Seychelles acknowledges press’ help in tourism industry's success |08 October 2011

Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) chief executive Alain St Ange said this in Paris when he was interviewed by a series of French TV Stations. He said Seychelles is willing to work with the press fraternity because they have done so much to increase the visibility of the country.

"We know we remain the pristine and most sought-after tropical islands, but the world needs to know that. We knowing it, means nothing. We need the press to spread the message. We have adverts and advertorials to showcase what the country offers, but the press gives the story as is seen by an independent person. We are able to invite press members to visit Seychelles because we have nothing to hide. Our country is beautiful, it is clean and it remains welcoming. So let the press in to see for itself," said Mr St Ange.

Just a quick search of the Seychelles Islands on Google shows that for the last two years, coverage by the international media has been unprecedented.  This is the result of STB’s welcoming approach to the international media, supported by the exclusive club ‘Friends of Seychelles – Press’, launched for press personalities who know, understand and appreciate Seychelles. This exclusive club now has some 30 members spread across the world and they are kept updated about the developments and happenings on the islands through their own dedicated monthly newsletters.

Only this week, Seychelles moved to consolidate its working approach with the press by setting up its very own PR & News Bureau in London (see story on page 4). This office is under the management of Lena Hoareau, an experienced press personality in her own right.

"We want to now develop the next stage of knowing the press and working with the press, and to ensure that we are always ready and able to supply what they need as they need it, so that they can write about our islands," said Mr St Ange.
The PR & News Bureau of Seychelles in the UK serves the whole of Europe and falls directly under the office of Bernadette Willemin, the Seychelles tourism director for Europe.