PR and news bureau opens in London |08 October 2011

Mr St Ange launching the bureau

It was officially launched during a press conference chaired by the chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), Alain St Ange, in London recently.

The PR office is managed by the tourism board’s long time PR contact, Lena Hoareau, who is now based in the Seychelles tourist office in London.

Mrs Hoareau holds responsibility of the European PR Office as well as the Seychelles-based News Bureau, which she has managed for many years, a communiqué from her office said.

The bureau is expected to support the press and media with all queries on Seychelles, acting as their focal point for the information they need when featuring the islands.  “The office will also extend the distribution of news on Seychelles to new media contacts throughout Europe and in regions yet to be tapped into in terms of increasing visibility on the destination,” the STB said.

Press trips to Seychelles and press meetings will also be coordinated through the office.

Guests at the launch included Seychelles High Commissioner to the UK, Patrick Pillay; the consul for Seychelles in the UK, Bernard Silver; our tourism ambassadors in the UK, members of the UK trade and the press.

Mr St Ange said the STB needs a PR representation in its main markets so as to support its media campaigns and provide better support to the international press and media.

“The Seychelles Tourism Board has provided a lot of support to the press and media over the years and we have reached the stage where we need to be closer to the partners we work with so as to ensure continuous visibility of the islands,” he said.

The tourism board believes in forging relations with the press because visibility opportunities remain a priority for the destination, especially as it wants the world to know about its unique selling points, he said, adding Seychelles has today earned the reputation of being one of the most exciting destinations in the world and it intends to keep it that way.

“Judging by the coverage the islands are getting all over the world, it is today clear that the press continue to be taken in by the beauty of Seychelles. On our side, we continue to be proactive and woo the press from everywhere because we need to make people know that Seychelles remains the destination for all wanting a holiday in paradise.”

Mr St Ange said the country’s efforts are clearly working because many markets are reporting that Seychelles is becoming the hotspot for their visitors and there is a marked increase in visitor numbers to the destination.

“The name Seychelles may conjure exotic images in anyone’s mind but that does not mean everyone knows much about the islands. This is then our task: to create awareness however and wherever we can and take every opportunity to raise the profile of our islands by utilising the international media to the full,” he said.

Seychelles is today represented in all its main source markets, including UK, which produced over 12,000 visitors to Seychelles last year. The market is served twice weekly by national airline Air Seychelles.

Flying options are also available through Dubai and Doha with Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways. Emirates will extend its 12 flights to daily double frequencies by end of the year whereas Qatar operates daily flights to the islands.
Two new airlines – Etihad and Ethiopian Airline – will also start operating on the Seychelles sector in November.