 |  Healthy bookings as Moscow flights resume - 07.11.2009
Travel agents in Seychelles and Russia have said there are healthy advance bookings for flights to and from Moscow that have resumed.
Russian ambassador Mikhail Kalinin said this in an interview with Seychelles Nation, adding that he expects tourism between the two countries to pick up. He said the flights will also open new avenues of cooperation, for example in the educational and cultural sectors.
“Tour operators are telling me the flights are fully booked, and it appears we might even need another flight during the week,” he said.
Glenn Pillay of Air Seychelles said there was only one travel agent representing the airline in Russia before, but there are several now.
He confirmed bookings are healthy, saying: “Between now and January a total of 1,200 Russians have booked to come here.”
The airline has resumed flights to Moscow, leaving here at 11.10am on Saturday and arriving in Moscow at 6.55pm the same day.
The return flight leaves Moscow at 8.55pm on Saturday and arrives here at 6.40am on Sunday.
Saying Seychellois culture is well-appreciated in Russia, Mr Kalinin added that talks have opened between the University of Seychelles and the Moscow State University with a view to starting an exchange of students. A similar exchange between tourism students is another possibility. | 
