-famous carnival float including Cable & Wireless, Eden Island, Avani Hotel & Resort, Banyan Tree Seychelles Resort, La Misère Exotic Garden, Seychelles

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Marketing the destination is not something that the Seychelles Tourism Board takes at all lightly and, in conjunction with the very experienced staff of our Tourism Board offices throughout the world, we are constantly refining our marketing strategies to achieve the best possible results for the country.

When we market in a foreign country, and this is something that some people struggle to understand, we market at all segments in that country. Something we must not lose sight of is that we live in a very cosmopolitan world and there is hardly a nation without a significant population of ex-pats which, properly targeted, represents a valuable potential tourism market and source of income for Seychelles, particularly when the flying time to Seychelles is short.

Marketing, for a small country like Seychelles, is about being tactical, lightweight and thinking fast on your feet, exploring every angle and opportunity and leaving no stone unturned to bring visitors to our shores.

I look forward to Inside Seychelles becoming a valuable collateral for our diverse marketing strategies and to its long and useful life.

Sherin Naiken

Inside Seychelles is a publication produced by the Seychelles Tourism Board. Editor Glynn Burridge, Collaborators Marie-France Watson, Ineke Camille and Olivia Michaud (Graphics and layout). For information about this publication please contact Mr. Burridge, Glynn.Burridge@seychelles.travel or call us on 2512477 (Marie-France)

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Photo Credit: Paul Turcotte

From the editor Every new media outlet we create for Seychelles tourism is a fresh opportunity to make inroads into the public consciousness, reach a new audience and raise the profile of our islands.

In its creation, there are many considerations to take on board: cost, weight, distribution and of course the all-important content.

Trading Company, X-Trim Fitness & Wellness Gym, Hilton Seychelles Hotels, University of Seychelles and newcomer Turquoise Horse Trails.

The 2016 edition of the carnival will see a number of changes, chief among which is the route to be taken by the carnival parade which will differ from that of previous years.

With the overall organization of this year’s carnival in new hands, one can also expect some exciting new ideas when it comes to the decoration of the town and fresh ingredients in the programme of entertainment which definitely holds some surprises in store.

With a carnival heritage stretching back to 1972 when the islands held their first carnival to commemorate the opening of the international airport, and again in 1976, on the occasion of its independence, Seychelles seems to have found the most appropriate vehicle for expressing the innate joie de vivre of its people while at the same time making a powerful statement of national unity and harmony before the world’s press at a time of great international upheaval.

One thing is for sure: come Friday 22nd April, which is the day of the official opening of the carnival, Victoria will be bursting with anticipation at the prospect of 3 days of carnival-style extravaganza. By then, the numerous contingent of international press will have already taken their seats and the groups playing live music throughout the evening will be busy tuning their instruments for a night of revelry and carnival-style fun.

As dusk’s lengthening shadows stride the streets of the capital, crowds of revellers, by hook or by crook, will make their way into town to be swept up by events that will transport them into Saturday’s much awaited carnival float parade and full-day and night’s entertainment. From there, they will find themselves a part of Sunday’s Family Fun day complete with its Kiddies Carnival and full-spectrum of entertainment leading right up to the closing ceremony.

What an amazing ride is in store for all!

Inside Seychelles is the successor to Sesel Sa, which has been with us as a mouthpiece for Seychelles tourism for over two years and reflects the desire of the Tourism Board to fine tune its form, structure and content to better fit the purpose of disseminating news about Seychelles tourism across the world.

Arranged in a template, the content of future editions will be readily translatable into the languages of our target markets and published in situ in those markets according to their precise needs, reducing expensive transportation and storage costs.

There will also be a page for inexpensive classified adverts so that

the destination’s smaller players will have an opportunity to advertise, sure in the knowledge that news of their products and services will be published far and wide.

These are just some of the initial plans we have for Inside Seychelles but I am confident that many, many more will be formulated as we move forward, making Inside Seychelles a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional mouthpiece of Seychelles’ tourism industry.

Glynn Burridge

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The E-Marketing department of STB outlines its Digital Marketing strategy for 2016.

The beefed-up e-marketing section of the Seychelles Tourism Board has been responsible for Seychelles’ unparalleled growth in social media presence over the past two years, evolving from humble beginnings with just one Facebook page and one website to no less than nine social media pages, eight new niche websites plus a host of mobile apps and online applications.

Destination Seychelles is now visible on twitter, instagram, wayn, vimeo, pinterest, google+, youtube, linkedIn and flickr, keeping the islands top of mind among subscribers to the social media revolution that has taken the world by storm in recent years.

The manager of the section, Vahid Jacob, explains that as more and more people on the planet are researching their hobbies, interests and holidays via hand-held devices and home

computers, it is essential that Seychelles has a strong profile and high visibility in order to be able to compete.

Apart from raising awareness over social media platforms, the digital marketing section has been hard at work creating a raft of new websites which include not only a totally revamped seychelles.travel destination website but also mini-websites for Seychelles Ocean Festival, Seychelles Secrets, Miss Seychelles, My Seychelles Experience and both Chinese and Portuguese destination information websites.

These initiatives have greatly increased traffic to Seychelles in comparison to just a few years ago when, for example, the islands had a Facebook page following of just 4200 (2013) but which has now grown to more than 500,000 in over 129 countries, across its two main

marketing Facebook pages.

“Today, the Seychelles Tourism Board’s social media following stands at 750,000 over the nine platforms which is one of the highest in Africa,” said Mr Jacob.

Meanwhile, website visitors have grown to over 1.1 million unique visitors in 2015, up from 600,000 in 2013.

The e-marketing section has also produced an Ipad/tablet app called the E-Travel Guide which visitors can download for information on events, islands, activities as well as an interactive map of the islands.

“An essential ingredient of visibility is filling the knowledge gap on Seychelles as a tourism destination in terms of the full range of services and products we offer. This provides would-be holiday makers with the facts they need to

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be able to make a decision on their holidays and where to spend them,” said Mr Jacob.

“We are also working very closely with several large hotels such as Savoy, Hilton, H-Hotel and others to jointly run competitions on the website and social media platforms around various events such as Valentine’s day, the Carnaval International de Victoria and Miss Seychelles among others, which creates engagement on our social media platforms, creates excitement/ hype around our events, at the same time increasing our following online.”

He further explains that the e-marketing section has also produced 10 action adventure and niche videos which have boosted views on the Seychelles Tourism Board’s Youtube channel to half a million views in comparison to a mere 20,000 in 2013.

“During 2016, STB will also be working with two select companies for the development of several 360˚ videos of the various islands of Seychelles which will enable visitors to get a 360˚ feel of the destination by simply watching a video that enables them to look around and see what is on offer. We shall also be developing several niches and action videos of the destination for our Youtube channel.”

The section has plans to work very closely with internationally recognized and reputed bloggers and You-tubers this year to increase the visibility of Seychelles through video sharing which will be one of the most popular modes of viewing and sharing content by 2018.

The section is also the power behind the international My Seychelles Experience Video Competition ( www. myseychellesexperience.com) which ran from July 2015 to January 2016, in which visitors uploaded their holiday videos to gain a chance of winning an all inclusive, VIP holiday to Seychelles which also increased Seychelles’ visibility across the globe. Some 40 videos have been submitted during the course of the competition among which many are of extremely high standard. The competition rules mean that all submitted footage becomes the property of the STB to do with as they wish, giving many possibilities for new footage to be produced with which to advertise the destination. The winner of the competition will be announced at Germany’s ITB Tourism Trade Fair in March 2016.

Mr Jacob added that the section is currently working with drones and Go-Pro cameras and has hired two

The e-marketing section of the Tourism Board

companies to take over 1200 high resolution images of the inner islands to further strengthen the recently launched Online High resolution library (of images and videos) for trade partners and STB offices abroad.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Sherin Naiken, said there is now a high presence of Seychelles on social media platforms.

“E-marketing also helps to give Seychelles its visibility, to connect with clients, show them the visual appeal of the destination. At this end the numbers have determined that we have got more exposure this year than we had in the previous years. Congratulations to the team and all of the Seychelles Tourism Board’s staff.”

In May 2016, Seychelles will get its very first Official Mobile app for smart phones, which will showcase all the accommodations, attractions, restaurants, bakeries, shopping destinations, maps, and even a journal and currency converter, amongst other interesting features.

This will complement the already very popular Ipad and Tablet Digital Brochure which has been available on the app store for about 2 years now.

Training is high on the e-marketing section’s agenda and it will be organizing the very first digital marketing and social media strategy workshop in Seychelles from the 17 -18th March in which over 150 tourism establishments and trade partners will be trained on how to maximize their ability to make the most efficient use of digital marketing platforms and use practical tools and tactics to revitalise their social media strategy and align it with the latest landscape.

It will also be organizing the second edition of the Trip Advisor Awards for excellence in partnership with Trip Advisor in which over 100+ tourism establishments will receive their Certificate of Excellence.

There will also be a Youtube training for Vanilla Island states in collaboration with Vanilla islands organization as well as the very first Indian Ocean Digital Marketing Conference in Seychelles for regional states in collaboration with E-Tourism Frontiers. Finally, March 2016 will see social media training for all STB staff.

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Europe update 2015 was another remarkable year for tourism in Seychelles. Our visitor numbers from Europe surpassed expectations, and a total of 170 619 which was an 11% increase year on year, representing 62% of the entire world visitor arrivals into the destination.

We take pride in these achievements, but must not forget that the success of tomorrow depends upon our hard work of today. We are determined to maintain and continue our efforts in ensuring sustainable, long-term growth within our tourism industry from Europe, which falls under my jurisdiction.

Our tireless efforts in identifying and acting upon, “tomorrow’s opportunities today,” ensuring that our tourism business from Europe grows from strength to strength.

Our marketing initiatives on all fronts, most certainly requires the support of all our trade partners, both in the Seychelles and in Europe, in order to succeed. Proof of our progressive growth from the European sector has been an endeavour of dedication, passion and a team effort, in bringing our figures into a positive reality.

My European team and I look forward to another successful year with positive growth.

Seychelles, one of the destinations of choice at Salon de Vacances The Seychelles Tourism Board and its partners participated once again this year in another edition of the Holiday Fair (Salon de Vacances) which took place during a period of five days, from 04th – 08th February at the Brussels Expo fair ground.

As per past editions, the fair was a great success and has even been described as better than the previous year. The weekend was of course the most crowded and busiest days with the Belgians coming out in full force looking for their next holiday destination.

The three Seychelles partners attending the fair were Masons Travel represented by Mrs. Lucy Jean-Louis, Les Laurier Eco Hôtel & Restaurant represented by Mrs. Sybille Cardon and Hotel Coco de Mer & Black Parrot suites represented by Mr. Ash Behari.

Ms. Christine Vel from the Seychelles Tourism Board Office in Paris described the turn-out at the fair as very good and added that a lot of clients stopping by had already gone through the first steps of booking their flights and accommodation to Seychelles and now needed more information such as what to expect in terms of sightseeing and tours, and also what other activities are available.

“We had also a good number of honeymooners who had either chosen or still deciding on a destination, who came around and were pleasantly surprised to hear about the fact that Seychelles does not only have hotels on the main islands but also the choice of island resorts which appeal to them greatly,” Ms Vel explained.

She also added that on the Monday, which is the last and usually most quiet day, was this year quite busy. The fact that it coincided with the start of the winter holidays, might also have something to do with it.

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Seychelles Tourism Board Office in Dubai, In Full Gear this 2016

Vakantiebeurs 2016 – Utrecht Netherlands The Seychelles Tourism Board, for the 5th year, participated in the Vakantibeurs fair which took place in Utrecht, Netherlands. Ms Christine Vel and Mrs Elsie Sinon were present on our stand to give out information to our clients.

We also had with us on the stand Beachcomber Hotels represented by Mrs. Sandra Ober, Avani Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa represented

by Ms. Anna Alvis and local DMC 7° South Ltd represented by Mrs. Ira Udwadia.

Turn out for the fair in general was extremely good and the same goes for the Seychelles stand where we had a lot of attention especially with our very colourful scheme. Seychelles is the only Indian Ocean island destination which participates in this fair and this was a big advantage for us.

There was a lot of interest from people wishing to combine with safaris in Africa especially those going to Tanzania who then hopped on the Air Seychelles flight. Many people are opting to visit Seychelles instead of Zanzibar which was always the classic case in the past.

Honeymoon was also one of the main interests we got from the ‘younger’ visitors.

There is still a lack of awareness from the general public about the location of Seychelles geographically as this was one of the main questions asked but it was also good that we were there as that permitted us to broaden their knowledge and explain what the destination has to offer.

STO plans to renew its participation next year.

As we welcome the new year, there will be new challenges to face, new achievements to celebrate, with this, comes new strength and new thoughts. As a follow through on the achievements we obtain in the previous years, we will be more proactive this year in sustaining Seychelles popularity in the region.

We ended 2015 victoriously as we were able to surpass our 2015 VAS target of 21,000 with a total of 27,089 visitors from the Middle East region which shows 45.11% increase from 2014 statistics. The accomplishment is a result of the combined efforts of the office together with its trade partners and the Seychelles hoteliers that never ceased in supporting us.

In our continuous efforts to push for Seychelles brand presence in the market, we have successfully participated in different niche consumer fairs this month across the region, in KSA, Lebanon and UAE such as: Jeddah Intl Travel & Tourism Exhibition 2016, Wedding Folies Lebanon and Bride Dubai.

Jeddah Intl Travel & Tourism Exhibition 2016 (JTTX6), a trade and consumer event opened doors of good opportunities for different exhibitors to interact with consumers. The 3 day fair had more than 20,000 people in attendance.

Wedding Folies Lebanon 2016, a consumer event in its 13th edition is a highly anticipated fair which served as the woman’s ideal guide for her big day and beyond. The annual bridal fair attracted more than 20,000 visitors from around the world.

Bride Dubai 2016, a consumer event offered a fun, interactive, dynamic and exciting 4-days that inspired not just the bride but also different women who wants to be fabulously beautiful. The affair, was a well - attended one as men and women alike, people in different status went and enjoyed Bride Dubai.

After successfully partaking in different consumer focused events, we are now starting our preparation for the biggest trade fair in the region which is the Arabian Travel Market 2016, the global meeting place for the travel trade sectors which will be held from 25th-28th April 2016. This year expects more business opportunities will open and strengthen the relationship between the trade and its partners.

The team is more than ready to get the job done and we are positive that goals will be attained with the enormous support from you, our dear trade and consumer partners.

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Profile:

Seychelles Tourism Board Office Frankfurt, Germany

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or years, the source market comprising of the mostly German-speaking countries Germany, Switzerland, and Austria has been managed by Edith Hunzinger from a central office location in Frankfurt/Main, the economic hub of the continent – through its international airport – the main gateway to Central Europe.

Edith Hunzinger, a native Seychelloise, came to Germany in 1976. Having worked in other branches of the tourism industry, she took over the Seychelles Tourist Office in 1988 and led the Germanspeaking market to unparalleled success. Visitor numbers to the Seychelles from these three countries virtually doubled over the last ten years alone and reached new records year after year, most recently with 53,274 in 2015 – nearly a fifth of the visitor total. In 2014, Germany even managed to edge out France as the top market. And in 2015, the other two countries, Switzerland and Austria, showed annual visitor increases of 17 and 29 percent respectively.

While direct advertising, for budget reasons, cannot play a major

role in the Seychelles’ success story on this market, Edith Hunzinger attributes the enormous demand to a continuous presence of the Seychelles in local media: “Over the years, we have established a strong network of journalists that keep turning out favorable publicity in both print and broadcast media.

And that helps. Open a magazine, turn on your TV – and here we are.”

A vivid cultural exchange has also taken place between a carnival troupe from Düsseldorf in the Western part of Germany and the Seychelles, with various delegations from the Rhine visiting the Carnaval International over the years.

In addition, the Frankfurt office ran a successful online training program for the trade just a few years ago that keeps bearing fruit.

“The participants are very dedicated to the destination which they have come to know so intimately, and they keep sending their clients,” explains Hunzinger. “This was a long-term investment into a key player – the travel agent – that pays off over years to come.”

But she also managed another scoop: For three years in a row, the Seychelles were official “partner country” at a major consumer travel and tourism fair in different parts of Germany. “In 2014, we covered the North with the Hamburg fair, in 2015 we were partners at CMT in the Southwest, and now in 2016, we have just returned from an extremely successful showing at f.re.e in Munich, which is in the Southeast, close to Austria.”

At each of the fairs, the Seychelles showed their face not only through visits by representatives of the Seychelles government – including Minister St. Ange –, the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Seychelles tourism industry, but also

through lively displays of the sights and sounds of our islands, featuring local artists painting pictures “live” and Latroup Nasyonal entertaining visitors with dance and music.

The Munich fair was a resounding success, even more so than the two previous ones, since the Seychelles were the very first long-haul destination to receive the honor of being picked as official partner.

Visitors from near and far crowded the stand and the stages, and many of them even booked their next vacation on the spot.

As usual in this busy time at the beginning of the year, the end of one fair means preparing the next – especially in the Frankfurt office, since Germany is host to the world’s largest travel and tourism show each March in Berlin: ITB. Hunzinger: “As a trade show, ITB is, of course, very popular with the industry. Although we have a very large stand, it is always full, always busy. And at the end, we have two weekend days for consumers, and they show us every year how popular our destination is.

Visitors enjoy the opportunity to talk to representatives from all fields of the industry directly.”

If the first two months of 2016 are any indication, it looks as if Edith Hunzinger and her small staff won’t have much time to relax. “I expect this to be another bumper year,” the regional manager predicts.

“The German, Swiss, and Austrian economies are booming, and people are looking to escape to hassle-free destinations that are safe and not too crowded. The choices are few.” It’s hard to be popular … But Hunzinger is confident: “This is my third decade here. We’ll manage. We always have.

And we will keep topping our own records, believe me.”

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Seychelles Tourism Board opens office in Johannesburg The Seychelles Tourism Board has officially opened its new tourist office in Johannesburg, South Africa, during a ceremony held in the city yesterday Tuesday 23rd February 2016. It was the Seychelles’ Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange, who opened the office and offered a toast to this occasion.

The Tourism Board now has two offices in South Africa – Cape Town and Johannesburg – with the latter having relocated from Pretoria where it operated for several years under the auspices of the Seychelles High Commission.

The office is now based in the heart of the travel and trade businesses in Johannesburg and is managed by Lena Hoareau who now looks after the South Africa market. Mrs Hoareau was formerly based in the United Kingdom as the PR manager for the tourism board. Speaking at the ceremonial event held at the Saxon Hotel in Sandton, Minister St.Ange said there was a need to bring the office closer to the commercial heart of South Africa in order to gain a bigger market share of the South African market. He told the audience which comprised of the Seychelles High Commissioner in South

Africa, Mr Claude Morel, the Seychelles general consul for Johannesburg, Mrs MareMai Kolsch, tour operators, airlines, press and other tourism related organisations such as RETOSA, that Seychelles is not only a friend of South Africa, but wanted to be the destination of choice for South African holiday makers. “We are opening our Joburg Office because we believe that Africa must continue to work with Africa, and that Africa should know Africa if Africa is to be strong and claim its fair share of the world tourism market. Today we say to South Africans that we have adequate airline connectivity and you have a great holiday destination right on your door step. Our two countries are two friendly countries, our Governments get on and respect each other, it is now our people who should discover each other” said Minister St.Ange.

The Minister then proceeded to cut the ribbon in a symbolic gesture, together with High Commissioner Claude Morel, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board Sherin Naiken, the tourism board’s Director for Africa and America David Germain and the new manager of the island’s Joburg Office Lena Hoareau.

When addressing the guests earlier, including Pamela Panagary and Jenifer Sinon from the STB in Seychelles, Ms Naiken also said the office’s relocation to Johannesburg was one which was long overdue and that it had also been the request of various partners in the tourism industry. She continued that despite all the economic difficulties which the country is experiencing at the moment, Seychelles still registered a growth on the market last year and that in itself is very encouraging for the Seychelles tourism industry as a whole. “Our product still

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appeals to the South African visitors and because of this, we know very well, and we have also been reminded, that we need to be more visible on the market to fill in the knowledge gap,” she said, adding, “This is why it is important for us to maintain our presence on this market and why not move closer to where the actions are”.

She then thanked all partners who have worked with the tourism board to help develop the market to what it is today. “We acknowledge that our success has been a collective effort and I know we still have a lot of untapped potential for this market,” she said.

She then officially welcomed the new manager, Mrs Hoareau, to her new position and thanked Mr Germain who oversees the African market as a whole, and whose presence and hard work on this market over the years has been greatly appreciated.

Mrs Hoareau has on her part said that she was excited to be working on the South African market as it has loads of potentials for growth and she felt happy to be part of the team who are driving this market to a new level. “Coming from a market as aggressive as UK where travel trade is concerned, I want to bring some of my knowledge and experience to this market and apply the strategies that would work for us. A lot of work has already been done on this market and we now need to keep driving the trade and consumers in order to grow the numbers from South Africa and Africa as a whole,” she said.

The event also included a presentation of gift to the representative of RETOSA, Mr Kwakye Donkor.

The office is now fully operational with Mrs Hoareau having already taken up position since late last year. The office’s address is: 1st Floor, 280 Oak Avenue, Randburg, Johannesburg.

South African Minister of Tourism visits Seychelles Stand during the “Meetings Africa Exhibition” in Sandton, Johannesburg.

The Seychelles’ Stand at the “Meetings Africa Exhibition” being held at the Sandton Convention Center in , Johannesburg, received the visit of South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, the honorable Minister Mr. Derek Hanekom during his Walk About at the Exhibition.

The honorable minister Mr. Derek Hanekom, accompanied by high level officials, was welcomed at the Seychelles stand by Sherin Naiken the CEO of the Seychelles’ Tourism Board, David Germain, the STB Director for Africa and the Americas and Lena Hoareau the STB Manager for Africa.

Ms. Sherin Naiken the CEO of STB used the opportunity to remind the South African dignitaries of the exceptional beauty of the tropical islands of Seychelles, now fast

becoming the new destination for South African holidaymakers.

She also informed Minister Hanekom and his delegation that Seychelles presence at the meetings Africa exhibition (Africa biggest MICE exhibition showcase) confirmed the fact that Seychelles is positioning itself as a top MICE destination in the region.

Minister Hanekom said that Meetings Africa event is important in giving African countries an opportunity to showcase what they have to offer to the world.

The Meetings Africa is the biggest business events trade show on the African continent. The event positions South Africa and the continent as a capable, experienced, strategic and the best business event destination in the world.

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Seychelles’ amazing, boutique aquarium

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here are many kinds of aquarium dotted across the planet in which to enjoy different experiences of the underwater world. Some of these host impressive displays and spectacular species which are indeed fascinating to behold, while others adopt a more subtle approach and one that can lead to the learning experience of a lifetime.

The newly opened Eden Aquarium on Mahé Island’s Eden Island is one of the latter and although only relatively small in size in comparison to, for example, the giant aquarium you find in Dubai, has been cunningly and lovingly conceived to provide a display of Seychelles’ marine creatures in which quality, not quantity or size, is king.

The brain behind this aquarium is Mr. Charles Savy, a Seychellois who has been diving the islands’ waters

since 1977

Charles, who also runs a successful, live aboard dive charter operation for discerning divers, is nothing less than a human library when it comes to his favourite subject, and his expertise concerning

Seychelles’ underwater world is instantly apparent. But it is clearly his passion and philosophy that is behind the drive to understand, appreciate and share.

“After so many years of observation I just started to put some small pieces of this gigantic puzzle together and at the same time discover that each piece of the puzzle is a puzzle within itself. It’s all about habitat. When we know the conditions that a particular animal requires for it to feed and reproduce, unless it has already been fished out, there is a good chance the animal will be there!”

“Understanding life on our planet is vital to understanding and sustaining our own. We are all from the same source.”

It is this rich vein of knowledge that Charles has invested in his aquarium, a task that took him and his two assistants some three years to complete. On most days during that

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time Charles could be found busy undertaking a diverse number of tasks from the simplest and most mundane to the highly specialised. As a small aquarium, there was no massive budget to bring designers, engineers, and aquarium specialists from every corner of the globe as is the case with many big aquarium projects. So Charles and his small team tackled everything including design and layout, construction and decoration using the widest selection of materials.

“Much of what we did we had to learn and getting the materials we needed was one of the biggest challenges” Charles says, “as just one example, the search for a suitable background for the mangrove tank went on for a very long time without success.

I was trying to find a 6m length of 2mm thick turquoise coloured ABS (the same plastic that phones, kitchen utensils and aircraft interiors as well as many other things are made off) from California to Taiwan and it seemed the only way was to order a minimum of five hundred kg when we only needed ten. Eventually, we decided to paint it, but I had to create the colour myself in a solvent-less food grade epoxy, mixing colorants usually used for colouring paints for floors of food factories.”

He continues, “amongst other tasks, learning to bond acrylic by polymerisation was a necessary and

challenging task, while the devotion necessary to polish the bonds to create the final product required the patience of a saint.”

Much more than meets the eye has gone into the building of this home from home for some truly amazing species of marine life.

“My close involvement with every stage of the construction of the aquarium has provided me with an intimate connection to it and to its various life forms, most of which I have personally brought in from different parts of the archipelago,” explains Charles, “and this is a huge advantage when it comes to the maintenance and expansion of the project because I am not only familiar with every nut, bolt and process of the installation, but also with the peculiarities of every single one of its residents’’.

This process has resulted in a hand-picked selection of marine life such as would be difficult to achieve in a larger, less personal enterprise and this is the very theme which runs through the displays at Eden Aquarium to a point where, listening to Charles describing them, they might very well be inter-connected as the separate components of one giant, single organism.

“But we did not choose all of the displays – some chose us,” Charles adds. “Take for example

the Saragassum Frogfish, a fish that neither I nor anyone else I know has ever seen in the water locally. It fell on the boat like mana from heaven.

Just as we were bringing fish from the depths, this one fell on the deck, from a piece of seaweed that had caught on one of the buckets.”

The special knowledge of the origin and habitat of each and every animal in the aquarium makes for the unique level of detail that is the hallmark of the Eden Aquarium and for the rich learning experience it provides to its visitors looking to be wowed by something more than just size and volume.

In the same way that investigating beneath a simple rock in a tide pool can reveal a world every bit as intricate, detailed and fascinating as the more obvious one that lies alongside a forest path, the Eden Aquarium holds many surprises in store for the marine investigator who wants to dig that little bit deeper and have an opportunity to join the dots between the miracle of life in the deep.

For the person who knows nothing about the sea, Eden Aquarium is simply a delightful discovery of more than just fish. It is an interwoven tapestry of art, science and nature cared for with dedication, passion and flair.

By Glynn Burridge

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Se dire oui aux Seychelles?

Pourquoi ne pas se laisser tenter?

Archipel de 115 îles, Les Seychelles regorgent de 1000 et 1 trésor pour vous transporter dans un rêve éveillé. Avec ses somptueuses et interminables plages de sable blanc, ses immenses palmiers tropicaux, ses eaux cristallines et sa verdure omniprésente, l’archipel est un véritable paradis sur terre pour les jeunes mariés. D’ailleurs les prestations disponibles sont infinies et peuvent être adaptées à chaque besoin. Arrivée en hélicoptère, à cheval ou même par un bateau traditionnel, un dîner aux chandelles sur la plage avec un groupe de musiciens privé, la privatisation d’une île rien que pour vous et vos invités. Vous l’aurez compris, il y en a pour

P.O. Box 4060,Grand Anse, Praslin, Seychelles, Tel: + 248 4294646 Email: beachresort@lerelaxhotel.com

St. Joseph, Grand Anse, Praslin, SeychellesTel: + 248 4233366 Email: guesthouse@lerelaxhotel.com

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La randonnée aux Seychelles, un bijou caché. tous les gouts et toutes les bourses pour faire de ce jour un moment inoubliable.[CR1] Niveau formalité, il vous faudra vous prendre quelques peu en avance.

Deux à trois mois avant la date du mariage, tous les documents doivent être envoyés à l’ambassade de France du pays. Il s’agit d’une copie intégrale de vos actes de naissances de moins de trois mois, d’une photocopie de vos cartes nationales d’identité françaises ou autres pièces d’identité.

Il vous faudra également mentionner vos professions, votre adresse en France (avec justificatif de domicile), le lieu du mariage aux Seychelles, et finalement fournir un certificat prénuptiale.

De son côté, l’ambassade procédera à la publication des bans dans ses locaux et, si l’un des futurs époux (ou les deux) réside(nt) en France, à la mairie de son domicile. Après 10 jours d’affichage et une fois reçu le certificat de non-opposition envoyé par la mairie française, l’ambassade vous délivrera un certificat de capacité à mariage.

Il est vrai que le plus simple pour se marier aux Seychelles est de faire appel à un tour-opérateur proposant une formule mariage et voyages de noces. Ils sont d’ailleurs nombreux à le faire et sont en général très compétents. Par ailleurs, Vous pouvez également opter pour une réservation individuelle auprès des hôtels qui possèdent un service à cet effet.

Finalement pour vous assurer d’avoir du beau temps, notez que la meilleure période pour se rendre sur l’archipel reste de mars à novembre. Vous éviterez ainsi la saison des pluies !

Les Seychelles ont toujours été réputées pour leurs plages de sable blanc et leurs eaux azures. Cependant, le pays abrite de nombreuses forêts au sommet des montagnes dont une des plus connues est Le Morne Blanc avec son Parc national. Celui-ci parmi tant d’autres, détient une biodiversité époustouflante.

Situé sur l’île-capitale de Mahé, le parc s’étend sur plus de 3.000 hectares et offre aux amoureux de la nature plusieurs sentiers balisés amenant, après de nombreux efforts, à des points de vue imprenables sur les différentes côtes du pays. Tous les Parcs Nationaux sont préservés et protégés par des gardes qui maintiennent les sentiers accessibles aux randonneurs.

Lors de votre escapade, vous rencontrerez sur votre chemin, les joyaux de la faune et de la flore tels que le caféier, le giroflier ou encore le cannelier, plantes à épices que vous utilisez dans votre quotidien. De plus, cascades et rivières vous permettront de vous rafraichir ainsi que de faire, sans doute, la connaissance de plus petit batracien au monde, le Sooglossus gardineri de 11 mm.

Vous croiserez également des plantes carnivores et des wolf snake.

“Sooglossus” - le plus petit batracien au monde

Afin d’associer hébergement et nature, deux établissements proposent leurs services : Le Copolia Lodge et Le Constance Ephelia. Ils se situent tous les deux près de la forêt, des blocs rocheux et de la plage où sont installés pour l’un, une tyrolienne, huit parcours vertigineux ainsi que trois voies d’escalade au milieu des palmiers et à proximité d’une cascade.

Non loin de ces forêts verdoyantes, vous avez toujours la possibilité de faire un détour par la plage, direction Anse Major. À Mahé, le vert n’est jamais très loin du grand bleu !

Votre chemin sera semé d’embûches, il est donc recommandé aux randonneurs de prendre contact avec un guide pour leur excursion soit via l’hôtel ou via des compagnies indépendantes.

Une cascade à Port Glaud

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SEYCHELLES The place for families

Seychelles is very much in the news these days for the way that its tourism industry has taken off, with an ever-widening choice of accommodation options and flourishing suite of activities and entertainment.

The beauty of the Seychelles Islands is legendary - all 115 of them, sparkling like jewels set in azure far from the hustle and bustle of a busy world in their secluded location in the wonderfully untouched, western Indian Ocean. Until fairly recently, Seychelles was synonymous with a playground for the rich and famous but all that is changing – fast.

As an increasingly popular tourist destination, Seychelles benefits from airlift from such prestigious airlines as Emirates, Air Seychelles/Etihad, Ethiopian Airlines, Condor and Kenyan Airways to offer convenient connections to anywhere on the planet.

In fact, with all of these hubs working in its favour, Seychelles is effectively one stop from anywhere on the planet.

Accessible and affordable as never before, Seychelles is a great place to spend quality time with the family. Firstly, there are no visas required from any nationality and you can stay up to a month without extending your visit. Then there’s the fact

that Seychelles is considered as the ‘land of perpetual summer’, providing day after day of balmy weather with temperatures rarely descending below 24° or rising above 32° centigrade. There are no tropical diseases to concern yourself with, either, because Seychelles is wonderfully disease free.

And the good news does not stop there, because when you arrive, there’s a good time for the family waiting around every corner. The range of accommodation is vast and if you go for the ultimate in tropical pampering at any one of our 5-star resorts or exclusive island hideaways, no effort will be spared to cater to your every whim, including those of your children, as most top hotels offer Kiddies Clubs and programmes of entertainment for the young.

If that’s not your style, the Seychelles Secrets portfolio of hotels proposes islandstyle living at its best in establishments that have been especially vetted to provide an enticing blend of excellent facilities and great value for money. These establishments are perfect steppingstones for a memorable Seychelles vacation, offering true Creole hospitality in picturesque surrounds that are characteristic of the islands’ legendary, natural beauty.

The Seychelles Secrets portfolio has now expanded to take in a total of 67 properties spread among the islands, making a Seychelles holiday accessible in terms of budget, authentic in terms of the diverse experiences it offers...

and the adventure of a lifetime.

Even many smaller hotels and self-caterings offer adjoining rooms and other amenities that are convenient for families.

Seychelles is all about diversity and discovering all that these islands have to offer will take you on the journey of your lifetime. Island-hopping is a favourite among many visitors and the islands of Praslin and La Digue are just 15 minutes away by plane or an hour by fast catamaran ferry. Including these islands in your itinerary will introduce your family to some of the best beaches in the world: Mahe’s Beau Vallon beach; Petit Anse and Takamaka; Praslin’s gorgeous Anse Lazio and La Digue’s amazing Anse Source d’Argent. If you just want to stay on the mainland, don’t worry because there are more than 65 beaches to enjoy!

Why not take your family on a hike into one of the most mysterious places on the planet, the extraordinary Vallée de Mai, UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the famous double-lobed coconut, the coco-de-mer, grows on towering palms in an ancient hidden valley? There are also a number of guided walks and trails that you can enjoy on the main islands on which to discover Seychelles’ amazing flora & fauna which features some of the rarest life forms on Earth.

Seychelles also offers excellent swimming and snorkeling in the crystal, welcoming waters just offshore and where you can discover the beauty which lies just beneath the waves. There

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Beau Vallon Beach is one of Mahé’s most popular beaches

is also great fishing to be enjoyed in the waters around the island or even a cruise aboard a traditional schooner, catamaran or motor yacht from where you can discover the real beauty of Seychelles – by sea.

Why not try a round of golf with the family on Mahé’s 9-hole golf course or Praslin’s 18-hole Championship course with its astonishing ocean

The kids’ club at Kempinski Seychelles Resort is a haven for toddlers and kids

panoramas, or a spot of horse riding along the shore of Mahé’s spectacular Grand Anse? You can also savour the thrill of zip-lining through the forest at Mahé’s Constance Ephelia Resort.

When it comes to meal time, there is a host of hotels and restaurants to tempt the family palate, with many offering special menus for the young and Seychelles is just the place to

indulge in some of the freshest seafood you will find anywhere.

Far as it is from the madding crowd, Seychelles is just the place to treat your family to a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, where welcoming, friendly smiles, a safe, pristine environment and entertainment galore will give you memories that will never leave you.

By Glynn Burridge

AIR SEYCHELLES LAUNCHES NON-STOP BEIJING FLIGHTS

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, has commenced a once-per-week, nonstop service between Seychelles and Beijing, the capital and cultural centre of China.

The inaugural passenger flight HM887 took off from Seychelles International Airport at 10:40 am on Tuesday 2 February to arrive in the Chinese capital at 1:30 am the following morning.

On the return leg, flight HM888, departed Beijing Capital International Airport at 2:50 am on Wednesday 3 February to touch down in Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles archipelago, early the same day at 10:20 am.

The launch of the direct flights marks the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Seychelles and China. Last year,

China grew to become the sixthlargest source of inbound tourism in Seychelles, with almost 14,000 visitors recorded. Air Seychelles scheduled non-stop Beijing service will build on this position, bringing even larger numbers of leisure travellers to the islands and making a significant contribution to local businesses and the people of Seychelles.

It is an important milestone in the development of the Chinese market to have a direct flight connecting Seychelles and China. The flight is an important catalyst for the future growth of this market, ensuring

visitors from Far East with more choice for travel. The non - stop services will not only boost the China Market but also smaller, emerging ones such as South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

The flights are operated by an Airbus A330-200, which has 18 lie-flat business class seats and 236 economy seats. Additional to this, the on board service is tailored to the Chinese market, with Mandarinspeaking cabin crew, Chinese language and subtitled films on the inflight entertainment system and traditional Chinese dishes on the menu, with chopsticks available.

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Environmental Dividends Green investments pay off for Acajou Beach Resort

COTE D’OR, PRASLIN -- What do an electricity bill, a hawksbill turtle and gardening water have in common?

For the Acajou Beach Resort on Praslin Island in the Seychelles, each represents a little slice of the investments it has made in the environment since re-opening just over a year ago.

The resort closed down throughout most of 2014 for a major renovation that not only saw an expansion with new rooms and a new pool and restaurant, but a significant investment in a variety of eco-friendly projects.

Foremost among these was a solar photo-voltaic (PV) array to harness the intense power of the Indian Ocean sun that steadily shines down on the islands. Since the PV system was connected to the grid, the resort is now generating about 50 percent of its total electricity consumption, with significantly reduced electricity bills to show for it.

“Between the PV and the other improvements, the impact on our

bottom line so far tells us that these investments, aside from just being the right thing to do, will pay themselves back,” says Joanise Doway, Acajou’s general manager. “We’ve had a good first year back in operation and we’re especially glad that we put in the effort to get these systems in place as part of our renovation.”

The other major changes included the installation of an energy

management system (EMS) and efficient LED lighting for every room.

The EMS features sensors that detect when doors to a room are open or ajar, and automatically switches off the air-conditioning unit after several minutes if not closed.

A state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant was another costly but worthy addition that has dramatically reduced water wastage, with treated water being recycled for all the resort’s gardening requirements.

Nature knows its nature

Cote D’or is a long stretch of white powder on Praslin’s northern coast, and the most ‘active’ area on the island for tourist activity, relative to a sleepy island with a population of under 10,000.

Occupying its own small patch of the beach, Acajou is a 10-minute walk away from the busier part of the strip that’s home to several hotels, restaurants, boutiques and dive centres. So it was still more than a little surprising, when a couple staying in the hotel came to the reception to report that a sea turtle had come ashore near the front of the hotel to lay eggs.

Cote D’or is not widely regarded as a popular nesting beach for sea turtles, as they are thought to prefer

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more secluded spots and coves with little to no human interference.

The occurrence of a turtle nesting by Acajou, however, brings up an interesting point about how the physical nature of coastlines are developed, says Dr Jeanne Mortimer, an American biologist and consultant who specialises in sea turtles, with over 30 years of experience working in Seychelles.

“Hawksbill sea turtles love to nest under coastal vegetation,” she says. “The shade provided by the vegetation produces ideal temperatures for incubation of their eggs. When hawksbills are forced to nest on the open beach their nest temperatures are often too warm. So the natural beach vegetation is very important to both nesting turtles and their eggs.”

For Acajou, it’s an unexpected consequence of a policy the hotel has held ever since it first opened 20 years ago: that its beachfront should remain as nature intended, and the thick shrubs known in Creole as vouloutier left untouched.

This despite frequent suggestions to clear away the vouloutier – mostly from guests and travel operators who may not understand the potential consequences – for easier beach access.

“We’ve always thought we should keep the vouloutier, knowing that it helps prevent beach erosion naturally,” Ms Doway says. “If it also brings more sea turtles our way and offers another place for them to nest, then I guess that’s one more reason to keep it the way it is.”

“Acajou is expected to obtain its Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Label in 2016”

Seychelles carnival team heads to Düsseldorf to participate in carnival festivities

The world famous Düsseldorf carnival, with its 4 million audience, is the perfect setting for any destination to be known, and Seychelles recently participated with a group, performing alongside the main participants of the Düsseldorf Carnival.

Nathalie Didon, Deputy CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, headed the Seychelles team attending the carnival and reported, “as the group participated in the pre-carnival, it was amazing to see the group of people assembled in carnival costumes and in a joyful mood, dancing and singing, old and young alike.” This year’s event was cancelled due to the inclement weather, leaving the Seychelles group much saddened, but they still managed to perform their dance complete with the carnival song, Ole ole by Travis Julienne and danced a sega as well.

As they demonstrated the different techniques and steps, the dancers were visibly motivated by the occasion to perform the routine they

had practiced and their movements even appeared to be more seamless, their sequences more fluid.

The crowd applauded and thanked them for their participation. The deputy chief executive thanked the Düsseldorf committee for their warm welcome, describing the German people as friendly and offering great hospitality. She then invited them to rendezvous at the upcoming Carnaval International de Victoria, also known as the carnival of carnivals and melting pot of cultures.

As they applauded Düsseldorf Helau!, there was no holding back carnival fans who are looking forward to join in the Carnaval International de Victoria on April 21st 2016.

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Tasting all the four worlds…

IN SEYCHELLES’ MELTING POT

Sitting on historically what was one of the greatest routes in the world, Seychelles resides in the Indian Ocean where spices and all sorts of exquisite goods were traded across the waters, revealing a Seychellois Creole cuisine that remains today a rich reflection of the origins of those cultures and races involved in its creation.

In an unforgettable journey through the oceans, the four worlds of Africa, China, Europe and India have been fused together to create settlers of varied ethnicities and customs. The coming together of these peoples produced a cuisine so exquisite and varied that it leaves visitors yearning for more and locals overseas reminiscing of homemade delights.

From India come the many varieties of curry; from China popular rice dishes and stir-fried vegetables and noodles with steamed fish; from France the aromatic blends of garlic and herbs and Madagascar and the eastern coast of Africa the coconut milk, cassava and banana infusions.

All these influences, mixed with a huge selection of seafood plucked out of the Indian Ocean and a variety of tropical fruits and vegetables grown in the lush forests, make eating out in Seychelles a culinary delight.

With its reputation as being paradise on earth, you can’t mention Seychellois food without conjuring up the colours and perfumes of its many succulent fresh fruits and vegetables. The Islands are brimming with coconuts, papayas, pineapples, limes, bananas, cassavas, pumpkin, eggplant and many others such as jackfruit, golden apple, custard apple, breadfruit and korsol. Many of the traditional dishes incorporate accents of these fruits and vegetables, making the cuisine both nourishing and bursting with flavour.

Your trip would not be complete without having tasting some local delicacies that include the kari zourit (a creamy coconut milk octopus curry) and tektek soup (a small white shellfish collected from the beaches and made into a soup usually with

pumpkin) or a grilled red snapper with some Creole sauce. The list is endless and if you have a sweet tooth, our luscious selection of papaya cakes, banana cakes, pastries and the exotic fruit jams or, the ladob (a mix of bananas, cassava and sweet potato cooked in coconut milk) are sure to indulge your sugar- coated longings.

The sphere of culinary flavours is broad - even our salads aren’t too ordinary. Not only that, but it wouldn’t be a Creole dish without a dash of crushed chillies to accompany your meal along with a mango or golden apple chutney.

With undertones of vanilla, muscat, coconut milk, lemon grass, cinnamon and spices, the Seychelles offers an amazing blend of diverse, mouthwatering delicacies. It also adds a whole new dimension to being a ‘foodie’ with its enticing and colourful dishes, and it is without a doubt that your first tantalising taste will leave you yearning to come back.

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Restaurant in Review

Jules Patisserie

K

az Zanana has over the years been home to a few restaurants that have been hits with both locals and visitors. Its location makes it a perfect spot for getting away (by foot) from the hustle and bustle of the capital city. The most recent culinary business to grace the premises is that of Jules Patisserie, headed by pastry chef Jules Tual.

Jules has had a love affair with the islands for over a decade where he has been bringing his pastry magic to the menus of several 5-star establishments (Raffles and Constance Lemuria on Praslin to name a couple in Seychelles). Barbados occupied the number one position on his list of favourites until he ‘met’ Seychelles. The beauty of the islands and its people quickly changed his mind about that!

Jules Patisserie’s menu is simple and straightforward with a few twists to keep things interesting.

Every item on the menu has been created by chef Jules who pays careful attention to how the different tastes and textures come together to make a dish work.

Unless he is satisfied, his customer will not be seeing it.

One example of such a twist is the ‘creole pizza’ which sees a local favourite, ‘sosis sale’, make its debut in the country as a pizza topping. Sosis sale (which is basically salted sausage) is traditionally cooked in lentils and stews and has been deemed too salty to ever partner up with any pizza base. Your Jules patisserie experience will change that and will furthermore convert you if were of the old-school view on the matter. A must-try!

Salad lovers will not be disappointed with the selection which the menu offers. The only

important factor to note is that chef Jules will not compromise on the principle of keeping it local, fresh and home-made for the sake of popularity. Whatever’s in your salad is most likely in season at that moment. Perhaps not the greatest business approach, but in a world which is slowly trying to find its way back to basics, many customers will surely appreciate this.

The same principle of fresh and local can be seen in the fresh fruit juices and deserts on offer. You have to make sure you ask your waitress which ones are available because if the fruit is not in season or chef Jules couldn’t get a hold of some that day, chances are you’ll be out of luck. (To note though, only passion fruit out of around seven other fruit options was not available when I went for lunch.)

The term ‘save the best for last’ is one we are all familiar with and it couldn’t be any truer for those with a sweet tooth in the Jules Patisserie experience. With pastry being chef Jules’ line of expertise, it is no surprise that his deserts are in a special league and guaranteed to blow your mind.

Again, everything is home-made including the chocolate spread he uses for his éclairs. The desert selection changes almost on a daily basis for two most basic reasons; to keep his regular customers happy and of course, it all depends what fresh good chef Jules can get his hands on.

Jules patisserie is open from Monday to Friday from 10a.m until 6p.m and on Saturdays from 9a.m to 3p.m. Like the page on FB: Patisseries Restaurant catering to keep updated with the latest from chef Jules.

By M.F Watson

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Seychelles... The call of the islands

The Seychelles Tourism Board is set to launch a new campaign of visuals designed to accompany its initiatives to sell the destination and its tourism products across all markets.

These visuals, which are a departure from the previous generations of graphic designs, have been conceived to convey the various ingredients of the Seychelles Experience at a more personal level, showcasing the attributes of several of Seychelles’ niche markets. Designed in France, this new suite of visuals will carry taglines in the languages of the markets in which they are deployed to bring home the appeal of a Seychelles vacation to the consumer.

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Seychelles Secrets

Seychelles’ 115 islands are widely recognized as among the most beautiful on earth. A group of pristine islands seemingly lost in a universe of water in their secluded corner of the western Indian Ocean. Until now, these islands have been considered to be accessible exclusively to the rich and famous: a playground for millionaires and the owners of plush private yachts and sleek jets.

Perhaps one of Seychelles’ bestkept secrets is that this is no longer the case thanks to a new portfolio of budget accommodation available to visitors seeking an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience of the Seychelles Islands at an affordable price.

The burgeoning Seychelles Secrets portfolio invites you to quench your thirst for well-being amid the natural, unprocessed luxury of a unique collection of the island’s finest small hotels, guest houses, villas and self-catering establishments.

These represent the ideal platform from which to discover the amazing diversity that makes the Seychelles Islands what they are…another world, as well as the many attributes of its timeless island lifestyle.

Innately authentic, and each with its own intimate Creole ambiance, Seychelles Secrets hotels offer a wonderfully affordable introduction to the vibrant culture and stunning natural beauty of the islands - a passport to an unprocessed world with time to enjoy life at a gentler, more natural pace.

Each one nestling in its own picturesque surrounds, these charming establishments pride themselves on offering value for money and also resonate with the values which set Seychelles apart as a destination: those of a world still steeped in tradition far from the madding crowd and a sanctuary for much that has been lost elsewhere.

With their strong emphasis on affordability and value for money, Seychelles Secrets hotels, guesthouses and self-caterings lie close to the very soul of Seychelles and to the core of what makes these islands special.

For more information, please visit. www.seychellessecrets.com

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Contacts Seychelles Tourism Board HEADQUARTERS

Chief Executive Officer, Seychelles Tourism Board P.O. Box 1262, Victoria Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4 671 300 E: info@seychelles.travel sherin.naiken@seychelles.travel

PHONE OPERATORS

Cable & Wireless (Seychelles) Ltd. Francis Rachel Street, Victoria P.O. Box 4 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4284000 W: www.cwseychelles.com Airtel Telecom (Seychelles) Emerald Building, Providence P.O. Box 1358 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4600600 W: www.africa.airtel.com/seychelles

AIR SEYCHELLES

CLASSIFIEDS Inside Seychelles invites advertisers to promote their products and services at inexpensive rates on this page, sure in the knowledge that they will enjoy worldwide exposure via the wide distribution of the magazine to all of Seychelles major and secondary tourism markets.

“A Self Catering with a difference offering superb seaview.”

Au Fond De Mer View, Mahe Telephone: +248 2 52 69 45 4 37 21 20 Email 1: reservations@aufonddemerview.com Email 2: solanaboniface@gmail.com Website: http://aufonddemerview.com/

Villas du Voyageur – Praslin Telephone: +248 – 2 59 00 03 or 42 33 161 Email: info@villasduvoyageur.sc Website: www.villasduvoyageur.sc

Air Seychelles Ltd. (International & Domestic) Head Office Tel: (+248) 4391000 Praslin Airport, Amitié. Tel: (+248) 4284666 International Flight Information Seychelles International Airport. Tel: (+248) 4391200 Immigration Office (Airport) Seychelles International Airport Tel: (+248) 2713193 E: asupervisor@gov.sc

EMERGENCY

Central Police Station, Victoria Tel: (+248) 428000 Hotline: 133 / 112 E: office@police.gov.sc W: www.police.gov.sc Baie St. Anne Police Station Tel: (+248) 4232332 E: baiestanne-stn@seypolice.sc W: www.police.gov.sc Grand Anse Police Station Tel: (+248) 4233251 E: grandanse-stn@seypolice.sc W: www.police.gov.sc La Digue Police Station Tel: (+248) 4234251 E: ladigue-stn@seypolice.sc W: www.police.gov.sc Seychelles Hospital, Mt. Fleuri Tel: (+248) 4388000 E: office@moh.gov.sc W: www.health.gov.sc Baie Ste Anne Praslin Hospital: Tel: 4233414 Logan La Digue Hospital: Tel: 4234255 Ambulance 151

AIRLINES

Emirates Airline, Caravelle House Tel: (+248) 4292700 / 4373008 E: ekseychelles@emirates.com W: www.emirates.com Kenya Airways, Kingsgate Travel Centre Tel: (+248) 4323903 E: sez.sales@kenya-airways.com W: www.kenya-airways.com Ethiopian Airline, Mason’s Travel Building Tel: (+248) 4288907 E: marenaud@masonstravel.com W: www.ethiopianairlines.com

Carana Hilltop Mahe Telephone: +248 4 24 19 90 / +248 2 78 16 01 Email: reservation@caranahilltopvilla.com Skype: carana.hilltop.villa Website: http://www.caranahilltopvilla.com/

Etoile Labrine,La Digue Tel Office: +248 423 51 40 Mobile: ( +248) 277 23 83 or (+248) 274 20 22 Email: info@etoile-labrine.com Website: http://www.etoile-labrine.com/

Le Sur Mer La Digue Hanneman Holiday Residence Mahe Telephone: +248 4425000 / +248 2523828 Fax : +248 4425010 Email: info@hannemanholidayresidence.com Website: http://www.hanneman-seychelles.com/

Tel: +248 4 23 51 81 Mobile: +2781770 Fax: +248 4 23 51 82 Email: lesurmerchalets@seychelles.net

ZIL AIR

Zil Air (Pty) Ltd. Tel: (+248) 4375100 E: info@zilair.com, book@zilair.com W: www.zilair.com

FERRY

Cat Cocos Ferry - Inter Island Boats Ltd Tel: (248) 4297164 Reservation: (+248) 4324843 Email: reservation@catcocos.com W: www.catcocos.com Praslin to La Digue Ferry, Inter Island Ferry Ltd Tel: (+248) 4322329

Casa de Leela, La Digue Tel: +248 423 4193 Fax: +248 423 4193 Mobile: +248 251 2223 Email: casadeleela@seychelles.sc Website: http://www.casa-de-leela.bplaced.net/

ADVERTISE HERE

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