(CNN) – Just a little over a year ago, the Seychelles looked amazing that passengers were falling almost unbelievably.
Revealed for its beautiful beaches and jungle landscapes, the Indian Ocean islands rode high as one of the most attractive destinations in the world, and it was not very popular.
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Numbers reached 4%, and tourism officials were preparing for what they expected to be a very successful 12 months.
But of course, the Covid-19 pandemic has paid off in almost every plan or forecast made for 2020 and the world as we knew it has inevitably changed. .
Like so many destinations that rely heavily on revenue from international visitors, the Seychelles, located 1,600 kilometers off the coast of Tanzania, has been hit hard by a coronavirus.
According to the Seychelles Tourist Board, tourists fell 70% last year and the region’s 2020 revenue fell by about $ 368 million.
“The country has been virtually suspended in terms of tourism activities,” Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism for the Seychelles, tells CNN Travel.
“And as our economy revolves around tourism, it means that other activities are also slowed down.
“Everything from fishing, to farming, arts and crafts, restaurants and bars. So we started the year in bad shape.”
However, officials have put out all stops to ensure passengers can return quickly and, more importantly, safely.
As of Thursday (March 25,) the Seychelles is lifting restrictions for all visitors, except those traveling from South Africa.
While incoming entrants are required to pass a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure, passengers are no longer subject to quarantine requirements or movement restrictions during their journey.
“More than 300 passengers were flown in the morning, which is the highest number we’ve seen in a day for a long, long time,” Radegonde said just hours after lifting restrictions.
“So far, our weekly figures have been around 200, so it’s good to have a plane full of passengers.”
Another 100 passengers were expected to arrive later Thursday, and the country expects hundreds more in the coming days.
‘Aggressive’ re-opening strategy
The Seychelles will open its borders to international visitors, excluding South African travelers, from 25 March.
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The move comes near the end of an “aggressive” vaccine distribution scheme that aims to fully vaccinate at least 70% of the estimated 98,000 Seychelles population.
Officials implemented the plan after receiving a donation of about 50,000 doses of vaccine from the United Arab Emirates government.
“Over 90% of our population has received the first dose of the vaccine and over 45% have already received the second dose,” Radegonde explained.
“We hope to have reached our target in the next few weeks, or certainly within April. “
But the Seychelles tourism team are encouraged by the number of bookings received so far and believe this is the right time to invite passengers back.
“We are confident that we have achieved the protection we deserve,” said Radegonde. “We have trained the centers. Our facilities are in place.
“The health facilities are there and the measures we have put in place are working. We are comfortable that we have achieved the protection we deserve. So we are comfortable reopening.”
Of course, it will not open up while much of the world is still infected with the virus without its challenges.
When the Maldives opened unconditionally in July 2020, it became an even more attractive option for travelers, especially as competitive destinations such as Tahiti, Bali and Phuket remained closed to international travelers. national.
However, officials had to re-tighten tensions a few months later, urging all passengers to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test when they arrived in the Maldives from September. .
Way to get over it
Popular destination revenues from tourism declined 62% in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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While allowing international travelers to enter regardless of their vaccine status is a big step on the right track, the current ban on travel in the UK, one of the largest European markets in the Seychelles, still an obstacle.
“Unfortunately there are still restrictions in a few of our traditional store markets and citizens cannot travel,” said Sherin Francis, chief executive of the Seychelles Tourist Board.
According to Francis, many of the travelers arriving in the Seychelles are now from places such as Russia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, India, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
“These are not markets we would normally rely on for tourism to come, but we have realized that a market is not important at all.”
As is the case throughout most of the world, visitors must wear a face mask, maintain social distance rules and clean their hands regularly.
However, Francis insists that holiday experience in the Seychelles remains unrestricted.
“There are very few destinations open to tourism at the moment with simple entry measures,” she says.
Safety priorities
Passengers to the Seychelles are no longer subject to quarantine requirements or movement restrictions.
Splitting
“And just like our slogan says, we really are another world. I don’t think there’s another destination that provides this kind of experience.”
“Nature, the slow pace of life, the lush green vegetation, the beautiful beaches. Warm temperatures all year round.
“All of this together truly makes the Seychelles a magical place to be, especially at a time when people are looking for outdoor activities, for nature and for fresh air.”
Near the equator, Bird Island is one of the most distinctive of the 115 Seychelles islands. It is also home to a special character, whose presence makes you feel like you have visited back in time.
Approximately 535 hotel resorts in the Seychelles have received the appropriate training and are available to accommodate international travelers at this time.
While getting the tourism industry back on track is a major priority for the country, keeping visitors and residents safe is a key concern.
“Safety has always been a strong USP for us,” Francis said.
As a result, the new measures are to be kept under review to ensure “that the health and safety of visitors and the local population is not put at risk.”
“Our health officers have been involved in everything we have done,” said Radegonde. “We would not have made the decisions we made without their blessing.
“We’re comfortable that the measures we’ve put in place are tight enough. Of course this is a fluid situation, no one knows where Covid is going.
“You hear about different changes every day. So if there are changes, we will change our protocol accordingly. It will never be a 100% fool proof. People still get their disease, there is no doubt about that.
“But in terms of the measures we have put in place, we are confident that we will not only protect our people, but also our visitors. ”