Holidaymakers to the Seychelles look set to get more for their money next year as hoteliers lower their rates and introduce incentives, pledging to improve both standards and service.
The decision to look at standards comes after the Seychelles Tourism Advisory Board visited Europe in June to find out what they could do to increase visitor arrivals to the islands, which started to flounder in 1995/96 and have yet to recover to 1994 levels.
Chairman of the Seychelles Hotel Association and member of STAB Yves Rouches said: “We went to Europe and met 30 to 40 operators in each destination so they could tell us what is wrong with the product and what we can do to improve it.
“The main complaints were about value for money, service levels and the standard of properties. We reported our findings to hoteliers and they are taking steps to make amends,” he added.
Operators welcome the action which they believe will boost sales to the destination famed for its idyllic beaches but slated for sub-standard hotels – a situation accentuated by neighbouring rival island Mauritius, renowned for outstanding quality and value for money.
Somak product manager Shafique Cockar said: “The Seychelles has four-star hotels with six-star prices. It’s not a cheap destination – people pay on average around £2,000 for a holiday there.
“Food is not great either, costing £30 for a three-course fish dinner which they get from their own waters.”
He added: “Hoteliers have now accepted they have been charging over the top and the Seychelles is losing out because standards do not match the prices charged.
“They are now bringing their prices down and we are getting a lot of special offers and deals. In my current brochure hoteliers are giving free car hire, meals and bottles of wine as incentives.”
Elite Vacations managing director Peter Jackson said: “Over the years we’ve seen a lot of committees come and go, but when I met with Yves Rouches I felt more confident that action will be taken. With encouragement from STAB, around six hotels have cut their prices in the low season, which is May/June and October/November.
This should boost the couples market – the main audience for the Seychelles – as they do not need to travel during the peak July/August times. ”
“However, the long-term solution is to upgrade hotels while pegging the rates. What we don’t want to see is improved product with rates going up too,” he added.
STABis working to reduce hotel rates further by cutting hoteliers’ high operational costs. “It’s fairly expensive to run a hotel in the Seychelles with bed tax and heavy import taxes on many goods such as liquor and and high minimum salaries,” Rouches said.
“We are devising a plan to distribute the heavy tax burden more fairly with other businesses and the government will hopefully make a decision by the next budget in December.
He added: “The current bed tax should be abolished by January and we should be able to pass on the benefits to the customer. Hoteliers will be able to improve the product and train staff.”
Other initiatives to boost visitor numbers include a travel agents’ month in June each year where agency staff are offered 20% discounts on packages to the Seychelles so they can see the destination for themselves and note the changes. In addition, the islands’ profile will get a boost from the opening of several new upmarket island resorts, including a number of five-star hotels, a rarity on the islands.
A five-star resort and golf complex, Lemuria, is due to open on Praslin in December, while Sun International is expected to start work soon on its upmarket resort on Mahe.
“This kind of hotel will create more talk about the Seychelles and offer clients a choice of quality and price,” said Rouches.
“Standards are always set by leading hotels. Once you get certain quality for four and five-star hotels, the two and three-star hotels will get the right clientele who will be happy with the product.
“The critical mass of rooms at the moment is two to three-star, yet there is no charter from the UK to the Seychelles.”