Seychelles and Zhoushan, China explore new opportunities in Tourism and Health |14 October 2023

A high-level delegation from Tourism Seychelles recently visited the Zhoushan Tourism and Health College to explore opportunities for cooperation and exchange in the field of tourism.

The delegation was headed by Sherin Francis, the principal secretary for tourism. She was accompanied by Anne Lafortune, the Seychelles ambassador to China; Jean-Luc Lai-Lam, the director for China; and Yu Sen, the senior marketing executive.

The visit was aimed at fostering mutual understanding and partnership between the Seychelles Tourism Academy and Zhoushan Tourism and Health College, benefiting both students and teachers.

During their visit, the Seychelles delegation had the honour of meeting with the president of the Tourism and Health College of China's Zhoushan Island, Zheng Nengbo. The discussions revolved around establishing a framework for collaboration, promoting educational exchanges, and strengthening ties in the areas of tourism and health.

Recognising the importance of nurturing talent and knowledge sharing, the delegation expressed great interest in establishing both student and teacher exchange programmes between the Seychelles Tourism Academy and Zhoushan Tourism and Health College. These programmes aim to provide students and faculty members with valuable international exposure, cultural immersion, and the opportunity to learn from each other's best practices in the fields of tourism and health.

Mrs Francis highlighted that such collaborations have the potential to contribute significantly to the growth and development of the tourism sector in both Seychelles and China. By fostering academic cooperation and cultural understanding, the Seychelles Tourism Academy and Zhoushan Tourism and Health College can join forces to steer sustainable tourism practices toward the future, enhance service quality, and foster the well-being of visitors.

Ambassador Lafortune emphasised the shared commitment of Seychelles and China to fostering bilateral relations. The visit to Zhoushan signifies the countries' mutual interest in strengthening ties in the tourism and health sectors. The Seychelles delegation expressed optimism about the prospects of collaboration and exchange, envisioning a future where students and teachers from both institutions can engage in joint research projects, training programmes, and knowledge transfer initiatives.

The visit concluded with a renewed commitment from all parties involved to work towards concrete action plans that will facilitate the implementation of collaboration frameworks. The Seychelles Tourism Academy and Zhoushan Tourism and Health College will now engage in further discussions to finalise the details of the exchange programmes, ensuring a fruitful and mutually beneficial partnership.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the Seychelles delegation’s visit to the Zhoushan Tourism and Health College.

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