SEYCHELLES AND KENYA SET FOR CLOSER ECONOMIC COOPERATION
(Posted 11th June 2014)
Information was just received about a visit by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Amina Mohamed, to the Seychelles where she met President James Alix Michel yesterday. A range of areas of mutual interest like ocean security, economic development, cultural exchanges and improved trade relations were discussed, ahead of a visit by Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta to the Seychelles later in the year.
Notably were key business stakeholders from Kenya part of the delegation, among them the Chairman of Kenya’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kiprono Kittony, who met his counterpart for added bilateral talks.
Kenya and the Seychelles already have a Memorandum of Understanding in place for twin centre holidays, whereby tourists coming to the Seychelles can combine their trip with a safari in Kenya, significant in coming months as the annual migration of the big herds from the Serengeti has already reached the Kenyan Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Kenya Airways presently flies four times a week between Nairobi and Mahe and it is an open secret that the Seychelles would like to see the number of flights gradually move towards a daily connection. With no Visa required for visitors from Africa, in fact from anywhere around the world, are the Seychelles welcoming guests from Africa with open arms – the only requirements being a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate, a return ticket, a confirmed booking for accommodation and sufficient funds. Kenya Airways with a network across the African continent, is a preferred partner to work with to bring more tourists from the mainland to the archipelago.
(Picture courtesy of State House Victoria, showing President Michel welcoming Kenya’s Foreign Secretary Amina Mohamed)
Seychelles’ tourism sources have in the past expressed their hope that Kenya will in coming years more actively participate in the annual Carnival International de Victoria after making a maiden appearance this year with a group of Masai dancers, and perhaps become one of the co-hosts of the event. The Seychelles in turn has in the past shown solidarity with the Kenyan tourism trade by attending the Magical Kenya Travel Expo, where the island’s tourism sector promoted twin centre holidays. Watch this space.
