Follow us on:

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

Archive - Archive 2004 - July 2013

Dive numbers low despite Subios switch |21 May 2005

Although the number of visitors to Seychelles for the last four weeks is six percent higher than for the same period last year, the news from the dive industry is that the increase in visitors has not translated into an increase in divers.

The decision to move the 16th Subios festival to May was announced at last year's festival, but industry watchers have said that the reduced time between the two events has served to keep dive numbers low.

Speaking at the Subios launch on Thursday May 19 (night) Vice President and Tourism Minister Joseph Belmont repeated that the move from October to May was made to capitalise on the low tourism season bed space in local hotels.

"The change of date is meant to offer new opportunities. The month of May offers other attributes such as good diving conditions, off peak period and opportunities for package deals to attract diving tourists and it will allow us to spread local activities over the whole year period," he said.

He called on all stakeholders to join forces to help  make the event a success so that Seychelles' unique and priceless underwater treasures becomes a major asset for the country.

However, Leo Hoevers of Dive Resort Seychelles, based at the Plantation Club, said that the current number of dive trips is low, as usual at this time of year.

The low number of divers is the same at the Underwater Centre on Beau Vallon Bay, where Glenys Rowatt said that it is "very quiet."

Ms Rowatt said that coming so soon after Subios 2004, there has not been enough time for the event to make an impact on the dive market.

With the stated aim of promoting diving as a niche ecotourism activity in Seychelles, Subios 2005 is being held under the theme "Preserving Underwater Homes."

 

» Back to Archive