Chinese tour operators in Seychelles in preparation of the new Air Seychelles direct non-stop flight to China

A delegation of Chinese tour operators was in Seychelles accompanied by representatives of the Ankeyunda Air Services Company to finalize all arrangements for the start of the Air Seychelles direct and non-stop service to China.

The first Air Seychelles flight is set to depart China on January 27, 2015 which is why eager Chinese tour operators were in Seychelles this week. On Thursday, they were received by Minister Alain St.Ange, the island’s Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, at his ESPACE Building Offices. Minister St.Ange was being accompanied for this meeting by Anne Lafortune, the PS for Tourism, and Nathalie Didon, the Deputy CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board.

When he welcomed the Chinese tour operators, Minister Alain St.Ange said that China remained an important source market for the Seychelles tourism industry and that he was counting on Chinese tour operators to ensure that Seychelles received a fair share of the China market. “As we welcome you to Seychelles, we need to reemphasize that the success of our new direct non-stop flight to China depends on you, the tour operators of China,” said Minister St.Ange.

The Tourism Minister went on to tell the Chinese tour operators to use the few days on the island to discover the islands so that they could better inform the potential Chinese tourists of the beauty of Seychelles. “Today, you are in Seychelles and enjoying perfect weather. What you see today will be even better tomorrow, and this we can assure you, because we are paradise on Earth,” said the Minister.

The Chinese tour operators said when they addressed Minister St.Ange that the first flights are going to be full as it falls during the Chinese Spring Festival. The tour operators said that they had visited a number of hotel properties and also many of the small Seychellois home-grown hotels and guest-houses. “We have Chinese tourists for both types of hotels, and we are sure that the Seychelles will see many more Chinese visitors now,” the Chinese tour operators said, adding that eco-tourism was also today high on their clients’ preference list.

Minister Alain St.Ange assured the Chinese tour operators that he will be working with Air Seychelles for a promotional program in China early in 2016.