SEYCHELLES ‘FESTIVAL OF THE SEA’ SHOWCASES A COLOURFUL WORLD UNDERWATER
(Posted 22nd November 2014)
Tourism ministers from the Indian Ocean Rim Association, presently assembled in the Seychelles, can at the end of their meeting witness firsthand how the archipelago’s tourism promoters have successfully tapped into the festival and events market segment to bring more tourists to the islands, tourists in search of more than just sea, sun and fun.
Now in its 24th year is SUBIOS, also known as the Seychelles Festival of the Sea, one of the early efforts to introduce visitors to the hidden secrets of the islands, hidden underneath the surface of the Indian Ocean, manifested by often outright spectacular underwater scenery.
Competitions for best picture and best documentary film mark the proceedings of the festival as do the writing of poems and artwork dedicated to the hidden riches the ocean holds.
Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St. Ange yesterday officially launched this year’s SUBIOS Festival of the Sea at the Eden Blue Hotel on Eden Island following which a range of activities across the main island of Mahe will unfold, all dedicated to showcasing marine sports and related activities like sailing competitions, snorkeling and diving. Also this year will an exhibition showcase the past 24 years of SUBIOS and how far this event has come to be one of the most fancied festivals, only more recently overtaken in popularity by the Seychelles Carnival.
On Sunday, designated as a family day to allow as many Seychellois and their children to learn about the festival’s objectives and have some fun too, will this year’s event come to a close, before in a year the silver jubilee, the 25th anniversary of SUBIOS will no doubt see some very special activities and will be given extra attention by the country’s tourism gurus.
Several hotels are offering special seafood meals to showcase the rich pickings of local fishermen who go out every day to make a living from fishing and selling fresh crustaceans and fish to the local restaurants and the hotels.
The programme shown below is giving an overview of locations and dedications of this year’s SUBIOS for those who are on the islands for a vacation and want to take time out from the sunbeds and mingle with their Seychellois hosts in celebrating the Festival of the Sea.
Seychelles, truly Another World.
