Seychelles tourism figures up 14%

Seychelles visitor arrival statistics ending on 30 June 2013 shows a 14% increases over the 2012 figures. These figures were released by the Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics, and it is showing that to date Seychelles is faring better than had been budgeted. 

“Despite all challenges our tourism industry is facing, we are still riding a good wave. The economic difficulties in our main markets is showing no sign of redress, but the planning undertaken by the Tourism Board’s marketing team and the Board’s overseas offices keeps us being proactive and intelligent in our sales and marketing actions,” says minister Alain St Ange, Seychelles minister responsible for tourism and culture.

The major challenge is still to get maximum benefits from visibility and this is to get travel agents selling Seychelles to get to know the destination. This remains a weak link in the Seychelles strategy which suffered even more since the Tourism Board loss the airline seats for travel agents previously provided by Air Seychelles from all the main markets.

Current statistics show that Europe shows a clear 12% increase over 2012 with France alone increasing by a 12%, UK by 14%, Germany by a staggering 29%. Asia is also showing signs of growth as is Africa and the Americas. “The diversification policy at the Tourism Board has worked, and the push to continue to claim our fair share from our traditional markets at the same time keeps us moving forward. We now need the private sector to look at how to increase yield from our tourism industry. We need more for tourists to spend on, and this is where the private sector needs to continue to be encouraged to innovate,” said the minister.