Minister Radegonde meets tour guide operators   |28 August 2021

The meeting between Minister Radegonde and the tour guides (Photo: Joena Meme)

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, yesterday held a meeting with tour guide operators.

The aim of the meeting, which forms part of his familiarisation programme in the tourism sector, was to discuss the challenges the tour guides are experiencing in their work and also to share with them on work being done in the tourism sector to support their business.

Also present at the meeting were the principal secretary for Tourism, Sherin Francis, and other senior staff from the ministry.

The main concern of the tour guides are lack of parking space, lack of activities for visitors and the problem of littering, among others.

With regard to parking space, the tour guides wanted a parking space closer to the Victoria market to facilitate disembarking and picking up of clients.

They also want such space facilities available at other locations, especially at the Seychelles International Airport.

The minister assured them that he will raise the parking space issue with the respective entities.

He also took the opportunity to inform them that the future plan is to make Victoria traffic free.

Lack of day and night entertainment to get tourists to spend while they enjoy their stay in the country, carried the weight of the discussion.  

Minister Radegonde explained that his ministry is in discussion with the Mayor’s Office, the local districts and other business partners, for the animation of Victoria and other places on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, for visitors and locals to enjoy. He noted that we should not depend only on government to bring life in Victoria and in other places as everyone can contribute to making the country become lively and enjoyable.       

“We all have to work together to push the tourism industry forward. We have to find ways to get the tourists who visit us to spend the maximum while on their holiday, as they are here to spend. And to do that we have to have innovative ideas that will get them to spend while they enjoy their holidays,” Minister Radegonde stated, noting that everyone has a role to play to make sure that the tourism industry, the pillar of the economy, moves forward.

The minister stated that since the re-opening of our country to tourism in March 2021, amid the pandemic, the incoming visitors are spending a lot, which is beyond expectation, and that through other innovative activities held for them, they will spend more.

Earlier in her introductory remark, PS Francis stated that at the end of August 15, 2021, at total of 90,000 visitors visited our country. She noted that it has been predicted that the figure will rise to 100,000 in the coming two weeks.

The littering of environment, especially on beaches and along trails, also took centrestage during the discussion where the tour guides asked for continued sensitisation of the public on the issue.

They also welcomed the improvement in toilet facilities at some places but noted that there is room for improvement at facilities in some areas.

Other issues discussed were safety on beaches and trails, including safety lights at public places, and refresher training sessions to upgrade knowledge, among others.

The tour guides also wanted to have concessions on their vehicles and the minister noted that the issue will be brought up with the Ministry of Finance. Access to serve cruise ships was also discussed.

The meeting was however cut short as the minister had another appointment.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Michael Thomas from Sey Discovery Tour, said that the meeting, albeit short, was very fruitful.

He stated that the meeting was long awaited and they were happy to have had the opportunity to put forward their concerns and they will be looking forward to the other meeting with the minister to continue with the discussion.

“If we as locals keep our country as welcoming as possible, regardless of where you work, it will be very good for the future of the country,” he said.

Minister Radegonde is expected to meet again with the tour guides to continue with the discussion.  

Patrick Joubert