Tourism Festival |29 September 2023
Digital Tourism Fair highlights various services
As part of this year's Tourism Festival, the Tourism department, in collaboration with various stakeholders, organised a Digital Tourism Fair at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles (ICCS) yesterday.
The event was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gecko Digital, a Virtual Tours Agency, and the launch of the Tourism department's innovative mobile application.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, underscored the significance of enhancing visibility within the tourism industry.
He emphasised that the competition isn't among ourselves but in the broader Indian Ocean and global arena.
“To succeed, our operators must be visible, and how do you achieve visibility? By establishing a strong online presence, not in one place but in multiple places, and by enabling direct interactions with visitors. It's about creating inspiring and captivating content, including photos and videos. In today's world, digital presence is no longer an option; it's a necessity.”
Minister Radegonde also encouraged operators to embrace technology, offering online payment facilities to mitigate industry challenges like booking cancellations.
Speaking about the MoU, Bernadette Willemin, the director general of Marketing Tourism Seychelles, highlighted how this partnership with Gecko Digital will revolutionise travellers' engagement with Seychelles, providing them with a virtual preview of the captivating experiences awaiting them in our beautiful destination.
“Through the marvel of virtual reality content, we will transport visitors to Seychelles virtually, offering them a tantalizing preview of the incredible experiences that await them in our beautiful destination. It’s a glimpse into the paradise that will leave them longing for the real thing,” she added.
Gecko Digital was represented by the founder and CEO James South and chairman Michael Flynn.
The Digital Tourism Fair is an initiative of the Tourism department to help bring together the brightest minds, the boldest ideas, and the most cutting-edge technologies under one virtual roof. With its newly launched mobile application, the department said that it will complement other existing one to better service their customers and sell their destination.
The fair attracted a diverse range of exhibitors, spanning industries from banking and technology to digital marketing and tourism.
Mrs Willemin noted that the event also served as a valuable opportunity to engage Seychellois youth, with K-Radio broadcasting the event live and Airtel providing free internet access to attendees.
She stressed the importance of focusing on digital marketing trends during the fair, as it plays a pivotal role in promoting Seychelles as a premier tourist destination.
In the digital age, effective marketing strategies are fundamental to success, and the fair aimed to equip attendees with the latest insights.
The event presented a golden opportunity for operators, especially smaller ones, to elevate themselves to the next level. Additionally, it offered Seychellois youth a window into various job prospects within the dynamic realm of Digital Tourism.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the Digital Tourism Fair.
Vidya Gappy
Photos: Vidya Gappy & Louis Toussaint
