ind 3-4 jun19 16/6/09 17:21 Page 53
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June. MTPA UK will take part in TTG’s THE SEYCHELLES.
roadshows in June/July and run a fam trip STATS: Just under 159,000 total visitors in
with Air Mauritius later in the year. 2008, which is 1% below the Seychelles’ best
ever year in 2007. So far this year, figures are
PROBLEMS FACED: Mauritius faces the chal- 10% down. UK arrivals increased by 9% last
lenge of communicating that it fits many year to 13,800. The UK is the fourth major
kinds and ages of travellers, from families to market behind France, Italy and Germany.
golfers and eco enthusiasts. With so many
new hotels having opened in the past couple TOURIST BOARD: The Seychelles Tourism
of years and more to come – most at the top Board is once again planning to open a UK
end – overcapacity in a recession and subse- office, after an absence of 18 months or so.
quent price dropping has to be monitored. Stephanie Medor, assistant country market-
ing coordinator, based in the Seychelles, said
OPERATOR VIEW: Tropical Locations reports this could be as early as July. The tourist
Mauritius as 18% up, based on the island’s board is also engaged in Affordable
ability to deliver real value for money. Seychelles, a promotional campaign to
Enchanting Holidays’ head of product and challenge the perception that the islands
ourism
marketing, Shafique Cockar, said: “Of course are only for the rich. Seychelles Smart is an
we are feeling some impact of the general online programme being updated to educate Sri Lanka T
meltdown. But because we operate a luxury agents and operators. Dambulla Caves: Good-value Sri Lanka is recovering from its civil war
programme, we seem to coping well – our
average selling price has gone up by £300.” PROBLEMS FACED: After years of enjoying SRI LANKA.
a reputation for exclusivity and prices to STATS: Total arrivals are around 500,000 a
match, the tourist office faces the constant year. In 2008 UK visitors dropped more than
THE MALDIVES. battle of getting across the message that you 10%, to 85,000. The island’s 30-year civil war
STATS: The destination attracts about can “do” the Seychelles on a smaller budget. reached what appeared to be a conclusion
600,000 visitors a year, but there was only Guesthouses and self-catering properties are this spring, but the violent conflict is blamed
1.1% growth last year. Arrivals in the first offering great deals, and the cost of eating for a further 11.7% year-on-year drop in UK
quarter of this year were down by 10.3%. The out is quite reasonable. arrivals between January and April 2009. Sri
UK is the Maldives’ leading source market. Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau’s market-
OPERATOR VIEW: Seychelles for Sunset ing manager in the UK, Nabeel Shariff, said:
TOURIST BOARD: Presence through the UK Faraway Holidays is up on 2008 by 11-12%, “At the beginning of the year, we were aim-
office has been barely visible. With 60 new while Air Seychelles is offering half-price ing for 90,000 visitors from the UK for holi-
islands up for grabs, 9,000 bed spaces and companion fares. Elite Vacations, the only days in Sri Lanka. We are confident we can
$3 billion worth of private development, operator with a dedicated Seychelles reduce the deficit suffered in the early part
the focus for the tourist board is on facility brochure, is a staunch supporter of the of the year and meet the original target.”
development, training, medium-grade “small is affordable” philosophy.
resorts and diversification into areas such as Managing director Peter Jackson said: TOURIST BOARD: With the cessation of the
ecotourism. “These smaller hotels are the future for the civil war between the Sri Lankan army and
Seychelles, because they open it up to a far the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the
PROBLEMS FACED: The government has said wider audience.” tourist office has pumped $20 million into
it wants to boost its midmarket offering, its Sri Lanka: Small Miracle international
rather than creating and relying on luxury campaign to run on TV, radio, print and
resorts. The new policy also opens up more other media from June 23 with the hope of
new areas but developing an efficient intra- boosting visitor numbers by 20%. Another
island transport network to service these fam trip is planned later in the year.
islands in the long term will be a challenge.
PROBLEMS FACED: Changing perceptions
OPERATOR VIEW: Tropical Locations group about Sri Lanka will be crucial for boosting
head of product David Kevan said: “With net foreign-exchange reserves and getting
rates in excess of $500 per night, excluding tourism back on track as well as opening
meals, the Maldives is in danger of pricing up the tourism potential of the north.
itself out of the UK market.” Premier Holidays
product manager Nikki Hain said she OPERATOR VIEW: Tropical Locations’ David
welcomes the projected growth of midmarket Kevan said: “In terms of low cost, Sri Lanka
all-inclusive product: “It’s the top-end resorts is one of the most attractive destinations. It
that are suffering right now.” The destina- o
urism
has a good selection of mid-range hotels that
tion is set to benefit tremendously from offer superb value, although generally the
chelles T
British Airways’ recent announcement of a Sey quality is several levels below what you will
new direct service in October. The Seychelles is marketing itself as “not just for the rich” find in the Maldives and Mauritius.”
19.06.2009 53
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