Saint Ange Tourism Report 29th April 2019

The Editorial this week highlights:- a. Workers Day 2019. b. ONE SEYCHELLES – A New Political Party is launched. c. Commercial Fishing boat by a Seychellois for Seychelles . d. Israel Airline lands in Seychelles. e. Internet cost shows challenges for many a country including Seychelles. f. Mozambique ‘faces climate debt trap’ as Cyclone Kenneth follows Idai (Hear the call from SYAH, YAM, Preserve Seychelles among others) &  Air Seychelles domestic – customer relations ?. Stand alone articles this week:- 1. “One Seychelles” Political Party launched. 2. All Clear for Dining – A starlight feast on the airstrip delights guests on Denis. 3. Le Domaine Collection – a hotel brand of Seychelles . 4. Welcome to Cuthbert Ncube as VP of the African Tourism Board says Alain St.Ange. 5. Royal guests as Arabian Travel Market gets underway in Dubai. 6. Emirates Renews its Commitment to Seychelles at the Arabian Trade Fair in Dubai. 7. Mason’s Travel of Seychelles Promotes Environmental Awareness. 8. BA reduces JNB-London frequency. 9. Uganda pushing their culture as key tourism USP. 10. L’Occitane en Provence cosmetics at Le Domaine de La Réserve. 11. African Tourism Board follows eTN to become SUNx SDG 17 Partners calling for Climate Sanity in Tourism on Earth Day. 12. Praslin Island gets Top of the Range Gym Facility. 13. Hilton Labriz re-opens local art gallery on Silhouette Island. 14. 2019 edition of Absolute Seychelles Magazine is out. 15. Closing Notes.

Welcome to this 17th edition of Vol 3 of the Saint Ange Tourism Report of 2019.

Workers Day 2019

Workers Day or Labour Day as it is know has arrived and on behalf of Saint Ange Tourism Report we wish everyone a great day. This days marks the efforts and dedication of everyone working for their wellbeing and caring for their families. In so doing they are consolidating the economy of their country. In Seychelles sadly this 2019 Workers Day coincides in further increases in cost of living with price hike in fuel and sugar products which will again touch the purse strings of the lower paid workers and impose pain of their families.

ONE SEYCHELLES – A New Political Party is launched

Executive Committee of the new “One Seychelles” Political Party

As Seychelles embraces democracy and the norms of a democratic society a new Political Party has been launched under the name of “One Seychelles”. The 26th April 2019 will become a historic day in Seychelles Politics as this move by a group of Islanders is set to provide more choice for voters in Seychelles. The “One Seychelles” Political Party is advocating for a political climate more in line with a small society where everyone knows each other, and they will push for respect and have already made the call for their activists and supporters not to embark of personal attacks of leaders of the other political parties, but instead to work to spread the points covered in the Party’s Manifesto. “We have enough to speak about as policy points for a better Seychelles. Spread that message and let personal attacks for those with nothing new to present to the People of Seychelles” was the message passed at the launching ceremony.

Commercial Fishing boat by a Seychellois for Seychelles

Daniel Maillet’s new commercial fishing boat

Daniel Maillet

Daniel Maillet is a young Seychellois who has ventured into Commercial Fishing and has just returned to the country with his brand new purpose built 50footer plus fishing boat.

Claiming the Seychelles Commercial Fishing Industry will never be successful unless more people like Daniel Maillet follow their dream. It is now the duty of the Seychelles to step in to show they appreciate the efforts by a young Seychellois to borrow and invest in an industry where foreign fishing boats have dominated the local commercial fishing scene. Daniel Maillet will have a crew of seven on board his new fishing boat expected to stay operating next week.

Congratulations to Daniel Maillet. we are proud of you and hope Seychelles will stand behind you.

Israel Airline lands in Seychelles

Israel Airline has been flying to Seychelles during what is considered holiday time for Israelis and this has been a successful operation for many years now. Israeli Tour Operator partners worked hard with local DMCs to open this business that has proved beneficial to the Seychelles tourism Industry. Recent announcements by Air Seychelles to enter the route on a seasonal basis has worried many in the island’s tourism industry especially after the disastrous China experience where they entered the route only to pull out very soon after disrupting the market.

The question today is whether this is the only option open for the airline or should Seychelles be looking at its key tourism source markets with NO DIRECT NONSTOP connection and have its national airline help consolidate  that market.

Internet cost shows challenges for many a country including Seychelles

Mobile Internet Costs published by How Much New shows telecommunication burden on the people and on businesses. The recent published table of prices was a worrying statement in itself. On that table Seychelles is seen with a rate of Dollars 19.55 versus Mauritius at 3.71 and Reunion at 2.51. The country suffers when we have such margins of difference that makes the country uncompetitive.

Mozambique ‘faces climate debt trap’ as Cyclone Kenneth follows Idai

Natalie Sauer writes in Climate Home News that “A loan from International Monetary Fund allows the African country to rebuild from climate-linked disaster – but drives the poor into debt, campaigners warn”
Cyclone Kenneth is battering Mozambique just five weeks after Cyclone Idai killed more than 1,000 people, in an unprecedented run of extreme weather.

The world’s sixth poorest country faces the second storm with an extra $118 million of debt, after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week granted an interest-free loan for rebuilding.It unfairly saddles victims of climate disaster with the costs of a problem they did little to cause, campaigners argued, calling for better support systems.

Sarah-Jayne Clifton, director of Jubilee Debt Campaign, said it was “a shocking indictment of the international community” that Mozambique had to borrow money to cope. “What’s happening to Mozambique is going to happen to other places more frequently. Unless there is a more systematic approach for tackling debt problems of poor countries, there is going to be a climate debt trap spiralling out of control,” she told Climate Home News.

Today we should all be saying that we need to protect what we have and to be good custodians of what we have been blessed with. Leaders of local protection and environmental groups such SIDS Youth AIMS Hub (SYAH) Seychelles and the Youth Action Movement (YAM), Preserve Seychelles among others are dedicating time and energy to help save the islands, let us hear them and understand that what they are doing is for the wellbeing of every Seychellois.

Air Seychelles domestic – customer relations ?

Commercial enterprises, especially in the world of tourism, listen to their customers, but this is always less important when a monopoly exists. At Air Seychelles Domestic the cry by customers for attention for checking-in for 14 minutes flight to Praslin. In Seychelles we area lucky that everyone knows each other and often a call to a Management Staff even whet they sit at home resolves issues.

The question last Friday at the airport is whether this would be the case if another operator was encouraged to run a parallel service. What is good for a tourists is also good for a Seychellois, but last Friday both tourists and Seychellois were showing signs of disappointment, not at the airline, but at the airport service. we have young staff operating with no supervision, but this is not the staff’s fault but that of management. DMC Reps and Agents for Hotels speak about the same matter that seems to trouble many a passenger.

I have to say thank you to Katheleen Juliette for being attentive to customer relation even when off duty. Air Seychelles needs more management staff like her.
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