London, UK – Tourism Seychelles made a significant impact at the 2023 World Travel Market (WTM) in London, showcasing the archipelago as a premier global travel destination. The event, which took place from November 6 to 8, saw the participation of over 4,000 exhibitors, with Seychelles firmly establishing its presence.

According to Seychelles News Agency, Tourism Seychelles, the marketing arm of the Ministry of Tourism, highlighted their successful participation in a recent communique. Bernadette Willemin, the director general for destination marketing, emphasized the importance of the event in maintaining Seychelles’ visibility on the international stage. She expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting the event’s role in fostering interest in Seychelles and promoting it as a destination for transformative experiences.

Tourism is a crucial contributor to the economy of Seychelles, an island nation in the western Indian Ocean. To maximize exposure and business opportunities, 11 local travel trade partners joined Tourism Seychelles at the event. These representatives engaged in business-to-business meetings with international buyers throughout the three-day event.

Eddy D’Offay, representing Hotel L’ Archipel on Praslin, was particularly pleased with the event’s turnout and the quality of the meetings he had. Comparing his experience to his previous participation in 2013, D’Offay noted a significant improvement in the quality of meetings and overall positive experience at this year’s WTM.

The event also included the WTM 2023 ministerial conference, where Seychelles’ Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, was present. The conference, themed “Transforming Tourism Through Youth and Education,” brought together around 40 tourism ministers from across the globe.

In a bid to enhance cooperation between Seychelles and Ethiopia, Minister Radegonde met with his Ethiopian counterpart, Nasise Challi. They explored potential areas of collaboration between the two countries.

While in London, Minister Radegonde and Bernadette Willemin engaged in strategic meetings with key airline and trade partners. Discussions focused on maintaining the connectivity of the island destination, strengthening existing routes, and increasing collaboration. Additionally, they participated in television interviews with major networks like BBC and CNBC and met with travel trade publications such as TTG Media, Travel Matters, and Travel Bulletin, further amplifying Seychelles’ presence in the global tourism market.