The Tourism Department, through its Industry Human Resource Unit, has successfully convened the inaugural National Tourism Human Resource Forum, a significant milestone in strengthening Seychelles’ tourism workforce.
Held at Club Med Seychelles on Sainte Anne Island, the event brought together 30 key stakeholders from across government, education, and the private sector. The forum aimed to foster meaningful dialogue on workforce challenges and co-create practical, sustainable solutions to support a stronger and more resilient tourism industry.
The gathering included representatives from the Department of Employment, the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, labour organisations, educators, and emerging professionals from the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) and the School of Business Studies and Accounting (SBSA).
Adding a creative dimension to the day, artist Peter Lalande illustrated live visual minutes, capturing key insights and discussions through engaging and thought-provoking cartoons.
A central feature of the forum was a dynamic panel discussion under the theme “Building a Resilient and Skilled Tourism Workforce: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Way Forward.” Speakers included Principal Secretary for Tourism, Mrs Sherin Francis; Director General for Employment, Mrs Kathy Alcindor; Ms Suzanne Morel from the Ministry of Employment; Mr Bruno Legac from Constance Lemuria; Mr Roland Georges of SHTA; Mr Franky Baccus of White Sands;and representatives from the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development.
Industry testimonials from Franky Baccus, Cyril Simeon of Cloudbay Solutions, and a video reflection from the owner of Vallée de Fruit offered honest perspectives on workplace expectations, emphasising the need to inspire and motivate young Seychellois to pursue long-term careers in tourism.
During breakout sessions, participants examined key workforce challenges, including the shortage of qualified staff, employee retention issues, misconceptions surrounding HR roles, and a widespread feeling among staff of not being valued. Discussions also touched on the need to better support women in the sector particularly single mothers, as well as recurring concerns around limited guidance, discrimination, and the need for more action-oriented solutions.
From these conversations emerged several key recommendations: promoting a culture of appreciation and growth; establishing specialised centres for practical, on-the-job training; enhancing incentives; and institutionalising regular HR-focused forums to sustain dialogue and monitor progress. Participants also emphasised the importance of targeted training and stronger data collection to support informed decision-making.
Closing the session, the Principal Secretary for Tourism, Mrs Sherin Francis, remarked:
“The forum has been very insightful, giving us a clearer understanding of what each of us across government and the private sector are doing and what we might be able to strengthen or make more efficient. What has come through strongly is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to our workforce challenges. We are dealing with people, each with different needs, motivations, and lived realities. Our approach must therefore be flexible, human-centred, and collaborative if we want to build a tourism workforce that is resilient and future-ready.”
PS Francis also called on partners to continue offering their support, expressing her confidence that the outcomes of this forum will guide the development of a more cohesive and effective national HR strategy for the tourism sector.
The National Tourism Human Resource Forum marks a meaningful step forward in shaping the collective strategies required to develop a resilient, highly skilled, and future-ready tourism workforce for Seychelles.
