Seychelles Tourism Board won "Best of Best National Tourism Office Award" by The Korea Travel News on 15th January, 2014.
By the end of 2013, 13 million people traveled overseas, by the analysis by Korea Culture and Tourism Research Institute. The Korea Travel News selected National Tourism Organizations’(NTO) promotional efforts are one of the key drives for this.
The Korea Travel News conducted a survey with 270 major tourism trades in Korea to find the best National Tourism Office in December 2013 for 3 weeks. Canada and Hong Kong won the 1st place, followed by Macao, Seychelles, Switzerland, Japan and Australia.
For the reasons why the trades selected the National Tourism Offices as the best are – 1) proactive marketing (27.4%), 2) Various Promotional Events (22.6%), 3) friendly communication (19%), then fast feedback, various seminars, provision of real time up-to-date information, and various educational programs followed. Among them, Seychelles Tourism Board was reputed for its proactive marketing activities.
Seychelles Tourism Board has been not only holding bi-annual Trade Seminars, but also proactively conducting sales calls and customized training to the trade partners. It has successfully launched SNS (Social Network Services) Marketing friends to promote Seychelles through online medium – blogs, facebook, and twitter.
The awareness of Seychelles in Korean market has much grown, which Seychelles is one of the hottest 3 destinations for honeymoon, with Cancun and Mauritius.
Ms. Julie Kim, Regional Manager of Seychelles Tourist Office, Korea said “Seychelles is well known for honeymoon destination. Now we are trying to expand the market as family, SIT and incentive destination. We are working on to bring Korean Air flight to Seychelles. This will contribute immensely in the air connectivity from North-east Asian countries as well as Korea itself.”
“Also, along with the 7th edition of Seychelles Eco-Friendly Marathon and Korea Gala, we are holding Korean Costume Fashion show and Seychelles-Korea Business Forum, within a concept of “Korean Week.” This will also boost the visit and return of various kinds of visitors,” Ms. Julie Kim added.
South Korea has 50 million populations with anticipated 14 million overseas travelers in 2014. As one of the G20 countries, it is one of the most important markets in the Asia, with China and Japan. Seychelles Tourism Board is aiming to reach 10,000 visitors to Seychelles by 2018.
Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture joined Sherin Naiken, the CEO of the Tourism Board to congratulate the Seychelles representatives in Korea on this achievement saying that they are doing the Seychelles proud.
