‘Creole Rendezvous’ brand officially launched |23 August 2023

Minister Radegonde, Mr André and PS Francis speaking at the ceremony (Photos: Vidya Gappy)

‘Creole Rendezvous’ is now a brand and it was officially launched by the tourism department during a ceremony at the Domaine de Val des Près, Au Cap, yesterday afternoon.

With its rich tapestry of cultural experiences, the ‘Creole Rendezvous’ aims to captivate both locals and Seychelles’ cherished visitors.

The mission is to introduce and promote the diverse array of ‘Creole Rendezvous’ experiences, through meticulously crafted activities and strategies, fostering an immersive exploration and appreciation of Seychellois culture and heritage.

Tourism principal secretary Shrine Francis shared that the brand was inspired from the ‘Experience Seychelles’ campaign.

“The campaign was conceived in the face of the pandemic and encapsulated the spirit of Seychelles, celebrating its natural beauty, rich diversity, and of course, the vibrant Creole culture. It was this very ‘Creole Rendezvous’ concept that captured hearts globally. Our video achieved accolades from the United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), recognising it as a narrative of a sustainable tourism journey. It sparked curiosity amongst our visitors who wanted to know more about where and how they could experience the Creole Rendezvous,” explained PS Francis.

The launch of the brand is collaboration with other departments involved with the promotion of Seychelles’ culture.

PS Francis said when Minister Sylvester Radegonde took office as tourism minister; he was clear on how the country needed more cultural offerings for its visitors. “The brand is a strategic tool that will drive us towards achieving our objectives. Through ‘Creole Rendezvous’, we aim to promote sustainable tourism, enhance the variety of offerings, increase visitor satisfaction, elevate their experiences, boost their spending and ultimately enhance our tourism earnings. And the brand will be visible across diverse media platforms,” noted Mrs Francis.

When addressing the guests, Minister Radegonde said out loud that Seychelles’ beautiful beaches and nature are not enough. “I will continue to repeat it – let us have authentic Creole activities to attract visitors. They have to experience what Seychelles is really about. The visitors will be able to know Seychelles with a good experience, thus will, in return, market our islands. We do not have historical museums or places and what we have to offer is our culture. As the tourism department we have limited resources and once we start an activity in a district, we urge the district and its inhabitants to run the activities. If we are able to develop this capacity, the islands around us will not be able to compete with us,” stated Minister Radegonde.

Now with the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) operating a restaurant at the Domain de Val des Près, Minister Radegonde wished for only Creole foods to be served at the venue which could also be used as a training ground for young Seychellois willing to learn more about local dishes.

Secretary General of the Seychelles National Institute of Culture, Heritage and the Arts, David André, noted that without culture, there would be no reason for tourists to visit tourism destinations, and without tourism, culture organisations would not have a constant flow of audience and visitors. 

“Culture provides the resources for tourism and tourism adds value to culture. When we talk about cultural tourism, we are indeed talking about experiencing the culture, the history and lifestyle of a country or different communities. It involves getting an intimate understanding and appreciation for people’s way of life in different parts of the world,” said Mr André.

“We recognise the economic benefits of cultural tourism and we are implementing policies that encourage the preservation of heritage sites and the development of cultural experiences. This will not only boost revenue, but also ensures that cultural traditions are safeguarded for future generations,” he added.

His hope is that ‘Creole Rendezvous’ will allow visitors to immerse themselves into unique experiences that could turn out to be some of the most memorable moments of their lives. 

After the official launch of the brand, the guests, mainly from the tourism industry had the opportunity to discover the various artistic works on display that could be taught to visitors.

Vidya Gappy