Officials of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) and the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) waded into the lagoon at Au Cap on the main island of Mahe last Friday and used the occasion to underline concerns about challenges facing the trade.A couple of divers also presented the SHTA chairman, Louis D’Offay, with a sealed bottle, retrieved from the sea, and containing a “message from nature”.Also present at the innovative gathering were other SHTA officials -- secretary Daniella-Alis-Payet, treasurer Alan Mason, executive director Raymond St Ange and Nirmal Jivan Shah, chief executive of Nature Seychelles and an active member of the association, as well as Alain St.Ange, chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board.
Mr D’Offay, who grew up at Au Cap, said that while it was not the most beautiful in Seychelles, the beach there is still among the finest in the world, representing the best attraction Seychelles has to offer, its natural environment.
He said that while total visitor arrivals in 2011 was a record 194,000 despite economic turmoil in Europe coupled with the drop in value of the Euro, this year promises to be a tough one, given the many difficulties facing the trade.Mr D’Offay said during these difficult times it is all the more pressing why government ministries should act as facilitators and make things easier for tourism operators.
He said it is important why all SHTA members should have a say in what is going on. “The SHTA is all about tourism in Seychelles, the hotels, DMCs, car hires and boat operators and not just the business of a few hotel operators,” he said. Mr D’Offay said the pullout of Air Seychelles from Europe, our main tourism market, has cast uncertainty among foreign tour operators selling Seychelles.
On other factors, he said that while it is obvious that hotels will have to discount, they shall also have to bear higher operating costs -- such as higher Value Added Tax (Vat) and electricity rates.
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