“Our direction is higher value and lower impact”
experience the distinct character of Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and our other islands. This breadth enables travellers to shape a Seychelles journey around their own interests, pace and style of travel. Q: As competition between island and luxury destinations increases, how can Seychelles grow tourism revenues and enhance the visitor experience without compromising its environmental and cultural assets? Nature and culture are its foundation and protecting them is therefore both a national responsibility and a competitive necessity. Our approach should be to protect the value of Seychelles. Higher visitor value through longer stays and wider participation in local experiences can strengthen tourism earnings without placing the entire emphasis on continually increasing numbers. Sustainability should also be visible and meaningful within the visitor journey. Conservation, protected areas, marine life, local food, Creole culture and authentic local experiences give visitors deeper reasons to choose Seychelles and help tourism contribute more directly to the country. We must preserve the destination’s integrity: its biodiversity, public access to iconic beaches, cultural identity, welcoming communities and sense of space. Weakening these qualities ultimately weakens the tourism product itself. Q: What will underpin Seychelles’ long-term tourism success? We must begin strengthening the foundations now: clearer market intelligence, diversified and resilient connectivity, compelling storytelling, visitor- focused product development and closer public-private cooperation. No single organisation can deliver this alone. Long-term success will depend on Government, STB, airlines, tourism businesses, the travel trade and local communities working within a more cohesive tourism system.
to experience several islands within one journey. STB’s role is to help create and strengthen demand. We will support our partners through destination knowledge, training, joint marketing, familiarisation opportunities and targeted campaigns. Our partners then play an essential role in converting this demand into bookings. We also want to equip the trade to sell the full Seychelles experience; not only a single resort or honeymoon, but different islands, accommodation categories and experiences suited to families, couples, independent travellers and multigenerational groups. Q: Which products and traveller segments do you want to develop? Romance will remain an important part of our appeal and we will enlarge the focus on celebration, but they sit within a richer Seychelles story. Families and multigenerational groups are particularly relevant to the GCC. Seychelles offers privacy, villas, family- friendly accommodation and experiences that different generations can enjoy together. Wellness is another natural opportunity. Our open spaces, ocean environment, connection with nature and slower pace offer a genuine sense of restoration without needing to manufacture the experience. We must also place greater emphasis on nature, culture and cuisine, marine experiences, adventure and island-hopping. Visitors can explore protected areas, walk nature trails, discover marine life, enjoy Creole food, meet local people and
demand and ensuring that tourism remains economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. The GCC can contribute to this direction, including during the region’s hotter summer months, when Seychelles offers an attractive nature-rich island escape for families, couples and travellers seeking privacy, wellness and time together. Q: How significant is the GCC to your future growth strategy, and where is the greatest untapped potential? The GCC is important beyond the visitors it generates directly. Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi are major gateways connecting Seychelles with markets across the world. The region therefore supports both our source-market development and our wider international connectivity. In the UAE, awareness of Seychelles is already strong. The opportunity is to deepen conversion, encourage repeat travel and longer stays, and work more closely with airlines, travel advisers, tour operators, DMCs and accommodation partners. Saudi Arabia also presents further potential, particularly among affluent travellers, couples, families and multigenerational groups. Q: What is your message to GCC travellers and the regional travel trade at ATM this year? Seychelles remains welcoming, accessible and resilient. We are close to the Gulf, yet the experience on arrival feels completely different: extraordinary natural beauty, a relaxed rhythm of life and the freedom
Top: The Aldabra giant tortoises are one of many natural assets unique to the Seychelles
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