The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) partnered with Qatar Airways to take part in the 2018 Travel & Adventure Show in Los Angeles, USA, intensifying efforts to promote the destination on that market.
The annual event allowing visitors to discover endless vacation options, new destinations from around the globe and come face to face with thousands of travel experts, was held at the Los Angeles Conference Centre, from February 23 to 25.
For the past 14 years, the Travel & Adventure Show has conducted 76 events in the major cities of the United States of America, connecting over 1.5 million travel enthusiasts, with over 3,700 unique travel professionals, facilitating face to face dialogue which has resulted in more than 2.1 billion dollars in travel bookings worldwide.
The Seychelles Tourism Board Director for Africa & the Americas, David Germain, together with the Qatar Airways representative, showcased Seychelles to thousands of consumers, travel trade representatives and media who visited this year’s edition of the exhibition.
The presence of Qatar Airways at the Seychelles Stand, as the airline partner, offered the opportunity for potential travellers to be presented with the availability of air links.
Qatar Airways offers daily flights from Los Angeles to its central hub, Doha, with easy connections to Seychelles as the airline also operates daily flights to the island nation from Doha.
Mr. Germain said: “Collaboration is key as we endeavor to grow the Seychelles’ tourism market share in North America, and on the entire continent.”
“Seychelles’ participation at the Travel and Adventure Show has provided the Seychelles Tourism Board with the opportunity to develop new partnerships with the travel trade, media and consumers in general,” he added.
Visitors to the Seychelles stand also had the opportunity to take part in a raffle. The draw, which will take place at the Qatar Airways office in New York next week will see the winner awarded with two return flight tickets from Los Angeles to Seychelles sponsored by Qatar Airways, and five nights’ accommodation in Seychelles for two – two nights at Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa, and three nights at Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa.
The Seychelles Tourism Board is aiming for increased visitor arrivals from North America in 2018. Mr. Germain said Seychelles continues to be featured in a number of itineraries in North America. Flights to and from North America to Africa and the Middle East in on the increase as Kenya Airways has announced new flight schedule between New York and Nairobi from July this year.
Flights are also available from other airlines serving Seychelles, with easy connections to the archipelago from either Africa, Europe or the Middle East.
Visitors from America has increased by 9 percent to date in 2018, with the USA having sent 1,258 visitors to Seychelles from January to February 25 this year, which represents a 3 percent growth in arrival numbers. In 2017, America recorded a 52 percent increase in visitor arrivals to Seychelles.
“It is clear that the STB’s marketing efforts in North America is bearing fruits, with a consistent increase in visitor arrivals yearly, as more and more North American travelers continue to gain access to information about the Seychelles. Support received from trade partners also bring added value to the STB’s marketing efforts in the marketplace, and such collaboration and support is very much appreciated.”
As part of its increased marketing efforts in North America this year, STB is also aiming to increase the destination’s visibility in Canada. A Canadian TV Group will be coming to Seychelles in May, with the visit timed to coincide with the Seychelles FetAfrik. Canadian agents will also benefit from a familiarization trip to Seychelles in October.
