Time to return tourism questionnaires |14 August 2004

Swiss student Jean-Pierre Valenghi, who is carrying out a study of the local tourist economy, is asking all of those who received the questionnaires on their economic links with the tourist trade to return them as soon as possible to aid in his study.

Working in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, Mr Valenghi sent out over 500 questionnaires to businesses with ties to the tourism industry.

Targeting everything from directly related businesses, such as hotels and guest houses, to more distantly linked operations, such as the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC), the Masters student has sought to gather as wide a response as possible.

However, the initial deadline for questionnaire returns passes Saturday August 14, with the majority of businesses yet to reply.

Due to depart at the end of the coming week Mr Valenghi has extended t
he response deadline to next Friday.

The research into the economic value of tourism to Seychelles, which will contribute to Tourism Ministry plans and Mr Valenghi's degree, began when the Zurich University student arrived two weeks.

Studying for his Masters in Management Economics, Mr Valenghi originally intended to focus specifically upon La Digue, but due to a lack of data has extended his research to the whole country.

The five week study is focusing upon data from the Management and Information Systems Division of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Central Bank statistics, to begin to determine the financial impact of tourism on the national economy, but will also incorporate the primary data generated by the questionnaires.

It is hoped that the study will provide further information to be used in the establishment of a national Tourism Satellite Account, designed to accurately set out the economic worth of tourism to Seychelles.

His report is due to be submitted to the Ministry of Tourism and Transport in late November.