SEYCHELLES WENT TO GUANGZHOU TO TAP YET MORE INTO FASTEST GROWING MARKET
(Posted 26th March 2015)
The Seychelles’ Tourism Board, like their colleagues from Reunion, a fellow Vanilla Island member, lets no opportunity pass by to make a presence and show flag across the world’s leading tourism trade shows. Back from the 2015 Guangzhou International Travel Fair are the participants now looking forward to receiving yet more bookings from what has become the Seychelles’ fastest growing producer market, with phenomenal growth rates in recent years.
As one of the most important professional travel fair in Southern China, GITF this year has drawn the attention of people in the tourism industry from 43 countries and attracted some 780 exhibitors with total display area of 23,000sqm.
The Seychelles islands were showcased in a 36sqm independent stand and had dynamic pictures of great beaches as well as elements of local culture. The STB team was headed by the Regional Marketing Manager of Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) – Mr. Jean-Luc Lai-Lam, Senior Marketing Executive of STB HQ – Ms. Stephanie Lablache and Senior Marketing Executive for China – Mr. Li Huanhuan.
Alongside the STB team were Seychelles local trade partners: Air Seychelles Sales Manager Hong Kong & Southern China – Mr. Stephen LeungStephen.Leung , Creole Travel Services China Representative – Ms. Emily Liu Emily.Liu ,Constance Hotels & Resorts Regional Marketing Executives – Ms. Emily Lee info & Ms. Kaven Li kl, 7 Degrees South China Representative – Ms. Qi Lanqiu china , Savoy Resorts & SPA China Representative – Ms. Bianca Yusalesasia , Kempinski Seychelles Resort Representative – Mrs. Tat-Leong Sweeting tatleong & Ms. Julie Aiken and Mason’s Travel Representative – Mr. Song Jianjian song jianjiansong .
‘The Seychelles stand deemed very popular for both Chinese trade partners and the public from this region; whereby new & old partners showed their interest in the Seychelles products/services and as a result help to create more visibility for the islands’ said Mr. Lai-Lam when commenting on the success of STB’s attendance.
Media partners such as Travel Link Daily & Guangdong TV interviewed the Seychelles Tourism Board representative and reported on the Seychelles as being the new hot holiday destination in China.
Air Seychelles presently flies three times a week via Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong from where visitors to the archipelago can enjoy a touch of Creole hospitality the moment they step on board but other carriers like Emirates also connect China to the islands, with in fact double daily services from Dubai to Mahe. It is in fact the level of connectivity which is often named as a key factor in the sharp rise of visitors’ numbers besides the Seychelles also embracing the Chinese culture with their Seychelles – China Day festival.
Notably is it often the smaller countries across Africa and in particular the islands which work the tourism trade shows around the globe with some vigour. In contrast are many of the more fancied tourism countries from the African mainland absent from many of the trade fairs and concentrate on just a few, but leaving out such opportunities to make inroads in to the Chinese outbound market is an omission many may rue when the visitor streams then bypass them.
Not so for the Seychelles however which has places tourism attaches in their embassy in Beijing and their consulates in Shanghai and the Air Seychelles’ office in Hong Kong, leaving nothing to chance.
For added information about Destination Seychelles click on www.seychelles.travel
