Emirates & Seychelles Renew Partnership: Boosting Africa Travel Business
Tourism Seychelles and Emirates have renewed their strategic partnership, promising exciting new opportunities for African travel agents. Signed at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, this agreement strengthens the commitment to promoting Seychelles as a top travel destination across Emirates' extensive global network.
This renewed collaboration is a significant win for African tourism stakeholders. It leverages Emirates' strong presence in the Middle East, a region experiencing substantial growth in international tourism, with a 26% increase in arrivals during the first seven months of 2024 compared to 2019. This partnership provides a unique opportunity to tap into this burgeoning market and boost travel to Seychelles from the region and beyond.
The partnership's impact is further amplified by Emirates' expanding African network. With increased flight frequencies to Seychelles, reaching five weekly round trips during peak season, and new routes connecting Seychelles to destinations like Madagascar, access to the islands is now easier than ever. This enhanced connectivity, coupled with Emirates' connections to other African hubs like Uganda and Ethiopia, opens up a wealth of opportunities for travel agents to create diverse and appealing itineraries.
For travel agents, the renewed MoU translates into tangible benefits. Joint marketing initiatives, special promotional packages, and incentives are planned to boost visibility and travel demand. Familiarization trips for travel agents, media representatives, and other tourism personnel will offer first-hand experiences of Seychelles' diverse offerings, further enhancing their ability to promote the destination effectively.
Seychelles welcomed over 350,000 tourists in 2024, generating USD 986 million in revenue. This partnership aims to build on these figures by attracting more visitors from key international markets. The collaboration between Tourism Seychelles and Emirates is more than just an agreement; it's a strategic move to ensure the continued success of Seychelles as a global destination, particularly in the face of global challenges.
African travel professionals should capitalize on this reinforced partnership. By leveraging the enhanced connectivity, promotional tools, and destination knowledge provided through this collaboration, agents can effectively target a wider audience, curate compelling travel experiences, and contribute to the growth of both their businesses and the African tourism sector.
