Seychelles and Colombo unite to redefine travel experiences |03 July 2023

On June 20, the department of Tourism embarked on a historic journey to Bandaranaike International Airport on Air Seychelles’ inaugural flight, marking the beginning of the twice-weekly flights from Seychelles to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Among the 110 passengers on board were esteemed officials – Sherin Francis, principal secretary for Tourism; Bernadette Willemin, director for Destination Marketing; and Sandy Benoiton, chief executive of Air Seychelles. They were accompanied by the principal secretary for Sports, Ralph Jean-Louis, along with a host of valued trade partners.

Touching down in Colombo at the break of dawn, the flight was greeted by a water cannon salute, and passengers were treated to a colourful performance by the Sri Lankan team at the airport. The Sri Lankan Tourism Board extended a gracious welcome, marking the beginning of an exciting collaboration.

To celebrate the occasion, the department of Tourism, in partnership with Air Seychelles, hosted a trade event on June 21, where Mrs Francis and Mrs Willemin unveiled the boundless possibilities the newfound connection offers, bridging the gap to previously untapped markets via the Colombo route. The partnership not only serves as a strategic move to unlock markets that were once challenging to access, but it also provides an opportunity for Seychelles to learn from Sri Lanka's best practices and elevate its own tourism industry to greater heights.

June 22 witnessed a moment of camaraderie as Mrs Francis and Mrs Willemin paid a courtesy visit to Sri Lanka’s Minister for Tourism, Harin Fernando, accompanied by the Consulate of Seychelles for Sri Lanka, Dr Udeni Arawgoda, the chairman of the Board of Directors of Sri Lanka’s Tourism Promotion Bureau, Chalaka Gajabahu and director general for Sri Lanka’s Tourism Development Authority, Nalin Perera. The fruitful meeting affirmed the benefits awaiting all parties involved in this transformative partnership. As a token of goodwill, the two ministries exchanged souvenirs, cementing the bond between Seychelles and Sri Lanka.

With the launch of these new flights, Seychelles and Colombo have set the stage to redefine travel experiences. With shared aspirations, these two paradisiacal destinations have united to offer travellers unparalleled adventures and endless possibilities.

Contributed