Arabian magazine reports on Paradise Found |18 November 2010

Published in time for the recent World Travel Market in London, it is entitled Paradise Found and confirms that demand for Seychelles from Middle East travellers has started to take off in the past two years.

“With its pristine beaches and cobalt-blue waters, it’s no wonder Seychelles has caught the imagination of the Middle East market,” writes Ms Grzesik, who toured the country recently.

“We’ve all dreamed about it – jetting off to an island paradise of deserted, turquoise-blue waters and a chilled-out island vibe. And Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands scattered in the Indian Ocean, certainly doesn’t disappoint.”

Ms Grzesik adds that Seychelles is an ideal short-break destination for switching off and getting away from it all, while the dream-like setting has made it a top choice for honeymooners too.

In the Seychelles report, the magazine publishes an interview with Seychelles Tourism Board chief executive Alain St Ange, who stresses the “personalised” island welcome that awaits visitors.

He also speaks of the growing closeness between the Middle East and Seychelles, which is leading to a surge in visitors to the islands.
“This is a market that’s a close neighbour of Seychelles – it’s only four and a half hours away. The Middle East community is at home here,” he says.

Asked by Arabian Travel News how important the Middle East market is to Seychelles’ tourism, Mr Ange says: ‘It’s very important because the diversification of Seychelles’ tourism is important. We are a small country and we need to keep telling the world we are friends of all and enemies of none.

“We need the whole world to come in small numbers. Seychelles is not a mass tourism destination. The best way to describe what we offer is ‘personalised tourism’. When you come here, you are not just a number.”