A local Food Fest promoting traditional Creole food, which was held at Domaine Val de Pres in Mahé on Sunday 24 September 2023 as part of Seychelles Tourism Festival has drawn a big turnout. This, according to a report by Seychelles News Agency, has prompted officials of Seychelles’ tourism who expressed their satisfaction at the big turnout to start making plans to make the Food Fest a regular event.
The Seychelles Tourism Festival is expected to end on September 30. The aim of the festival is to celebrate and promote the importance of tourism, which is the top contributor to the island nation’s economy. The festival is hosting various activities and events to promote tourism and showcase Seychelles and its unique attractions.
“Considering the amount of rain we had today, we are very happy with the crowd we have managed to draw,” said the Principal Secretary for Tourism Seychelles, Sherin Francis.
The setting at Domaine Val de Pres had various food stalls, live bands, and booth for those present to take photos in the backdrop of the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts’ museums.
To ensure the participation of both Seychellois and tourists, the department had advertised the Food Fest and made available bus shuttles to carry tourists to the site.
The Tourism Festival was officially launched on Saturday at La Plaine St Andre, and this year, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has chosen the theme: “Tourism and Green Investment.” Locally, Seychelles Tourism Festival is taking place under the theme: “Bridging the Past and the Future.”
“Choosing a theme that resonates with our current times and our remarkable journey was paramount. Our tourism industry owes its existence to courageous individuals who saw an opportunity and worked tirelessly to not only enhance their own lives but also contribute significantly to our nation’s economic prosperity,” said Francis.
The other activities on the Tourism Festival programme will be a Meet and Greet event at the Seychelles International Airport on Mahé the main island on Wednesday, September 27 to mark the occasion of World Tourism Day.
A Meet and Greet will also be done at the ‘Ero’ Passenger terminal on Praslin, while the Island Quay Jetty on Mahé will have traditional music entertainment for the tourists and passersby.
Seychelles’ tourism industry was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, in which like many countries, it had to close its borders. In the last couple of years, the country has been rebuilding this industry through additional marketing campaigns and the arrival of visitors has rebounded.