Inter-Island Quay - New passenger terminal offers better comfort and facilities |16 August 2016

A modern passenger terminal facility at the Inter-Island quay was officially opened on Saturday by Joel Morgan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport.

The new terminal provides a more comfortable waiting area for passengers travelling to Praslin and La Digue. It caters for people with disabilities  and mothers with babies, besides providing other services like office space for destination management companies (DMCs), souvenir shop, money changer, car hire and left luggage paying facility.

The terminal was built at a cost of R4.5 million and can accommodate 400 passengers at one go.

Also present at the opening was the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange, the deputy chief executive of the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) Garry Albert; high officials of the SPA and the Seychelles Maritime Authority (SMS) and other guests.

Describing the day as an important one in the country’s maritime transportation, Minister Morgan said the terminal represents another step forward by the SPA to make such a facility available to both locals and tourists.

He commended the presence of DMCs offices at the terminal which he said will help them a lot in delivering their services which in return will help our tourism industry develop.

“This year I believe we are on the right path for a great increase in the number of tourists coming to Seychelles due to efforts by the Ministry of Tourism, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and all other tour operators and my ministry which is responsible for transport,” he said.

The new terminal provides office space for DMCs (photo above) as well as a souvenir shop among other services

Three persons – two women and a man – have lost their lives following a boat accident which

Minister Morgan also announced the possibility of increasing flight frequencies from Paris, France from three to a possible five or seven which will allow for a big increase in the number of tourists from Europe coming on those direct flights.

He said this follows discussions with the French minister responsible for the environment, energy and the sea, Segolene Royale, who was in Seychelles recently, where an agreement was reached for the increase in flight frequencies.

“When we increase flight connectivity we also increase the frequency to Praslin and La Digue. These two are linked together. Because when tourists land here they take the boat from the terminal to go to either Praslin or La Digue, hence the link between the air and maritime connectivity,” said the minister.

“It has been some time since the people has been asking for such a facility and the tourism industry has been talking about it. What is good for tourism is good for Seychelles. We should thank the port authority for responding to this appeal made by Seychelles and delivered a very good terminal,” said Minister St Ange in his short address for the occasion.

He remarked that tourism can continue to progress when it has adequate facility. And that it is important for all of us to salute an effort made by the government when the effort is to bring in a facility that we asked for, that we need. He urged all to use the terminal well.

“This new terminal complements other existing facilities like the ticket selling office and restaurant. All together they form an integral part of the good functioning of the terminal,” said Mr Albert, adding the SPA will continue developing other areas to bring their services up to date.

Mr Albert reminded all of the open space this area was, where anybody could go in and out with no control. Today this facility has 24hr security surveillance throughout the year.

It was Father David Alcindor who blessed the facility which was followed by the unveiling of the commemorative plaque by ministers St Ange and Morgan.