TRAVEL & LEISURE READERS NAME SEYCHELLES TOP ISLAND DESTINATION
(Posted 10th July 2016)
It is no doubt scenes and vistas like the one shown which have impressed the readers of one of America’s foremost travel publications, Travel & Leisure, when they voted the Seychelles as the Indian Ocean’s top holiday islands, ahead of Mauritius and notably Zanzibar which is part of the United Republic of Tanzania and comprises among others the two main islands of Unguja and Pemba.
The hugely prestigious Travel + Leisure 2016 World’s Best Awards are voted by readers of the international publication, who are experienced travellers. They are asked to cast their votes annually for hotels, destinations and companies that epitomize the very best in travel globally.
Islands are rated on the following characteristics: natural attractions/beaches, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people/friendliness, value, and as an optional criteria, its romantic appeal. For each characteristic, respondents are asked to rate a candidate on a five-point scale of excellence which gave the Seychelles 83.69 points out of a maximum 100, having the archipelago claim top spot ahead of fellow Vanilla Islands member Mauritius and the so called Spice Island of Zanzibar.
Travel + Leisure Editor Nathan Lump said when making the announcements: ‘The Seychelles is an idyllic destination with pristine beaches, incredible luxury resorts, and abundant wildlife, so it’s no wonder Travel + Leisure readers selected it as number one among islands in its region this year‘.
Renowned for its exquisite natural beauty and fascinating culture and heritage, The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, offering an exclusive tropical island escape and range of experiences to suit every taste.
David Germain, Director for Africa and the Americas, Seychelles Tourism Board responded as follows when told about the award: ‘Achieving the distinction of Top Island in Africa and the Middle East is a tremendous honour for The Seychelles, recognising that the region has much to offer in terms of world-class island experiences‘.
David then added that improved air access to the Seychelles has paved the way for double-digit tourist arrival growth over the past few years, as the destination’s accessibility and awareness, through the recommendations of respected influencers, have increased.
‘Achieving an award of this magnitude proves that The Seychelles continues to exceed the expectations of our visitors, who in return share their experiences with their friends and family‘.
Emirates flies a Boeing B777 twice a day from Dubai to Mahe while national airline Air Seychelles, in conjunction with partner Etihad, also flies double daily from Abu Dhabi. Qatar Airways will be resuming flights from Doha to Mahe later this year while Condor, the German holiday carrier, will add a second weekly flight in a couple of months. Turkish Airlines too has indicated that they will commence flights to Mahe from October this year adding yet more capacity and options of how to reach the paradise islands of the Seychelles.
Other main airlines flying to Mahe are Kenya Airways via Nairobi, connecting their 43 African and ten more international destinations to Mahe while Air Austral offers a twice a week service from Reunion island’s capital of St. Denis.
A substantially widened network by national airline Air Seychelles, now flying several times a week from Mahe to Johannesburg, Madagascar, Mauritius and notably Mumbai, has equally contributed to greater connectivity and added seats from key markets such as India.
For the full details of the vote click on the link below. Added information about Destination Seychelles can be found via www.seychelles.travel
http://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best/islands-in-africa-middle-east
