Seychelles is leaving no potential market untapped as a strong delegation of travel professionals fly to Reunion this week to re-launch the destination there.
A trade workshop and press conference are at the top of the agenda with over 50 travel agents and press invited.
Reunion has over the years proven to be a small but very stable market, with arrival figures registering annual growth. It’s clearly one of those markets in the region which is defying the currently global conditions of the travel industry with figures sailing well into the plus range.
Amazingly, Seychelles has not carried out much promotion work on that market in previous years but it has sustained itself through good trade partnerships. In addition, the destination is quite well known in Reunion and still appeals to the middle to higher segment of the population.
Now, with more focus on that market, Reunion should be able to move to the 3,000-visitor digit and become a serious rival to neighbours Mauritius who last year contributed slightly over 4,000 visitors to Seychelles.
Sharen Venus, the Seychelles Tourism Board’s manager for the Reunion market, is optimistic that the market will keep growing now that they have a carefully designed marketing plan to support it.
“The appeal is there already and all we need is to touch base with the targeted segments and ensure that the potentials are properly tapped,” she said.
“Reunion has performed quite well on its own but we want to build on that now and make a real impact as we re-launch Seychelles on that market. We will increase our promotion there gradually and intensify our activities as the figures grow with it.”
A total 2,834 visitors were registered from Reunion last year, which showed a 21% increase on the previous year.
The Seychelles’ delegation work trip in Reunion will also coincide with the official announcement of Air Austral’s second flight to Seychelles, from end of October.
Air access to Seychelles remains a key to the success of the country’s tourism industry, and STB has welcomed this move by Air Austral.