The Indian Ocean Vanilla Island’s ‘Carnaval International de Victoria’ getting early press attention

 

Magazine after magazine from the world over are focusing their attention on the Indian Ocean Region where the Vanilla Islands of the Seychelles and La Reunion will again this year be staging their annual March Carnival from the 2nd to the 4th March in the beautiful islands of the Seychelles.

ELITE, the Jolly Press Prestige Magazine has just come out with a three page spread on the carnival with a difference. With pretty pictures taken by the Editor of the Magazine when he covered the 2011 Edition of the carnival now known as the Carnival of Carnivals because it remains the only such event where the best carnivals of the world parade side by side followed by cultural groups from the Community of Nations.

Only last week the The Quarterly Magazine of Singapore brought out a feature entitled CALL FOR A BIG CELEBRATION – Seychelles sets Stage for a 2nd Carnaval International de Victoria. The feature spoke about the successes of the Vanilla Islands carnival that is staged in the Seychelles. “The biggest event of 2012 calendar will no doubt be the Carnaval International de Victoria” they said.

The Italian published Prestige Magazine “ELITE” has now also come out with their feature splashing out the program of the Indian Ocean Island’s unique event that continues to attract the attention of the Press and followers of carnivals.

Alain St.Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board and Pascal Viroleau, Head of the La Reunion Tourism (IRT) are now in the final stages of preparations for their unique carnival. “The press have confirmed that they are coming to cover the event, delegations from the world over are coming to be part of the carnival procession and both Seychelles and La Reunion are happy that we are again staging one of the most colourful but diverse carnival processions” Alain St.Ange and Pascal Viroleau said.

Seychelles man in Korea increasing visibility of the Island’s Eco-Healing Marathon

Mr Jeong, the Seychelles Consul in Korea and Head of the Tourism Board’s Office in Seoul in The Seoul Daily Newspaper

The Seoul Daily Newspaper has come out with a full page on Seychelles following an interview with Mr Jeong, the Seychelles Consul in Korea and Head of the Tourism Board’s Office in Seoul.

The Seoul Daily Newspaper,  one of Top 5 daily newspapers in Korea with 2.5 million circulation – featured Mr. Jeong’s interview which touched on Seychelles as the new destination for Koreans, the Seychelles annual Eco-Healing Marathon and other events in the tropical islands of the Seychelles that were organized and managed by the ‘Celebrate Seychelles’ Department at the Tourism Board.

Mr Jeong also explains for all Koreans to see how he came to work for the Republic of Seychelles, and he takes time to explain the history of Korea-Seychelles bilateral cooperation and existing relationship.

When questioned about the Interview and the coverage it received, Mr Jeong said that the full page article had contributed in the promotion of the Seychelles.  “It has helped increase awareness of Seychelles in Korea” Mr Jeong said.

http://www.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20111216027006

Emirates Bride Magazine speaks about a Seychelles Honeymoon

The Emirates Bride Magazine has come out with five pages on a Honeymoon in the Seychelles.  The magazine speaks about the dream honeymoon holiday in the unique mid ocean island destination.

“When it comes to idyllic beach getaways for that all-romantic honeymoon look no further than the Indian Ocean with its beautiful islands for your own piece of paradise”.

Seychelles made worldwide news as the honeymoon destination when the Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge of the United Kingdom used these tropical islands for their own honeymoon.  What was even more remarkable is that privacy and discretion available in Seychelles ensured that no pictures of the newlyweds made it to the tabloids thus giving the guarantee to every newlywed that they can still in this day and age enjoy themselves out our prying eyes of the press.

The Emirates Bride Magazine pushes the closeness of Seychelles to the whole Middle East with a flying time of just 4 hours + and that the Seychelles remains the destination with no visa requirements for any passport holder.  This Visa Free entry into Seychelles is a point that the Seychelles Tourism Board harpers on when they say that Seychelles remains friends of all and enemies of none.

Seychelles is known for its natural beauty and for its clean and white picture perfect sandy beaches.  The clear turquoise blue seas of the Seychelles provides for some of the best year round swimming as these tropical islands do not have winter months.  The cleanliness of Seychelles, the friendliness of its population, the safety of the islands and their natural beauty provides without any doubt for the best and most romantic honeymoon for any newlywed.

‘Princess in Paradise’ is the latest photo shoot to benefit from the unique beauty of the Seychelles

Seychelles was complimentary this week with the latest photo shoot posted on the online version for Wedding & Style Magazine published in Singapore.  “This project was initiated by the Seychelles Singapore office in June 2011 in collaboration with the Raffles Hotel of Praslin in the Seychelles” says Maria Morel from the Seychelles Tourism Board Singapore Office.

The article and pictures seen on http://lifestyle.xin.msn.com/en/magazine/style-weddings/feature-ar.aspx?cp-documentid=5428649 is entitled ‘Princess in Paradise’.  The review is about the Mediacorp starlet Rebecca Lim soaking in the sun, sea and tranquility in the tourist destination islands of the Seychelles whilst looking aisle-ready in a collection of evening and bridal gowns.

Alain St.Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board said that this photo shoot managed to capture the extraordinary beauty of the Seychelles as they showcased the spectacular collection of evening and bridal gowns.  “Seychelles is one of these very few countries when you land you always say that the pictures you have seen before do not do justice to the beauty of these islands” Alain St.Ange says.

Seychelles continuously invites Press and those responsible for Photo Shoots to visit them.  Their Tourism Board is always fast to say that their country has nothing to hide.  “A beautiful country – we have, amazing beach scenes with turquoise blue seas as the back drop – we have, diversity in island settings we have, big granitic boulders shaped to every taste – we also have said Alain St.Ange, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board.

Seychelles – ‘Small Country, Big Influence’ says Business Beijing Magazine

The Seychelles Ambassador accredited to China, H.E. Mr. Philippe Le Gall has been prominently featured in the latest issue of the highly popular and respected Beijing Magazine.

The four page article shows a photograph a portrait of Ambassador Le Gall holding the island’s unique ‘coco de mer’ nut.  The article says that Ambassador Le Gall of the Seychelles brings a unique point of view to Sino-African relations.  “Representing a small African country, but also a country active in the Small Island Developing States movement, Le Gall is also accredited to Japan, the Philippines, the Koreas, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia.  Much of his efforts is spent promoting tourism to the Seychelles, but the country’s political importance should not be underestimated” says Charles J. Dukes in his feature article in Beijing Business Magazine.

Ambassador Philippe Le Gall is not shy to say in his interview that “This year we opened a tourism office in our embassy, and a Seychellois tourism attaché has been appointed”.  The Beijing Business Magazine says that this shows clearly the commitment of the Seychelles Ambassador to China for the economy of his country.

Tourism remains the Pillar of the Seychelles Economy and Ambassador Le Gall is known to have been working tirelessly in the development of this key industry from China.  The CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Alain St.Ange congratulated Ambassador Philippe Le Gall when he was in China this week as part of the Presidential Delegation of the island’s President James Michel.

“The consolidation and the continued development of the Seychelles tourism industry is the responsibility of every Seychellois and above all that of the country’s representatives based overseas.  We cannot depend on that pillar of our economy and not see the importance to work to consolidate it.  No Seychellois should be shy to be seen to be defending his country’s tourism industry, and there is no better way to defend it than to be seen to be actively helping in its progress” said Alain St.Ange in China this week.

Seychelles launches promotional brochure in Chinese Language

The Chinese version of the Seychelles Brochure

The Seychelles Tourism Board representatives and members of their China Office were happy to launch in Beijing their promotional full colour brochures printed in the Chinese language.

Mr. Alain St.Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, and Board Director, Mr. Conrad Benoiton, who were in China as part of the Seychelles President James Michel’s delegation on a working visit to China, were joined by the Board’s Marketing Executives based in Beijing Mr. Jean-Luc Lai-Lam and Mr. Lee to bring out the latest documentation for the promotion of Seychelles in yet another language.

The Seychelles Tourism Office in China is situated in the premises of the Seychelles Embassy in Beijing at Dongdaqioa Road and queries can be posted to Irjll.sey@gmail.com or Jean-luc.l@seychelles.com

The Seychelles Ambassador accredited to China, H.E. Mr. Philippe Le Gall has been instrumental with the setting up of the Seychelles Tourist Office in China.  “Seychelles is a small country dependent on its tourism industry, and the active part being played by Ambassador Le Gall and so many of our Diplomats are commendable.  The visit by the President of our Republic shows that opportunities Seychelles sees in China.  We now have our promotional brochures in the Chinese language and we have taken the decision to now move to get our main website:  www.seychelles.travel also translated in the Chinese language.  We are now actively looking for direct air access between China and Seychelles, we have now signed a working Agreement with the Beijing Tourism Group which opens the way for more tourists from China so we need to ensure we can provide all necessary information as and when needed in the language of choice for the Chinese Population and this is through our website and promotional brochures” said Alain St.Ange this morning in Beijing.

Alain St.Ange and Conrad Benoiton at the Beijing Seychelles Tourist Office with Mr Jean-Luc Lai-Lam & Mr Lee

 

The Korea Travel News making Seychelles more known

The Korea Travel News has this week joined forces with the Seychelles Tourism Board to make these tropical islands more known in Korea. The known and much respected Korea Travel News carried an interview made by Alain St.Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board when he transited Seoul from the 19th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly.

The interview centered on the attractions of the Seychelles for would be Korean travelers. In the interview Alain St.Ange speaks about the unique beauty of the Seychelles, the diversity that exists with this group of mid ocean islands offering both hilly granitic islands and the low lying flat coral islands giving to visitors a two destination option in the one holiday.

The Head of the Seychelles Tourism also spoke about the niche market options citing big game fishing, diving, sailing, bush walks, island hoping, bird watching, casino as ideal holiday activities in what is considered the last paradise on earth. Alain St.Ange also highlights in this published interview the safety aspect of Seychelles as a crime free destination and one where Korean Visitors do not need visas nor inoculations for entry.

Seychelles is more known in Korea since the official visit by President James Michel to Korea just over a year ago. The Seychelles Tourism Board now has a fully fledged office in Seoul.

Seychelles in China – Tourism CEO faces the Media

Alain St.Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board faced the Chinese TV Stations for interviews after the island’s President, Mr. James Michel on an official working visit had addressed a large group of Chinese VIPs and Press.

Shadow Zhang and Julia Li Zhu, the Producer and Reporter respectively of World Film Report of China Movie Channel, Miya Feng the Program Director of China’s Blue Ocean Network and Bobby Zhou, the Production Centre Reporter for China’s propeller TV all did back to back interviews with Alain St.Ange, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board who was in Beijing, China as part of President Michel’s Delegation in China.

The interviews concentrated on the unique selling points of Seychelles and why would the Chinese Holiday Makers choose Seychelles for their Holiday of the Lifetime.

In the interviews, Alain St.Ange says it is the diversity in the composition of islands that make up the Archipelago of the Seychelles.  ‘We have both the granite islands with towering mountains and the flat coral islands making Seychelles the unique tourism destination offering two destination possibilities in the one country.  We have diversity in our population as we have a unique blend of cuisine.  Seychelles is the land of perpetual summer where no one requires a visa to enter and where the People of China would not require any inoculation to travel to because the islands are disease free and safe’ said Alain St.Ange.

The CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board also highlighted the extraordinary beauty of the islands with award winning white sandy beaches and clear turquoise blue seas.  He touched on the Niche Holiday attractions with many endemic birds, spectacular diving and amazing big game fishing.  He spoke about the virgin walks and trails for hikers and the possibility of island hopping.

“Seychelles is ready to receive Chinese visitors and we shall work with our Chinese Tour Operators to increase the numbers of Chinese visitors to Seychelles” said Alain St.Ange.

Tour Hebdo – The French Magazine for Tourism Professionals takes up the Seychelles objectives

The French Magazine for Tourism Professionals – Tour Hebdo – has come out with an article that lists the objectives of the Seychelles Tourism Board.  Tour Hebdo highlights that the Seychelles is now set of developing its niche markets.

In its article on the Creole Tropical islands it quotes Alain St.Ange, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board as saying:  “Yes the Seychelles positions itself as the idyllic destination with beaches considered amongst the best in the world, but we must emphasize that we are developing our niche markets such as sailing, scuba diving and snorkeling, the island hopping holidays which enables us to showcase our diversity as we continue to preserve our environment for the well being of our people and for our country.  Among the latest developments we need to highlight the very popular and successful Seychelles’ Carnaval International de Victoria which will again take place from the 2 to the 4 March 2012 in Victoria”.

Tour Hebdo accompanied the article of the Seychelles with a picture of Alain St.Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board alongside Bernadette Willemin the Seychelles Tourism European Director.

Seychelles Consul in Korea publishes his book about marathons and the beauty of the Seychelles Eco-Healing Marathon

 Dong Chang Jeong publishes his book entitled “Life Changes When You Run”.  Mr Jeong as he is affectionately called is also the Seychelles Consul in Korea and he heads the Seychelles Tourism Board’s Operation in Seoul.

Mr Jeong’s 247 pages book has some seven pages dedicated to the Seychelles’ own Eco-Healing Marathon that takes place at the end of February / early March annually.  This Eco-Healing Marathon which attracts enthusiasts from the four corners of the world is the brainchild of Mr Jeong himself with the help of the Seychelles Tourism Board’s Korea Manager, Julie Kim.

Dong Chang Jeong is a keen marathon runner and has participated in such races right around the world.  His Book “Life Changes When You Run” takes readers to the different exciting marathons and covers with two pages of pictures his own experience as a participant in the annual Seychelles Eco-Healing Marathon.  With a picture of his own feet following a hard marathon run, Mr Jeong tells the story of how his life has been changed by participating in marathons.