Seychelles Tourism Board Signs with Air Seychelles

Mahé (Seychelles) – March 5, 2013 – Air Seychelles and the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at increasing Seychelles’ visibility around the world by leveraging the airline’s expanding international network and growing number of airline partners.

The agreement was signed by Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, and Mrs. Elsia Grandcourt, STB’s Chief Executive Officer, at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Tourism and Culture at the National Library building, in the presence of Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St. Ange; Minister for Home Affairs and Transport, Joel Morgan; and Principal Secretary for Tourism, Sherin Naiken.

Under the new agreement, both parties will jointly explore ways to work together to promote Seychelles around the world, providing more opportunities for visiting journalists, travel agents, and tour operators.

Mrs. Grandcourt said: “I am grateful we have been able to sign this MOU today which reaffirms our engagement with the national carrier in promoting the Seychelles destination. We have already been working very closely together, and I believe with this signing today, we can only look at more positive things in the future.”

Cramer Ball said the airline’s expanding international schedule and partnership strategy will be a key enabler of boosting tourism and contributing to the growing diversification of visitors arriving to Seychelles.

“This is an exciting time for Air Seychelles. We have had an incredible year. We took delivery of our first Airbus A330-200 last year, and next week we will welcome our second. We are looking to expand our network to over 750 destinations weekly to and from Seychelles. We see great opportunities in markets like Hong Kong, Greater China, Europe, South East Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa. Throughout the year we will be expanding our airline partnerships and expanding our links to these destinations.”

“The signing of this MOU, our partnership with STB, is fundamental to the future of how we promote Seychelles around the world. This new bond is a big part of the future of Air Seychelles, and we’re delighted.”

Minister St. Ange added: “The Ministry of Tourism and STB have always been committed to the national airline, and formalizing this agreement today ties our two organizations together and gives us a solid way forward to work together. We are enthusiastic of the support being offered by the Air Seychelles in the marketing of the destination, which remains the core role of the STB. We will work hand in hand with the new Air Seychelles and its partners, such as airberlin, and those to come, who are opening up new avenues and opportunities for Seychelles, as the world continues to diversify.”

Minister Morgan said: “Today marks a very important moment for Seychelles. This agreement not only reflects the goodwill and motivation of the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Tourism and STB to work together but it presents the opportunity for a new synergy in going forward in terms of our planning between tourism and transport sectors for the continued development of Seychelles as a tourism destination. I would like to say thank you to everyone at who worked so hard to make this event happened today. Air Seychelles today has taken on an entirely new dimension. We have access to a huge number of destinations through our partnership with Etihad Airways, but also in our own right as an airline, and we will seek more partnerships in Africa, South East Asia, Europe, and Eastern Europe.”

Minister Morgan added that this new agreement will guarantee the continued development of this industry which is so vital for the economy of Seychelles and its people.

“The relationship that exists between Air Seychelles, STB, and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport has now attained a new and higher level of collaboration, and henceforth we will see an enhanced product for the marketing of Seychelles,” Minister Morgan said.