THE Seychelles Tourism Board, Middle East, is looking at new avenues to increase awareness of the impressive diving opportunities the country has to offer.
The board works very closely in the region with the Emirates Diving Association to raise its profile to the diving community and increase the number of visitors to the islands. The Emirates Diving Association has been very supportive in promoting the Seychelles islands to their diving members and offering us many opportunities to engage further to increase awareness of our unique destination. They have partnered with us in supporting Subios, the Seychelles Festival of the Sea, in addition to sending out diving trips to the destination, said Ahmed Fathallah, regional manager, Seychelles Tourism Office, Middle East.
“The Seychelles has achieved significant growth from the Middle East market in 2011, receiving over 12,800 visitors from this region, a 57 per cent increase from the UAE market and 24 per cent from the remaining Middle East markets,” said Fathallah.
Commenting on the work being done by the Seychelles offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Al Ain St Ange, the newly appointed Seychelles Minister for Tourism & Culture, pointed out that the Seychelles has strong air connectivity with the Middle East area, which is four-and-a-half hours’ flying time from the archipelago. “We remain suited to both UAE nationals and the expatriate community, because we are a holiday destination with no visa requirements that is so close to the Middle East, that is safe and disease-free,” he says.
Elsia Grandcourt, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, said her team in Dubai and Abu Dhabi would continue to work with private sector businesses also. “We will be present at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), where Seychelles would be out to show its commitment to work on that market, and the Tourism Board would be working with the local partners attending ATM to help them open new doors and to increase their visibility in that market,” Grandcourt said.