Category Archives: Seychelles

Experience true hospitality in the Indian Ocean. Picture: Maia Luxury Resort and Spa/ Giltedge Ocean Islands.

Sun-drenched Seychelles and Maldives appear the same on the surface but on closer inspection these tropical islands nestled in the Indian Ocean are quite different. Before deciding on your holiday, make sure you know what island country suits you the best.

Maldives main appeal is its one island, one resort philosophy. With over 1000 islands, its the worlds most geographically dispersed country. Visitors arrive on the airport island Mal, transferring to their island by seaplane or speedboat transfer. Seychelles, on the other hand, is mainly an island-hopping destination. Travellers start their holiday on one of the main islands exploring towns like Mah, La Digue and Praslin to explore the French culture of Seychelles (its cuisine, nightlife and markets) as well as hike through its nature reserves. After visiting the main islands, travellers hop onto their private island.

Appearance

While Maldives and Seychelles are both Ocean Islands, their appearance is quite different. Made up of coral, the Maldives hover just two meters above the sea. Some islands are surrounded by house reefs (which look like rings) that protect the islands from waves. That's why most of the worlds over-water villas are found in the Maldives.

Seychelles is a different island type entirely. Made from granite, its islands are rocky. Boulders frame shorelines and pearly-white beaches. But Seychelles outer islands are coral, small and flat, much like the Maldives.

Activities

In the Maldives, you go sightseeing underwater. Dive sites are everywhere. With over 1000 islands, the crystal-clear water offers high visibility. House reefs and lagoons are great for snorkelling and diving (check your resort has them!) as the colourful marine life is abundant here with whale sharks and manta rays. Snorkelling straight from the beach or your water villa is what Maldives is famous for!

Seychelles is a playground. Its great for active travellers who want to do both land-based and water-based sports: rock climbing, hiking, and mangrove kayaking. The remote outer islands offer world-class fly fishing as well as deep water game fishing.

Things to do for kids

Both Seychelles and Maldives are the perfect destination for honeymooners but and surprisingly theyre also extremely family-friendly. Both Indian Ocean islands do well for multi-generational travel. Your entire family will be in good hands with child-friendly activities and babysitting services.

Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, for example, is great for kids with its big treehouse, fantasy den, outside entertainment area and private swimming pool villas. The resort offers conservation activities for kids and the most delicious ice-cream parlor and chocolate room. Its parent-approved! At Six Senses Laamu, children can take part in the childrens club, yoga classes for children, spa treatments (foot and hand massages) and children's cooking class.

Seychelles is also family friendly if you chose the right resorts! Fregate Island has a kiddies club for ages 3 to 12. Kids explore the Castaway Trail with giant tortoises, small animals and endemic plants. At Six Senses Zil Pasyon, theres the Trouloulou Club for kite making, sand castle building to cupcake decorating. Theres also a bicycle that rides around the island and delivers ice-cream.

Accommodation types

Water villas in the Maldives are built on stilts hovering directly over the water and are connected to jetties that stretch out like arms from the main island. Some resorts offer luxury stand-alone water villas that can only be accessed by boat. These villas have direct access to the warm, ocean; some even have decks with private swimming pools or waterslides that go straight into the ocean. The latest trend in the Maldives is the retractable bedroom that allows you to stargaze directly from your bed, says Lylie Moolman, General Manager at Indian Ocean Islands. There are also options to overnight in traditional dhows (wooden boat) with all the comfort of a 5-star villa.

Resorts in Seychelles are built on a hillside or into the granite outcrops with views over the water. Seychelles luxury villas are hidden in the tropical landscape and are the epitome of barefoot luxury. The resorts range from luxury villas with 3 to 4 bedrooms with private pools (perfect for families looking for privacy) to beautiful one-bedroom hilltop villas with sunken baths and private infinity pools.

Hospitality

Both Maldives and Seychelles have great 24-hour butler services. Butlers make sure you have everything you need be it a midnight snack or an emergency hot chocolate for the kids. Local Maldivians are friendly and eager to please, making service levels top notch. Repeat clients often request the same butler during their stay. The Seychellois are more laid back in a typical island style, and have a charm of their own. Passionate about their country, Seychelles locals have no problem persuading visitors that their country is the best.

Read more from the original source:

Seychelles vs Maldives: which ocean island tops? - Independent Online

The principal secretary for tourism Anne Lafortune attended the third extraordinary board meeting of the Regional Tourism Organization of South Africa (RETOSA) held at the Latitude Conference Centre in Durban on May 17.

Mrs. Lafortune was accompanied by the deputy chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Jenifer Sinon.

The aim of the meeting was to assess the progress of RETOSAs transformation process. The process is to transform RETOSA from a public-sector organization to one where national tourism boards and the private sector take ownership of it.

RETOSAs transformation process began in 2014 when the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers responsible for tourism agreed and directed the RETOSA board to look at ways of changing the organization to make it more relevant to member states, the private sector and all partners.

During the meeting, those present also discussed RETOSAs financial sustainability including member states contribution and the cash flow of the organization.

The mandate of the new RETOSA will be to develop and promote a vibrant regional brand; market, promote and stimulate Southern Africa as a destination for tourism, trade, commerce and investment; and formulate and carry out the regional marketing strategy.

The Seychelles Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine will be discussing the new mandate of the RETOSA board with the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) and the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

SHTA and SCCI will be requested to take part as members on the new revamped board.

STBs chief executive will also be a member of the new board.

It is to be noted that Kenneth Racombo was recently appointed as the head of resource mobilization and development and falls directly under the newly-recruited chief executive Desmond Golding of South Africa.

The new RETOSA board will be constituted in July 2017 where the private sector will be represented together with chief executives of tourism boards and it will be responsible for regional tourism Marketing.

Tourism policy which was previously a function of RETOSA will now be dealt with by a proposed tourism unit at the SADC secretariat.

Original post:

Seychelles at RETOSA's third extraordinary board meeting - eTurboNews

Today Seychelles proudly joins the rest of Africa in celebrating Africa Day. This is an occasion, for us not only to celebrate, but also an opportunity to take pride in our continent and its boundless diversity.

On this day, we need to reflect on the promise of Africa. Seychelles reaffirms this and stands in unity with all Africans determined to further our aspirations, and ambitions. These aspirations today are reflected in many things, not least on how Africa can further achieve Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Our Continent was built on the fusion of diverse peoples, and we drew inspiration and support from Africas longing for self-determination, freedom, and unity.

Africa Day not only marks the anniversary of the birth of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), on 25th May 1963, it also recognizes the need to embrace the values of equality, peace and progress that our forbears dreamt of. We owe it to them, to their sacrifices, and their devotion to steer our continent in the direction so as it may reach its full potential.

As leaders of the world of today, we are conscious that the lessons of our forefathers are the bridges linking our current generations to the next one, as we are further inspired by the core principles of solidarity, unity and the restoration of pride and dignity.

On this day, we need to reflect on the promise of Africa

In 2017, as we commemorate Africa day, we do so inspired by the theme Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in youth, as a driver for continued sustainable development, progress and advancement of our continent.

The greatest wealth of nations are its people, and in particular their youth. As a young continent, our challenges should be transformed into greatness through the mobilization of our youth, to not only achieve the success we deserve to have but critically to redefine the future of our continent.

In Seychelles, our youth are the driving force behind many of our cross -sectoral achievements. Our vision lies on Seychelles capability to mobilise the strength and dynamism of our youth, who are already playing pivotal roles in the development of Seychelles and changing the socio-economic landscapes of our nation.

With strong indications of success not only evident in Seychelles, but across the African continent, we must continue to nurture the energy and spirit of entrepreneurship, of industry and self-empowerment of our young people and in doing so harness the potential of the next generation.

The theme also reflects on the urgency, to provide platforms, opportunities, support and resources to our youth, to foster their devotion and spirit, to not solely aspire to be leaders of tomorrow, but to be exemplary leaders of the current era. We, as the leaders of the African continent, must lead by example.

The perceived differences of our continent should never be utilised as weapons of our own disharmony. Our differences should be celebrated as stepping stones, leading to an Africa were unity, peace, stability, development, inclusiveness, respect and tolerance reign.

In celebrating the strengths, determination and courage of our great continent, let us celebrate Africa day 2017 Let us celebrate our Youths. Happy Africa day.

Original post:

Seychelles presents Africa Day Message - News Ghana

africanews

Seychelles, Uganda and Togo: most welcoming African countries - report africanews Seychelles, Uganda and Togo are top among the 22% of African countries you don't need a visa to visit as an African. They lead in the 2017 Africa Visa Openness Index released last week. It notes an improvement in the free movement of African nationals ...

Read the original:

Seychelles, Uganda and Togo: most welcoming African countries - report - africanews

The Hindu

Around Seychelles in 12 days The Hindu Did you know, in Seychelles, there are five women to every man. So, it is literally women running the country, says celebrity chef Ranveer Brar sharing an interesting nugget about the tropical country comprising 115 islands. Starting this Thursday ...

Go here to see the original:

Around Seychelles in 12 days - The Hindu

The actress is on a break before kicking off Saina Nehwal biopic

After the release of her newest love story with Arjun Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor has taken off to the scenic beaches of Seychelles for eight days with parents, Shakti and Shivangi, and actor-brother Siddhanth.

A source close to the actress tells Mirror, "The family had been planning a holiday together since a long time but Shraddha and Siddhanth were busy shooting for Apoorva Lakhia's Haseena -The Queen of Mumbai, then she got busy with promotions for her latest release with Arjun. In June, she starts training for the Saina Nehwal biopic besides kicking off promotions for Haseena. So the family decided to squeeze in eight days of a holiday.The initial plan was to go to Dubai but they eventually settled on Seychelles and will return to Mumbai only next week." Siddhanth, who plays Dawood Ibrahim to Shraddha's titular Haseena, said, "It was a much-needed break for all of us and we all love the beach so the destination was perfect."

This will be a second holiday for Shraddha who had taken off to Berlin and Prague, where she was joined by her friends, for her birthday on March 3.

Excerpt from:

Shraddha Kapoor holidays in Seychelles with family - Mumbai Mirror

Daily Nation

When I became a prohibited person in the Seychelles - Daily Nation Daily Nation Indian Ocean islands were a theatre of high drama as superpowers sought control of strategic trade route. and more »

See the original post here:

When I became a prohibited person in the Seychelles - Daily Nation - Daily Nation

KUALA LUMPUR (May 19): Nexgram Holdings Bhd has appointed a little-known company incorporated in the Republic of Seychelles as the joint developer and turnkey contractor for the development of the group's Angkasa Icon City (AIC) project.

Nexgram's wholly-owned subsidiary Nexgram Land Sdn Bhd inked a joint development agreement with ChinaAsian Capital Holding Ltd, the Seychelles company, today.

Nexgram, in a Bursa Malaysia filing, said the project will be built on land owned by another wholly-owned subsidiary, Nextnation Datacity Sdn Bhd.

AIC is a mixed commercial development in Cyberjaya, Selangor. It has been on Nexgram's to-do list since December 2014, when the group entered into two off-take agreements with MyAngkasa Bina Sdn Bhd for the latter to take up two significant development projects in Dengkil and Cyberjaya for RM1.44 billion.

AIC is the project to be built in Cyberjaya, and MyAngkasa which is a subsidiary of Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Bhd had pledged to buy the completed development back at RM1.15 billion.

The project, which is still awaiting approval from authorities, comprises one hotel, a block of small office/virtual office, and a block of service suite apartments.

The group said Nexgram Land and ChinaAsian Capital, so-called joint developer, will be responsible for designing, developing, constructing, reconstructing, carrying out and completing the project.

The joint developers will manage, market, advertise, sell, grant leases and tenancies of the properties developed on the land, said Nexgram.

Nexgram, however, did not provide any background information on ChinaAsian Capital, or its shareholders' information.

Not much details were provided on the land for the development either. However, according to Nexgram's past filing, the land spanned 5.91 acres.

As for the Dengkil project, the Sepang Municipal Council had in March last year rejected the development order (DO) for that. The project involved a leasehold agriculture plot measuring 2.15ha, and was meant to be a mixed property development worth RM297.39 million.

Subsequently, according to a March 15 filing last year, Nexgram said the acquisition of the Dengkil land has been terminated since the DO was not obtained, though the off-take agreement with MyAngkasa pertaining to the Dengkil project was still valid.

It did, however, said its other partner in the Dengkil project, Top Valley Properties Sdn Bhd, was in the midst of "exploring all possible viable options including sourcing of an alternative suitable land while continuing negotiation with the land owner for resubmission of the DO". No information about Top Valley has been disclosed so far.

Nexgram's share price closed unchanged at 4.5 sen today, giving it a market capitalisation of RM84.7 million.

Continue reading here:

Nexgram announces Seychelles firm as joint developer for Angkasa Icon City - The Edge Markets MY

Eden Bleu Hotel, Seychelles, creates awareness of its unique offering to the German Market ITCM Eden Bleu Hotel recently participated in a road-show with the Seychelles Tourism Board and Air Seychelles and continued to promote the Seychelles as a business destination to the German MICE market with positive results. Eden Bleu Hotel is the only ...

Follow this link:

Eden Bleu Hotel, Seychelles, creates awareness of its unique offering to the German Market - ITCM

The programme of EUR 3 million is part of the European Union Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA+) which aims at strengthening dialogue and cooperation with developing countries, in particular least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS)

Mah (Seychelles) The Head of Cooperation of the European Union to the Republic of Seychelles opened the second Steering Committee of the Seychelles Global Climate Change Alliance project. She reiterated the relevance of activities foreseen to address the recurrent flooding problems on La Digue.

According to Ms Carla OSORIO, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Seychelles: This important project provides the European Union with a formidable window to reiterate its commitment to support Government in the implementation of its National Climate Change Strategy, in line with commitments taken in COP 21 Conference. Last month the EU fielded a Results Oriented Monitoring (ROM) Mission to Seychelles to evaluate implementation progress. I am glad to point out that the project continues to remain highly relevant for La Digue. The activities are comprehensive being both science-based and practical. The Steering Committee had the opportunity to look into details in the recommendations of the monitoring mission and together we agreed on a common roadmap on how to ensure efficiency and sustainability for the remaining implementation period.

According to the UNDP, the project is being welcomed by the La Digue community and will help to alleviate the pressure from recent climatic events such as the Felleng cyclone event in 2013. Activities for components 1 and 4 are well under way and components 2 and 3 are expected to be launched soon.

At the margin of the Steering Committee meeting, the Head of Cooperation also met and discussed with the various stakeholders including local communities from La Digue. For the EU representative, it is essential to ensure the participation and involvement of local communities for the success of this project.

A major component of the project concerns the implementation of coastal climate change adaptation in risk-prone areas on La Digue

The Global Climate Change Alliance was established by the European Union in 2007 with a total envelope of EUR 285 million for the period 2008 to 2013. The objective is to support developing countries and small islands developing states in their endeavours to adapt to climate change.

To-date the programme, has supported more than 70 programmes in over 50 countries, including Seychelles, in Africa, Asia, Pacific and Caribbean and the Indian Ocean. In light of its success, the European Union has allocated an additional envelope of EUR 350 million for the programme for the period 2014-2020. In addition, another EUR 70 million are also available for climate actions from the European Union regional funds until 2020.

The programme for Seychelles was signed between the European Union and the Government of Seychelles in December 2014 to assist Government in developing its resistance to these changing climate patterns. The programme of EUR 3 million is part of the European Union Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA+) which aims at strengthening dialogue and cooperation with developing countries, in particular least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). The GCCA + is one of the most significant climate initiatives in the world.

A major component of the project concerns the implementation of coastal climate change adaptation in risk-prone areas on La Digue. These activities are being implemented by the UNDP (United National Development Programme), given their experience and expertise in the domain in Mah and in La Digue. The project is expected to run until 2019.

Activities that will be implemented include the preparation of an Integrated Shoreline Management Plan, hydrological and topographic studies on flood buffering and salinization control measures. The activities will also focus on the restoration of wetlands, as a sustainable means to reduce flood risks.

More here:

EU partners Seychelles to address climatic conditions | News Ghana - News Ghana