At the recently concluded 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles’ newly appointed Minister for Tourism and Culture, Amanda Bernstein, made her debut appearance on the global tourism stage—barely a week after assuming office. In a conversation with VoyagesAfriq on the sidelines of the event, Bernstein shared her excitement about her new role, her vision for Seychelles’ tourism future and the centrality of culture and sustainability to her agenda.
“It is very much a baptism of fire, but it’s the best way to start any new job and any new area of work,” she said with enthusiasm. “I’m very excited to have been here to really get immediately immersed in the topics at hand.”
Bernstein described her appointment as “an absolute privilege,” adding that it is a rare opportunity to make a meaningful impact. “It’s one of those opportunities in life that presents itself and you think, OK, I can add value here. I really have an opportunity to do something for my community, for my country and it’s a humbling experience to go through that,” she said.
The Minister underscored that the merging of the tourism and culture portfolios reflects a deliberate move by the Seychelles government to position culture as the heartbeat of the island nation’s tourism offering. “Our culture is at the very centre of all that we are and all that we’re doing,” she explained. “It is the essence of the Creole Seychellois people, and it is a very important component of our tourism sector.”
She stressed that sustainability and authenticity would drive her leadership approach. “We need to offer more. Our travellers want more and they want real authenticity and that’s what we can offer through culture—preserving it for our own future generations, but also sharing it with the world,” she said.
As one of the seven women serving in the Seychelles cabinet—comprising about 52% female representation—Bernstein expressed pride in being part of a progressive government that values women’s contributions. “It is a very proud moment for us to stand as Seychelles women together on this strong cabinet to really bring a strong and committed agenda for our country,” she noted.
She hopes her appointment will inspire young women to take up leadership roles. “You have something to offer, you have experience, you have a voice. And when you have the opportunity to help elevate and lift up your entire community, you take it,” she emphasised.
For Bernstein, empowering youth and women in the tourism industry is a key focus. “We want to grow tourism as a vehicle for development and progress in our community, as a sector for viable, long careers for our young people and our women,” she added.
For the foreseeable future, the Minister plans to promote Seychelles beyond its famed beaches by highlighting its cultural richness. “Celebrating different aspects of our culture and our heritage is going to add to the rich tapestry of experience for our visitors,” she stated.
She hinted at plans to elevate events such as the Festival Kreol to international prominence. “Yes, it’s about putting some of our cultural events and our cultural experiences on the agenda, on the calendar for international visitors as well,” she said. “We have some of the best food out there, and it should not be a well-kept secret.”
As Seychelles returns to the UN Tourism Executive Council, Bernstein reaffirmed her country’s leadership in sustainable tourism. “Sustainability is central to everything—for longevity and protecting the sector and everybody who is involved in it and their livelihoods,” she remarked.
She also emphasised the importance of building human capital through education and training. “We are very keen to work on growing the education and the skills of our communities and our people,” she said. “There’s cooperation and partnerships that I think will benefit from some of our experience sharing.”
Bernstein confirmed that the government is reviewing the structure of the Seychelles Tourism Board to align with the new policy direction. “The president was very clear that we have torelook at the Seychelles Tourism Board. These are the conversations that we start having with key partners and experts to see what we need to adjust and what we bring forward,” she disclosed.
The Minister also welcomed the private sector’s support for her appointment. “It’s been very encouraging. I’ve had a lot of very generous well-wishes,” she said. “I’m very excited to get onto the ground and start meeting with people in the private sector and hearing their perspectives.”
