Minister continues visit to La Digue’s tourism establishments |27 November 2015
Small hoteliers on the island of La Digue have voiced out that there is a need to have small contractors set up on the island to assist with refurbishment and renovation works at their tourism establishments.
This call was made during talks held with the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange during his door-to-door visit to tourism establishments on La Digue this week.
Minister St Ange was accompanied by the principal secretary for tourism Anne Lafortune.
They visited small hotels, guesthouses and self-catering apartments around Anse Reunion and La Passe. Kot Babi guesthouse, owned by Robert Labiche, was the first tourism establishment which the minister visited.
Only a few minutes’ walk from La Passe jetty, the property of Mr Labiche is made up of nine rooms, including one family house and two self-catering apartments as well.
The next stop was at the Bamboo Chalets, another tourism establishment run by the same management as the Hotel l’Archipel of Praslin. Reputed Seychellois hotelier Louis d’Offay now heads the new group managing this small hotel that is made up of 10 chalets, tucked in a large tropical garden. The hotel has six standard and four superior rooms and Jourdane Marguerite is on site as the manageress.
Speaking to the minister, Miss Marguerite said that over and above offering accommodation, the establishment also hosts lunch at the requests of DMCs (destination management companies), for their large groups on day trip to the island.
Another small establishment visited was Petra’s guesthouse, owned by Norbert Bouchereau. The hotelier said his business was doing well but he used the opportunity of the visit by the minister to air some of the challenges he was being faced with.
Le Repaire Boutique Hotel and Restaurant was the minister’s next stop. The nine-room hotel boasts a very impressive décor, simple but chic. But the most impressive part of the hotel is its tropical garden, filled with colours and floral scents. With a breathtaking view of the ocean and the tranquillity that it offers, the garden is ideal for those wanting a moment with their literature, or it can be the perfect setting for a romantic dinner under the stars.
This hotel is owned by Gemma Roberts and is managed by Italian Nicoletta Loli. Her husband Chef Remo and his team achieve perfection with his Italian recipes adding the Creole touch with the use of local ingredients.
La Digue Holiday Villas owned by Alam Waye-Hive at La Passe is a self-catering establishment made up of six villas. This new establishment was also visited by Minister St Ange who congratulated Mr Waye-Hive for adding the elegantly designed villas to the tourism industry.
The minister said that the mixture of modern and simple living décor, and the traditional Creole touch makes the villas exceptionally beautiful.
The villas are spacious and comfortable and the rooms ideal for relaxation, all overlooking the large tropical garden.
Other establishments visited were at Belle Amie owned by Nella Charlette at Anse Reunion, Pension Michel which is a small hotel of eight rooms belonging to Nigel Michel and a three-bedroom bed and breakfast guesthouse at La Passe managed by Lisette Robert, as well as a small hotel which will be opening soon.
Minister St Ange described the establishments seen as very impressive products, adding that it is clear to see that those that are doing well are those that are properly maintained and are of high standards.
“We are continuing with our door-to-door visit of hotels because we want to remain connected with the industry's front line team. Hearing the reality on the ground directly from those who own or who are managing the establishments is eye opening. We spent time discussing what some are saying and updated our small hoteliers on what the country was doing to safeguard their industry that remains the pillar of the Seychelles economy,” Minister St Ange said.
