The Seychelles Tourism Board expects to attract even more visitors from Germany, now that it is official that the Indian Island state is the official partner country in hosting the Reisen Hamburg fair next year.
The travel fair - classed as the top tourism show to take place in Northern Germany – will begin on February 5 next year and will end on February 9 at the Hamburg fairgrounds.
The head of the Seychelles Tourism Board German office, Edith Hunzinger explained that the fair will help further raise Seychelles’ profile in an area that the board deems important to the local tourism industry.
Last year, more than 78,000 visitors came to collect information from about 800 exhibitors in seven halls that the Hamburg fair was held in.
“The affluent region surrounding Germany’s largest seaport is a key market for the Seychelles. The prominent presentation at this consumer fair will geographically balance Seychelles Tourism Board’s presence at trade and consumer shows in other parts of Germany,” explained Mrs Hunzinger.
While the Tourism Board chief executive officer, Sherin Naiken said although the fair is taking place in Northern Germany, it will also help to promote the Seychelles is other countries as well.
“Taking part in this fair will mean us reaching a variety of markets at the same time, as our name will be shown in all the countries taking part,” she added.
Visitors to the Seychelles stand will be treated to beautiful Seychellois girls performing traditional dances, as well a Press conference with the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange who will be at hand to answer journalists’ questions. Minister St.Ange knows Germany well having studied his Hotel Management Diploma in Germany itself.
The “Holiday, Caravaning, Outdoor and Cycling Exhibition” will be open to the general public daily between 1000 and 1800 hrs over a period of four days.
To note, Seychelles is enjoying an ever-increasing popularity with German travellers.
In the first nine months of this year alone, nearly 25,000 Germans visited the islands – an increase of 22 percent over the record figures of the same period last year. The Seychelles Tourism Board says it expects, more than 32,000 Germans to have visited the Seychelles by the end of 2013; which translates into 15 percent of the total of tourists flying into the country.
