Seychelles at outbound travel market in Beijing |14 April 2012

This year, the business-to-business outbound travel and tourism exhibition is expected to have over 3,300 trade visitors including 400 Chinese, hosted buyers from all over China.

The STB’s chief executive Elsia Grandcourt will be taking part in this market trade fair together with the board’s marketing executive Stephanie Lablache.
 
Mrs Grandcourt said the ''Chinese market has grown for the past three years and the market's visibility had gained more momentum with the presence of a Seychelles representative in Beijing''.

COTTM has taken place in Beijing for the last seven years and it continues to remain the ideal location to attract key Chinese buyers. Entering its ninth year, COTTM has become a well-established exhibition and has the undisputed reputation of being China's leading business-to-business outbound travel show. This, coupled with the success of the 2011 edition, makes COTTM a well-recognised and respected brand name.

This year the Seychelles delegation comprises 10 DMCs: 7 Degrees South, Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino, Dhevatara, Mason’s Travel, Creole Travel Services, Sainte Anne Resort & Spa, Desroches Island, Constance Group, Etihad Airways, and Air Seychelles GSA representative.

They are hoping to use the world’s fastest growing outbound market in the world to further tap into the Chinese tourism market and explore new business opportunities.

The COTTM has also a high-calibre programme for both visitors and exhibitors. Together with the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, COTTM has devised a series of educational workshops and seminars which representatives from Seychelles will attend.

Recent statistics show an increased number of visitors arriving to Seychelles from China,  representing a healthy 90% growth. The increase in the number of visitors from China has helped Seychelles to maintain its number of tourism arrivals, despite a drop from its core markets which are France, UK, Germany and Italy.