Industry News
Tourism Seychelles Holds First Marketing Meeting of 2022 By Juergen T Steinmetz
T
ourism Seychelles kicked off the year with a two-week series of consultations as of Monday, January 24, 2022, with its local and international partners on its marketing strategy for the year. The annual consultative event, which this year took place virtually, in the form of an online webinar via the ZOOM online meeting platform, aimed at gathering views and comments from the local trade partners on the destination’s marketing strategy. One of the most valued events for tourism representatives in Seychelles and abroad, the meeting reunites partners to discuss various pertinent issues relating to the marketing of the destination for 2022. The destination, which recorded 182,849 visitor arrivals in 2021, an increase of 59% compared to 2020, earned according to provisional figures
issued by the Central Bank, an estimated USD 309 million and a per visitor spend of USD1,693. It is aiming to attract between 218,000 to 258,000 visitors and a per visitor spend of USD1,800 in 2022. Attending the gathering, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, who along with Principal Secretary for Tourism Mrs. Sherin Francis delivered keynote addresses. In his address, the Minister for Tourism urged partners to keep their focus on enriching the destination’s profile. “Let us look at what products and services we offer to our visitors. It is no secret that the aspirations of our visitors and travelers have changed. The call of sea, sun and sand is no longer sufficient on their own. This presents a major opportunity for Seychellois. We want to encourage new ideas and new entrants into tourism. The government creates
12 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | March 2022
