STB announces incentive for top-selling Chinese agents during roadshow |08 June 2017

The Seychelles Tourism Board have joined local trade partners to create awareness of the destination and its products among tour operators and travel agents from China’s first-tier cities.

This is in line with the strategy to attract more experienced travelers from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen in 2017.

More than 150 tour operators and travel agents attended workshops conducted during a roadshow organised in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu from May 9-17, 2017. 

This provided the opportunity for the Chinese trade partners to learn more about Seychelles’ diversity in terms of its natural beauty, flora and fauna, beaches, cuisine, as well as its people and culture.

The fact that Seychelles is renowned for a number of activities including diving, fishing and excursion, its exotic wedding and honeymoon locations were also highlighted.

The Seychelles delegation at the roadshow was led by Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) chief executive Sherin Francis.

Local destination management companies (DMCs) ‒ Mason's Travel and Creole Travel Services ‒ as well as hotel partners ‒ Constance Hotels, Savoy Resort & Spa and Banyan Tree Seychelles ‒ were also represented.

In Beijing, the workshop also saw the involvement of Seychelles Ambassador to China, Vivianne Fock-Tave.

A representative from local destination management company 7° South and a local wedding planner, Lorraine Dalpez from ‘Mr and Mrs’, also joined the delegation in Shanghai.

While in China, STB and its partners announced an incentive to entice the Chinese travel agents and tour operators to spread the word and sell Seychelles as a destination.

Agents selling destinations online are being encouraged to sell Seychelles before other destinations for a period of one year from May 9, 2017 to May 8, 2018.

When making the announcement, Mrs Francis said the programme will run under the banner of a new promotional campaign dubbed ‘The call of the islands.’

“Prizes will be offered for the top 10 agents selling the highest number of packages in terms of value through the main DMCs,” added Mrs Francis.

The STB chief executive said she was satisfied with the level of involvement and interest shown by the Chinese tour operators and travel agents at the China roadshow.

“It was a successful roadshow, we managed to get some high-end participants and the local trade also expressed satisfaction as they were able to gather some new contacts from the cities.  All of this was in line with our new strategy to go after the more savvy and experienced travelers from China,” said Mrs Francis.