Sesel Sa! January - March 2015 Jan - March 2015 | Page 5

Foreword by Sherin Naiken CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board As we bid a fond farewell to 2014, we at the Seychelles Tourism Board are taking the time to reflect on how we are going to tackle our priority sectors this year. There is no denying that challenges during 2014 have come thick and fast including loss of air connectivity, severe budget restrictions and an inability due to dearth of resources to engage in above the line marketing activities. We have also been fighting the long standing perceptions of our destination being expensive, the ravages of Ebola and further perception issues on account of the spread of the disease and, of course, the ongoing economic recession in Europe. Now that we have entered 2015, we aim to raise the profile of Seychelles in such a way that will allow us to compete on par with our competitors, through marketing and advertising and also via finely-tuned and targeted communication campaigns that will also allow us to compete realistically with our rivals. Seychelles, already well known for its spectacular beaches, is naturally surrounded by the ocean; a Blue Economy asset we feel we should push harder this year to bring to the forefront. Our turquoise waters can offer so much to the world weary visitor; we have splendid sailing, wondrous diving and world-class fishing – all of which have not been given their rightful dues over the last few years. We at STB firmly believe that efficiently packaging and selling our abundant ocean, is the key to taking Seychelles as a destination to the next level. However, our best laid plans will not bear fruit without the involvement of the STB and the industry working together in close partnership to increase our market share and, most importantly, our yield. I believe that 2015 will prove to be the year that the tourism industry will undergo even more changes in order to keep ahead of the curve. We at STB hope you will all join us in the coming year and help to make it an unforgettable and prosperous one. JAN - MAR 2015 ISSUE NO. 6 | SESEL SA! 1