More Seychelles Smart agents in France |15 November 2008

Local trade partners have been hosting groups of French travel agents as part of the programme, launched in 2007 to boost their experience of the products Seychelles has to offer.

The first group was hosted in April and the second towards the end of last month. The latest group arrived here on Wednesday and will leave on Monday.

These groups are made up only of those agents who completed all the Smart modules at home and qualified for the final module, an educational visit to Seychelles.

The agents are given a full schedule, visiting various hotels and tourist attractions on the main islands.  Their trip provides as much variety as possible so they are better able to sell the idea of Seychelles’ diversity to their customers.

During their stay they try their hand at various activities such as scuba diving, golf, sailing and cruising, and Creole cooking. Short refresher courses presented by local specialists are also organised, especially in niche areas.

Among the hotels and other attractions the agents have visited are La Reserve, Labriz Silhouette, Hilton Northolme Resort and Spa, St Anne Resort, Banyan Tree Resort, Patatran Village, Octopus Dive Centre, L’Union Estate, Anse Source d’Argent, Le Duc De Praslin, Acajou, L’Archipel, Coco de Mer, Indian Ocean Lodge and the Vallée de Mai.

Local partners taking care of the agents are Galeries Lafayette, Beachcomber Tours, Mason’s Travel, Air Seychelles, the STB and several hotels.

After their educational visit the travel agents become Seychelles Smart agents and are qualified to sell the country to the French market.