Seychelles has concluded three days at IFTM Top Resa in Paris, with several major French tour operators indicating they will position the destination as a strategic long-haul option in their 2027 programmes.
Held from 15 to 17 September, the fair gave the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and its industry partners a platform to meet established partners, open new commercial discussions and take stock of conditions in one of Seychelles’ principal European source markets.
Mrs. Bernadette Willemin, Special Advisor for Tourism to the Minister for Tourism and Culture, led the Seychelles delegation, working alongside the STB team in Paris under Market Manager Ms. Judeline Edmond.
STB was joined by nine partners from across the Seychelles tourism industry, representing destination management companies, hotels and the national airline: 7° South, Creole Travel Services, Mason’s Travel, Air Seychelles, Blue Safari, Hilton Seychelles, Meliá Seychelles, Raffles Seychelles and Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa.
Across the three days, the Seychelles stand ran a full programme of meetings with tour operators, travel agents, airline partners and other tourism professionals, covering current business, market developments and planning for 2027.
“The 2027 planning cycle is being decided now, and for this market it is decided with the French trade,” Mrs. Willemin said. “Over three days we have been able to listen to the partners who sell Seychelles, understand how they are building their long-haul programmes, and identify where the destination fits within them. That is the value of being present at a fair of this kind.”
She added that the presence of a strong cross-section of the Seychelles industry allowed STB and its partners to present a united destination offering while individual businesses pursued their own commercial discussions. Mrs. Willemin also gave interviews to travel trade publications during the fair, reaching the wider network of professionals who advise clients and convert interest in Seychelles into bookings.
Mr. Guillaume Albert, Chief Executive of Creole Travel Services, one of the participating destination management companies, reported a similar tone from his own meetings.
“IFTM Top Resa has been a very positive fair for us. Meeting our French partners face to face at this point in the year is essential, and the sentiment across our discussions was constructive, with partners working through their final-quarter commitments and already turning to 2027,” said Mr. Albert.
“Several of our major French partners are positioning Seychelles as a strategic destination for 2027 as they look to diversify their long-haul island offering,” he added.
France remains one of Seychelles’ key European markets, supported by longstanding ties and an established network of tour operators and travel agents selling the destination. With partners already building their 2027 programmes, sustained visibility and close work with the French trade will remain central to the destination’s position in the market.
