Seychelles has made an extraordinary impact in the Turkish media landscape, reinforcing its position as a must-visit destination for Turkish travellers. A series of high-profile engagements, including exclusive events held on January 24th and 25th at the prestigious Swissôtel The Bosphorus, successfully captured the attention of influential industry stakeholders.
The events welcomed a strong delegation of Turkish tour operators and 33 prominent media representatives, resulting in an overwhelming surge in media coverage. The widespread interest generated by these events has translated into over 100 media features across leading Turkish print and television outlets. This exceptional visibility has significantly enhanced Seychelles’ brand presence in Türkiye, increasing awareness and strengthening its appeal among both travellers and the travel trade.
Further reinforcing this visibility, the Principal Secretary for Tourism, Mrs. Sherin Francis, who was present in Türkiye in January, actively engaged with key media houses, providing insightful interviews on Seychelles’ tourism offerings, sustainability initiatives, and future market strategies. Her participation played a vital role in amplifying Seychelles’ messaging, ensuring a compelling and authentic representation of the destination.
Speaking about the events, Mrs Sybille Cardon, representative of the Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Association (SHTA) representative said; “I was pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome in Turkey and the strong turnout of agents and media who responded to our invitation. Our partners showed genuine interest in Seychelles, and our discussions were more than fruitful.”
Mrs. Francis emphasised that while the Tourism Seychelles team and local partners worked diligently to ensure the success of these initiatives, the remarkable achievements would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Mr. Mehmet Selvi, Honorary Consul for Seychelles in Türkiye. His commitment and strategic efforts have been instrumental in strengthening Seychelles’ positioning within the Turkish market and fostering meaningful collaborations.
Building on this momentum, Tourism Seychelles also conducted a series of targeted sales calls in early February to further engage trade partners.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the destination and our diverse properties. I had the privilege of attending both the media and trade event, as well as the sales calls, where engaging discussions led to strong interest and tangible conversions for the destination. With partners eager to visit and gain firsthand experience to sell Seychelles better, this is undoubtedly a significant win for us,” said Mrs. Daphne Bonne from the Seychelles Small Hotels & Establishments Association (SSHEA).
Additionally, Seychelles’ participation in the highly anticipated EMITT tourism event has further strengthened efforts to provide a dynamic platform for showcasing the destination. These continued efforts are expected to generate even greater media exposure, strengthen industry relationships, and ultimately drive more Turkish travellers to Seychelles’ shores.
