The Editorial this week highlights:- a. It was an honour to meet “Her Deepness” Dr. Sylvia Earle, the recognised champion for ocean protection. b. Welcome to Seychelles Richard Quest of CNN “Quest’s World of Wonders”. c. Corona Virus is on the African continent with Egypt reporting its first case – but the Indian Ocean Region is still free of the virus. d. Seychelles undertaking a carrying capacity for its tourism industry. e. Seychelles brings in a new landing fee of US Dollars 15 from 1st April (called a disembarkation levy of US $15 ). f. Great new initiative launched by The Ocean Project Seychelles. g. Uganda Tourism & Travel Meeting. Stand alone articles this week:- 1.Cat Cocos, the main Seychelles ferry provider further expands its fleet. 2. Mason’s Travel of Seychelles introduced ‘Le Cerf’ to its excursion fleet. 3. Alain St.Ange meets Dr. Sylvia Earle, the recognised champion for ocean protection. 4. The James Michel Foundation carries First Blue Carbon Study for Seychelles. 5. Air Austral will reduce its shareholding in Air Madagascar . 6. Ameer Ebrahim diving with Dr. Sylvia A. Earle around Denis Island is highlight of his career, eclipsed only narrowly by being interviewed in person by ‘Her Deepness’ for her BBC television programme. 7. Mya, 40, married HERSELF in the Seychelles two months ago for a music video… after leading fans to believe she wed a mystery man says MAIL ONLINE. 8. Seychelles held its 13th edition of the Eco Friendly Marathon. 9. African Tourism Board President: African tourism is one. 10. Maldives or Mauritius or Seychelles: What island is right for you?. 11. Uganda tourism boss Ajarova receives excellence award. 12. Bees Are Now Considered The Most Important Living Thing On Earth says NATURE KNOWS. 13. Alain St.Ange, president of the African Tourism Board & Seychelles former Tourism Minister addresses opening ceremony of Uganda’s annual Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo. 14. Ethiopian Airlines’ network soars to 129 destinations in 75 countries 15. Closing Notes.
Alain St.Ange
Welcome to this 2nd edition of Vol 4 of the Saint Ange Tourism Report of 2020.
It was an honour to meet “Her Deepness” Dr. Sylvia Earle, the recognised champion for ocean protection
with her “Her Deepness” Dr. Sylvia Earle
Dr Sylvia Earle, refered to as ‘Her Deepness’ remains an authority in the world of marine and conservation. At the mature age of well over 80 she still takes on her dive bottles to explore life below the sea. Every Tourism Minister hears of this remarkable lady scientist who speaks with knowledge of what has been done right and looks forward to meeting her. I consider myself lucky to have been able to discuss with her to better appreciate her take on the environment and its needed protection.
Welcome to Seychelles Richard Quest
of CNN “Quest’s World of Wonders”
“Pulling our beautiful islands into the international spotlight CNN Anchor, Mr. Richard Quest is in Seychelles and met STB Chief Executive, Sherin Francis this morning at the airport on his way to Bird Island… We think our sunny weather agrees with him, don’t you ?” with these few lines the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board told the world that the famous Richard Quest of CNN was in Seychelles.
This is the first visit by Richard Quest to Seychelles. He has had many interactions with different Seychellois tourism personalities and interviewed me on the CNN “Quest means Business” when I was the Seychelles Candidate for the position of Secretary General of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) in 2017.
Richard Quest remains a very influential press personality and his visit to Seychelles should bring positives vibes for the country’s tourism industry.
Corona Virus is on the African continent with Egypt reporting its first case – but the Indian Ocean Region is still free of the virus
The Corona Virus is causing a lot of concern for the world of tourism. Some countries are expressing their feelings for all to see whilst others are more quiet on what the effects will be.
Two sides of the possible repercussion is today being analysed. The first is the drop in tourists coming out of affected countries such as China and other tourism source markets such as Italy, South Korea and Japan. These important tourism source markets are facing challenges of their own as planes have dropped flights to China and countries putting in place more strict quarantine regulations for anyone coming from China and train services from Italy being curtailed in some areas. The drop in visitor numbers will be an impact all by itself.
The second cause for concern is the economic impact resulting in trade. An economic program on the news was discussion a year long possible impact directly or indirectly.
Seychelles, the Vanilla Islands and the African Continent have been blessed so far for not having had to face by the virus. With the exception off Egypt the continent has been spared the deadly virus. Let us continue to work to remain Corona Virus Free.
Seychelles undertaking a carrying capacity for its tourism industry
Last week I met with someone who had sadly told her family we have discovered Seychelles but we shall not be coming back. The family are well to do and upmarket in the bracket that best describes them in the breakdown of visitors. It is not that they did not like the Seychelles, but simply found it too expensive. That family stayed put on Mahe and did not even manage to get to Praslin and La Digue. The price comparition between Seychelles and its neighbouring tourism destinations is done often and how Seychelles is perceived when going through Tour Operators Brochures is worth deeper analysis.
Seychelles is fishing in the same pond for tourist and shoud never forget that. The islands have too much at stake to allow it to be but a dream instead of remaining a holiday option.
A process of consultation is ongoing thesedays to determing the island’s carrying capacity for what is the pillar of the economy – TOURISM.
The facts remains that the future of the Seychelles tourism industry is the ability to have Seychellois claim back their industry. This would see more smaller sized establishments being conceived and managed by Seychellois for Seychelles. As we see and hear of this ongoing exercise, we also see foreign owned establishments are still being constructed and jumping ahead of the results of the carrying capacity exercise.
This is of course sad. As a country that prides itself of its environment credentials we are yet to see an EIA for the new Baie Lazare Hotel under construction virtually on the sea and documentation as to when this project was approved by the Planning Authority. Was it a home with a change of use? and if so how many Seychellois homes owners have had their requests for much smaller units to be managed by themselves turned down. Can foreign companies really embark on private dwelling constructions and then apply for a change of use to a commercial hotel entity? Is that a practice that should be entertained at all? Was that not a procedure to encourage Seychellois grown into their tourism industry?
Carrying capacity will need to also evaluate the airline seats from point to point and if the capacity deemed the max would sustain these flights to Seychelles especially as the airlines are not exercising or do not have fifth freedom rights to stop, disembark and pick up enroute to an onward destination.
As Seychelles looks at a carrying capacity, Air Seychelles on its part is looking at its numbers citing joy and excitement as it handled one million passengers in 2019.
On Wednesday, February 5, 2020 Air Seychelles proudly posted that the national airline has recorded an extremely strong performance in its ground handling business in 2019.
- 1,007,715 passengers handles
- Overall growth of 5% in arrivals and departures
- 4,147 flights handles
The positive result driven by the increase in the frequency of flights to the Seychelles including arrival of new customer airlines have also been supported by a number of ad hoc private charters operating at the Seychelles International Airport.
Between January and December 2019, the ground handling department handled 475,029 incoming and 533,686 outgoing passengers amounting to 1, 008, 715 passengers in total compared to 927,856 passengers in 2018.
The 5% growth which includes a total of 80,859 more passengers handled in 2019 also comprises of 34, 113 transiting passengers accessing the Seychelles hub, connecting with other carriers to their final destinations.
Combining both inbound and outbound travel including the domestic network, Air Seychelles alone contributed a total of 414,088 passengers having operated 1,983 flights across its regional network.
Vania Larue, Head of Ground Services said:
“2019 was one of the busiest period for the Seychelles ground handling team, following the increasing number of arrivals and departures at the Seychelles International Airport. To manage the high volume of passengers, last year, we reviewed the entire ground handling procedures, implemented new work schedules for our staff members in addition to making considerable investment in our ground support equipment. This has enabled us to increase efficiency throughout our service to better meet the needs of the customers including the service level agreements with all the airlines handled by Air Seychelles. Having surpassed the 1 million passenger threshold is indeed a great achievement. I proudly extend my congratulations to the ground handling team for keeping up the great team spirit and for delivering the highest performance in 2019.”
Seychelles brings in a new landing fee of US Dollars 15 from 1st April
(called a disembarkation levy of US $15 )
Seychelles already has fees attached to airline tickets but are set to add a new one effective 1st April this year. The new Disembarkation Fevy was confirmed in a letter addressed to the CEO of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority by Didier Dogley, the Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine Minister on the 1st February.
The recent aviation conference in Mombasa and the last ROUTES Africa Conference held in Ghana addressed the cost of air travel in Africa which is being hampered by Government Taxes and Levies. The new Seychelles Disembarkation Levy falls exactly in line with the reports submitted and discussed at these meetings. Fuel Taxes, Landing Taxes and Levies are easy mechanisms to raise revenue, but are these really ways that help the economy grow?. These questions when raised can only bring negatives for the Continent of Africa and its individual tourism destinations.
The Seychelles has been pushing for family holidays and these visitors are making use in a lot of instances the homely small Seychellois owned and managed tourism establishments. The new Seychelles disembarkation levy case will see a family of four dish our a further sixty US dollars on a Seychelles package holiday. This will be subject to further markups in TO programs.
The Tourism Board will have to sell this new levy at the coming Tourism Trade Fair in Berlin in March because all packages to Seychelles are not showing this new tax that comes over and above increase in fees to some islands marketed as nature parks and as IATA is confirming that COVID19 (Corona Virus) is impacting passenger demand. Packages to Seychelles has been contracted over a year ago and mid year increases often annoys tourism trade partners and can have negative repercussions.
The big question is Seychelles now moving to encouraging travel or are the islands set to discouraging travel in line with their new carrying capacity limits being set?
“These are challenging times for the global air transport industry. Stopping the spread of the virus is the top priority. Airlines are following the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other public health authorities to keep passengers safe, the world connected, and the virus contained. The sharp downturn in demand as a result of COVID-19 will have a financial impact on airlines—severe for those particularly exposed to the China market. We estimate that global traffic will be reduced by 4.7% by the virus, which could more than offset the growth we previously forecast and cause the first overall decline in demand since the SARS crisis of 2003. And that scenario would translate into lost passenger revenues of $29.3 billion. Airlines are making difficult decisions to cut capacity and in some cases routes. Lower fuel costs will help offset some of the lost revenue. This will be a very tough year for airlines,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
Governments have an important role to play in this current crisis:
Leadership: It is also important for governments to take leadership in shoring up their economies. The Singapore government, for example, is allocating SGD 112 million to provide financial relief to airlines struggling to economically maintain connectivity. “Airlines and governments are in this together. We have a public health emergency, and we must try everything to keep it from becoming an economic crisis. Relief on airport costs will help maintain vital air connectivity. Other governments should take good note and act quickly,” said de Juniac.
Great new initiative launched by The Ocean Project Seychelles
The detrimental impact of balloons on the environment has been well documented. They drift around the world and pollute even the most remote places, killing countless animals who mistake balloons for food.
The Ocean Project Seychelles is calling on all hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars, boat charters, event planners, and anyone decorating with balloons to choose to #SeyNoToBalloons and commit to not to using balloons in their decorations.
Businesses that have jumped on board to support this campaign to opt for more eco-friendly alternatives instead of balloons include:
– The Boardwalk Bar & Grill
– Maison Marengo Bar & Restaurant
– Les Lauriers Eco Hotel and Restaurant
– Oscars
– Seyscapes Yacht Charter
– Turquoise Horse Trails
– Anse Soleil Beachcomber
– Gran Kaz
As we congratulate The Oceans Project Seychelles with this task we have to accept and embrace the notion that the best outcome for our vulnerable environment is ours to sculpt, and we already have the necessary tools at our disposal. Let us lead by example, always.
Uganda Tourism & Travel Meeting
At the 5th Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo at Uganda’s Speke Resort in Munyonyo. Standing with the chief guest Uganda’s first Deputy PM Hon. Moses Ali and Lilly Ajarova, the CEO of Uganda’s Tourism Board
The 2020 calendar of Africa tourism events kicked off in Kampala, Uganda, as tourism experts gathered for the 5th Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE). The former Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine of the Seychelles, Alain St. Ange, who is the current President of the African Tourism Board led discussions on the topic “Policies In Place To Ease Movement Within Africa.”
Alain St. Ange shared the stage with tourism experts, Mr. Ikechi Uko, publisher of ATQNews and organizer of AKWAABA African Travel Market, and Ms. Pearl Kakooza, Chairperson of Uganda Association of Travel Agents (TUGATA) to analyse accessibility within Africa as far as transport and connectivity is concerned.
Tourism remains a vital industry for the African continent and the surrounding islands, especially the islands on the Indian Ocean. St. Ange led the industry as minister and was founding president of the Vanilla Islands, an affiliation of the island nations of Seychelles, Madagascar, Réunion, Mauritius, Comoros and Mayotte.
Alain St. Ange, who is presently the President of the African Tourism Board (ATB), is a much sought-after speaker at international tourism and aviation conferences where his off the cuff speeches continue to impress.
It is important to again acknowledge all who are diligently re-posting the Saint Ange Tourism Report weekly. Our Report ranges far and wide, from Australia to the Americas, from the Indian Ocean Vanilla islands to Africa & Asian and Greater Europe, with your continued support, which is greatly appreciated. You are helping us to grow from strength to strength with each new Edition.
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