ETW Staff – Mumbai
H E James Michel, president of the Republic of Seychelles, reinforced Indo-Seychelles’ bilateral relations and the need to pave the way for greater partnership to promote tourism between both countries during a press conference held in Mumbai recently. Michel’s press conference came on the third day of his state visit to India at the invitation of India’s prime minister Narendra Modi. Also in attendance were Alain St Ange, minister for tourism and culture, Joel Morgan, minister for foreign affairs and transport, Roy Kinnear, CEO, Air Seychelles and Lubaina Sheerazi, COO, Blue Square Consultants for Seychelles Tourism Board Office in India. “India represents a dominant player in Seychelles’ tourism industry, with recorded growth of Indian tourists by 125 per cent between January-July 2015 compared to the same period last year. India is a close friend of Seychelles, there is great potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between both countries,” stated Michel.
St Ange spoke about India emerging as a dominating player in Seychelles’ burgeoning tourism industry and outlined key development taking place between India and Seychelles in the field of foreign affairs and air connectivity. “Seychelles is all about once-in-a-lifetime experience. It definitely makes for an exotic holiday destination and India has been a dominant player in Seychelles’ tourism. With increased and easy connectivity, visa-on-arrival and gratis for Indians, Seychelles is a preferred and hassle-free destination,” stated St Ange.
Seychelles Tourism Board and Air Seychelles recently teamed up to support the filming of Rocky Handsome, a Bollywood action thriller in Seychelles starring Indian actor John Abraham.
Kinnear announced an increase in flight frequencies on the Seychelles-Mumbai route. He added, “In April 2015 we increased the number of frequencies from three to four per week, and further boosted connectivity in May 2015 by signing and expanding a codeshare agreement with Jet Airways to nine cities in India. This deal provides business and leisure travellers with convenient, one-stop connections to Seychelles from Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Cochin and Trivandrum..”