In Seychelles Praslin tourism partners primed for Heritage Route

A group of thirty-five participants from Seychelles tourism on the island of Praslin attended a two-day training workshop, on September 1-2, in preparation for the island Heritage Route project that will be launched in January next year.

The workshop was organized by the Seychelles Heritage Foundation (SHF), together with the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA), and main partner KHI Raffles Praslin, who has funded the project.
Participants of the workshop were from various sectors of Praslin’s tourism trade, including hoteliers, taxi drivers, travel agents, and tour guides.

The aim of the workshop was to ensure that tourism trade members on Praslin are well accustomed with the Heritage Route. They are now readily equipped with concrete information about the 20 sites that makes up the route, as well as being conversant with the booklet.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the chief executive officer of SHF, Patrick Nanty, has said that the training is important if the project is to be successful and the people who will be involved are to benefit from it.

“This project can only be successful if you as the direct users are well versed with its contents, that you know a bit more about the various sites on the route than just what is in the booklet, and that you feel responsible for its upkeep and future growth,” Mr. Nanty said.

Participants also learned about “cultural tourism” and its significance to the development and sustainability of the country’s tourism industry.

The STB general manager for tourism development, Peter Moncherry, who also addressed the participants at the opening of the workshop, has expressed the importance of the project to Seychelles’ tourism and the growing importance of cultural tourism.

“The habits of visitors are changing and, more and more, they are looking for experiences – in particular, cultural experiences of the destination,” remarked Mr. Moncherry.

“This is where such workshops are invaluable in providing training to those on the frontline who have direct contact with tourists and who are charged with ensuring that they fully understand and enjoy an experience of all the treasures with which Praslin has been blessed,” he said.

Other than the workshop, the Heritage Route project has involved research on various tangible heritage sites on Praslin, and soon there will be the installation of 20 signposts at the sites.

Another aspect of the project is the publication of 20,000 booklets that will provide visitors with information about the sites. The booklet is coming out soon and it will be on sale on Praslin.