Almost 1500 businesses registered on ParrAPI |09 January 2024

The official launch of ParrAPI in April 2021

Despite initially facing significant challenges in encouraging tourism businesses to register and create listings on the tourism digital platform ‘ParrAPI’, there are presently approximately 1500 registered organisations.

Launched in April 2021, the Tourism Data Warehouse aims to establish a central hub of tourism information, and distribute it across multiple platforms. It functions as a free marketing tool for tourism businesses, who can post and maintain listings that are visible to visitors through the official destination website, www.seychelles.com, and the ‘Visit Seychelles’ mobile application.

Organisations are responsible for managing their own account and listings, and the department ensures the data's relevance and accuracy through a one-year listing expiry. Submitted listings undergo quality assurance for approval.

As per the department’s records, there are a total of 650 live listings on the destination website. The destination website had also risen to the top search result, experiencing an increase in website traffic due to the expanded content.

Director general for destination marketing at Tourism Seychelles, Bernadette Willemin, highlighted the importance of social media marketing to give tourism businesses a competitive advantage.

“Building a robust digital presence is imperative in today's market to effectively reach a broader clientele. A comprehensive display of digital products not only enhances visibility but also serves as a powerful tool to connect with a wider audience. Recognising the significance of listing products is crucial for local businesses, featuring a diverse range not only extends market reach but also positions them to cater to various consumer preferences,” she noted.

“Embracing a strong digital footprint is essential for attracting potential customers, staying competitive, and fostering continuous growth in the dynamic digital marketplace. In line with this commitment, the Tourism department diligently enhances and expands the platform daily, ensuring enhanced visibility for  destination Seychelles,” Mrs Willemin added.

Since its inception, the department has directed much effort towards encouraging operators to make use of the platform. While some business owners recognised the initiative's advantages from the onset, others required some convincing.

Efforts are ongoing to continuously educate business owners about the benefits to their business, to achieve the objective of having every tourism business in Seychelles registered and actively using ParrAPI to showcase their ventures through the platform.

The Platform is being improved daily, with bug fixes and changes to make it more user friendly and tailored to the Seychelles market.

Additionally, a support team is available to assist anyone with queries, as well as identifying weaknesses in the platform to be worked on.

Laura Pillay