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First Seychelles Ocean Festival officially launched Celebrating our extraordinary marine heritage |03 December 2016

The first Seychelles Ocean Festival which replaces the previous Subios Underwater Water Festival, was officially launched last night at The Wharf Hotel and Marina.

As the festival has spread on a wide spectrum which includes everything that has to do with the ocean and where the government is incorporating the Blue economy in the tourism industry, the event also featured an exhibition of artefacts, old photographs depicting aspects of Seychelles’ marine heritage and also photos of ports.

The launch ceremony was graced by the presence of Vice-President Vincent Meriton.

It was Alain St Ange, Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine who launched the festival in the presence of Sherin Francis, chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, other government and tourism officials and partners.

The minister announced it was also the last time STB organises the event as a creative industry has been set up by the government for such purposes.

During the ceremony winners of the Seychelles Ocean Festival photography competition organised to visually honour our marine environment and of the Maritime Boundary logo competition also received their prizes.

In the first competition Nassira Dorby won first prize, followed by Frances Benstrong and Aneer Ebrahim in second and third places respectively. Savinien Leblond and Dillys Pouponneau both won the fourth prize.

For the logo completion it was young Herron Bamboche of Mont Fleuri secondary school who won.

“We said it’s time for us to change Subios into what will be the ocean Festival. The ocean that encompasses so much of our unique selling points. So as we embark on this today, it is also the last event being organised by the tourism board. Because today the government is trying to bring together all the strength of the country, the creative industry body, which takes over all the events into an open-central office,” said Minister St Ange.

Minister St Ange also explained why we embark on another festival, this one specifically for the ocean.

“Seychelles is proactive. Seychelles moves. Seychelles doesn’t stand still. If we start standing still we will fast realise the world will leave us on the sidelines which is why the Blue economy concept gets us to realise the importance of our cruise ship industry, our fishing industry both commercial and domestic, diving, fishing, sailing, snorkelling, boating…,” said the minister, adding it is important for us to protect the sea and not take it for granted.

In her address Mrs Francis said the ocean festival has replaced Subios as the event that celebrates Seychelles’ extraordinary marine heritage, even if Subios has made its mark by sensitising both Seychellois and visitors on our magnificent ocean and its eco-system.

“But Seychelles has evolved since then and many other exciting marine sectors have entered on the scene making Seychelles a haven for sailing and cruising, diving and snorkelling, sports fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, kite and windsurfing,” she noted.

“The Seychelles Ocean Festival looks to set a foundation for an event that will be representative of all aspects of our Blue economy and which will hopefully create a partnership with many organisations and NGOs responsible for advocating our worlds beneath the waves,” she added.

 

 

 

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