Seychelles and Israel sign MoU for bilateral services   |07 September 2022

Mr Lotem (left) and PS Renaud exchange documents after the signing (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

• Doubles weekly flights to Israel from 14 to 28

Seychelles weekly flights to Israel will double in the coming weeks, according to a top government official.

It follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for Bilateral Air Services between the two countries during a short ceremony at the Botanical House yesterday afternoon.

The signing was done on behalf of Seychelles by the principal secretary for Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Alan Renaud, and on behalf of Israel by its newly accredited ambassador to Seychelles, Michael Lotem.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr Renaud described the event as a momentous occasion.

The agreement was first initiated in October 2015 and he described it an important document, which sets out the rules for air services between countries, passengers, cargo and mail.

“At its core what bilateral does is it forms links not just on a bilateral stance but to create friendship, cooperation, links of trade and cargo exchange,” explained Mr Renaud.

He said Israel had been instrumental in developing Seychelles’ tourism sector, helping to increase the number of visitors to its shores with the direct flights which started in 2020.

PS Renaud said from a few thousands in 2015, the number gradually rose from 4000 to 6000 and eventually to 12,800 arrivals in 2020.

“Israel was responsible for our opening in 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, so there’s no exaggeration to say Israel helped re-open Seychelles and bilaterals are signs of hope. In 2015 we signed for 14 flights a week with the hope that we will see more tourists, and we have,” he said.

PS Renaud added that since 2020, arrivals have hovered above 10,000 visitors and due to the success, the two countries have now agreed to expand the number of frequencies from 14 flights per week to 28 flights.

“That is the hope that we will continue to see more flights, we are looking forward to more business links, more tourism arrival and more exchanges between our two countries,” said PS Renaud.

For his part, Ambassador Lotem said he had highlighted the need to increase business opportunities during his talks earlier in the day with the president and vice-president and travelling direct to Seychelles “was a good start to foster business”.

He said that businessmen did not want to waste time and inconvenience themselves with long flights and he hopes that an increase in flight frequency will increase Israeli presence in Seychelles.

“Through this agreement, which is a basis for something that is going on, we will have more direct flights and more business and eventually more cargo because you can export and you can import, which goes hand in hand with business.”

Mr Lotem said the increase in the number of flights will also pave the way for more Israeli tourists to travel to Seychelles.

PS Renaud said the additional flights will be coming into force in the coming weeks.

Patsy Canaya