Travellers lend support to protect Seychelles’ environment

Travizory presented The Republic of the Seychelles with SCR 1,229,540 million (USD 58071.96) for the Environment Trust Fund, thanks to the generosity of travellers visiting the country.

Travizory’s cutting edge Health Travel Authorization module, part of its wider Visitor Management Platform (VMP), was instrumental in the controlled growth of Seychelles’ international arrivals since 15 September, 2020. The module provides local authorities with a platform to approve travellers to enter the country safely and confidently while reducing the risk of translocation of COVID-19 to the Seychelles. It also provides travellers an opportunity to donate to the Seychelles Environmental Fund.

Established in 1994, the Environment Trust Fund has as its objectives, reducing pollution, protecting the environment, beautifying Seychelles, and promoting environmental education. Through the years, it has funded projects by numerous organizations, each delivering a positive impact in the archipelago and its residents.

Flavien Joubert, minister of agriculture, climate change and environment said: “I would like to thank the more than 3,200 travelers that have decided to give money to help finance our projects towards a better environment in the Seychelles. Our projects are very cost effective and travelers should be reassured their contributions are having an impact in the Seychelles.”

Doctor Conrad Shamlaye, chairman of the Public Health Authority, said: “We are proud of our health travel authorization and airport arrival health screening systems, which we believe must rank among the most advanced in the world. It is fantastic to see the safety measures we have put in place for people are also helping the environment.”

The most generous travellers came from the UK, Switzerland, Germany and the UAE, with more than 1 in 4 contributing with a donation. In total, travellers from 130 different countries contributed. 1 in 10 Seychellois also contributed to the fund.

Speaking on how Travizory’s VMP is helping the Seychelles, Antony Derjacques, minister of transport, said: “The Seychelles Islands travel authorization system, combined with our API platform, has demonstrated its ability to screen travelers before they land, as well as tracking people when they are here. There is absolutely no question it is helping to keep the country almost COVID-19 free. This has been possible thanks a huge multi-ministry team effort, led by my Principal Secretary of Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine, Alan Renaud.”

Renaud Irminger, CEO of Travizory said: “Travellers coming to the Seychelles are confirming that the environment is important to them. It’s impossible to come to this beautiful place without recognizing the beauty and power of nature. You’d need a heart of stone to not be moved by the splendor of the islands, so I’m not surprised people are donating to the Environment Trust Fund.  At Travizory, we certainly always look to work with the governments to include initiatives that will benefit the local population and the environment. This is the first of many donations.”

The Travizory technology allows Seychelles health authorities to collect identity and health information directly from the traveler via easy-to-use web and mobile apps. The information is fed securely into a single system, providing advance information about all travelers wishing to travel to the Seychelles. The system gives authorities the capability to run rapid and efficient vetting procedures to minimize COVID-19 risks and other security risks.