New duty free shop selling gold coins opens at airport |23 October 2014

Tourists and other visitors leaving Seychelles can now add more value to their holiday experience here by taking with them genuine, authentic, legal tender gold coins.

This follows the official opening yesterday at the international airport departure lounge of Mint – the exclusive retail shop and the trademark name of the Official Gold Coin Co., an affiliate of Jouel, devoted to offering the finest selection of gold coins.

Rod Thorrington, managing director of Jouel and Mint, said the venture has been in the works for the past two years and the Official Gold Coin Co. is the first private company to be selling legal tender coins in Seychelles.

He noted that all has been possible thanks to the close working collaboration and partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment, the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS), the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) and Nature Seychelles.

The Minister for Finance, Trade and Investment Pierre Laporte and CBS governor Caroline Abel cut the ribbon to open the shop.

Mr Thorrington then handed over the five coins in the collection to Ms Abel.

“The collection of five coins chosen to launch the boutique is the Avian Collection which pays tribute to the incomparable avian fauna of Seychelles and is only the first of many,” said Mr Thorrington.

The five exquisitely crafted coins pay tribute to five of the most extraordinary birds of Seychelles – kestrel, scops owl, paradise flycatcher, blue pigeon and the bulbul.

The coins, which are exclusively available as souvenirs and collectors’ items, cost some €400 each.
Mr Thorrington pointed out that Mint, which is strategically positioned, just opposite the departure gate, is the latest addition to the duty free shopping experience.

“It is another way to add value to visitors’ experience,” Mr Thorrington said, adding that it will provide a great opportunity for visitors leaving Seychelles.

Ms Abel congratulated the company and welcomed such an initiative which she said “highly showcases the Seychelles environment”.
For his part the chief executive of the SCAA Gilbert Faure said the SCAA also welcomes the opening of the new shop.

He added that such innovative business offers a new variety of products to passengers who are mostly tourists.

“Being a tourism destination, the unique gold coin collection which pays tribute to our avian fauna is definitely designed as a souvenir product for tourists and a collectors’ item for our local clients as well,” added Mr Faure.

Mr Faure also called on other businesses that can help enhance passengers’ airport experience to bring their proposals forward as the Seychelles International Airport is moving towards more innovative ways to further meet clients’ expectations.