Message from Sybille Cardon, SHTA chairperson ‘We all have our part to play in the recovery of our tourism industry’ |26 September 2020

Sybille Cardon

“We all have a part to play in the recovery of our tourism industry. Now, more than ever, our small nation needs to support the principles expressed in our last campaign: ‘We Are Tourism’.”

This comes in a statement from the chairperson of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA), Sybille Cardon, in support of this year’s Tourism Festival which kicks off tomorrow, coinciding with World Tourism Day.

Ms Cardon’s statement reads:

“I am very pleased to make a short statement in support of this year’s Tourism Festival, which is being launched tomorrow – World Tourism Day.

“Some people think that organising such a Festival – even one as scaled down as this one will be – is a strange thing to be doing at a time when our tourism sector is on its knees due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Others – of which I am one – believe that it is extremely important to do what we can to inspire confidence in the recovery of tourism globally and domestically, and the return to some kind of stable and reliable normality.

A lot is being said about what the ‘new normal’ will look like.

“The Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) believes that it will comprise a great deal of the ‘old’ normal, but that there will be some aspects of our industry which will change significantly in the aftermath of the pandemic. This has of course happened before, when 9-11 brought about huge changes in our flight security systems which still exist today.

“How these changes will impact upon our business operating procedures once the virus is managed nobody knows. It will depend on variables not presently clear to us; however most experts – both economists and scientists – believe that the picture will be a great deal clearer six months from now.

“Our 2020 Tourism Festival will be missing many of the components which we have enjoyed in previous editions. There will be no large-scale activities – no food fairs, no gala dinners, no waiters’ race. Instead the emphasis is upon safe, virtually driven events which will be relevant to the times in which we are living, and which comply with all health and safety protocols.

“But at the same time this Festival is a clear statement. One of commitment. You could say, one of defiance in the face of unprecedented challenges. This Festival is a declaration of intent. Tourism will revive itself globally and the tourism industry in Seychelles will recover and resume its place at the centre of our economic and national development.

“Covid-19 has inflicted great tragedy upon the world, but we must always recognise the silver linings – even those of something as destructive as this virus – and appreciate them.

“For example, during the pandemic each one of us has had a little more time to re-visit our beaches, to walk our mountain trails and even enjoy, as residents, visiting our tourism establishments. For many of us this has led to a rediscovery of how intensely beautiful our country is. We have been able to see Seychelles through the eyes of our visitors and appreciate what we have in a way which is impossible when our lives are busy and time is short.

“But it is not just our environment which Covid has enabled us to cherish more, it is also our tourists. One thing that we hope will emerge when the pandemic is under control is a heightened respect for people who share our love of Seychelles and travel thousands of miles to experience our islands first hand.

We need to do our utmost to welcome them again in an even better way than before, because if Covid has taught us anything it is, surely, to value what we have. As the old saying goes – ‘you never know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone’.

We all have a part to play in this recovery. Now, more than ever, our small nation needs to support the principles expressed in our last campaign; ‘We Are Tourism’.

“I invite you to support and enjoy this 2020 Tourism Festival in the spirit of collaboration and resurging confidence in which it has been created.”

The activities for this year’s Tourism Festival start tomorrow with an invitation-only ‘Praise and Worship’ to be held at the ICCS where the festival will officially be launched.

The following day, Monday, seven pioneers who have contributed to the tourism industry will be honoured and a Data Warehouse will be launched. A brainchild of STB, the Data Warehouse platform will serve as a promotional tool for touristic activities in Seychelles, as well as a way to market touristic establishments.

On Tuesday September 29 a panel discussion will be organised at the Eden Bleu Hotel under the theme ‘Tourism back with confidence’.

The last activity for the festival will be a virtual cocktail and mocktail making competition. The activity is being coordinated by Hilton and will see bartenders competing with each other.

Only certified establishments will be able to take part in the competition. Participants will make a video of them preparing the cocktail and showing their techniques as well as a photo of the finished products. Afterwards they will be judged on several criteria such as creativity, use of local products, and hygiene.

Only five participants will go through to the final round when the competition will take place live.