The Tourism Department, through its Industry Human Resource Development Section (IHRD), successfully hosted the first edition of the Tourism Challenge Competition on Monday, 23rd June, at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles (ICCS).
Held under the theme “Attracting Young Talent to Tourism Careers,” the initiative forms part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to inspire greater youth interest in the tourism sector and challenge existing perceptions about tourism careers. The competition provided a platform for students to voice their ideas, present solutions, and engage directly with professionals in the industry.
The one-day event brought together participants from six secondary schools—Anse Boileau Secondary, Belonie Secondary, Mont Fleuri Secondary, Perseverance Secondary, Pointe Larue Secondary, and Praslin Secondary—as well as the School of Advanced Level Studies (SALS), and three tourism businesses: Hilton Seychelles, Constance Ephelia Seychelles, and Four Seasons Seychelles, all of which showcased their efforts to support youth employment and talent development within the sector.
The competition aimed to encourage meaningful discussion around workforce development in tourism, challenge negative stereotypes about tourism careers, highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of the industry, and provide students with a real-world context to strengthen their communication and presentation skills.
A judging panel comprising Mr Dereck Barbe (STA Board Member & General Manager), Ms Susan Morel (Chief Policy Analyst, Employment Department), and Ms Françoise Mein (Director General for Careers & Further Education Progression) assessed entries based on relevance, creativity, research quality, presentation, and feasibility of proposed solutions.
Mr Paul Lebon, Director General for Product Diversification & Development, underlined the importance of youth engagement in shaping the future of Seychelles' tourism workforce.
“We are not only creating a platform for student voices to be heard but also reinforcing that tourism is a sector full of opportunity, innovation, and long-term growth. This initiative helps us build bridges between education and employment,and guide young minds toward the possibilities within the industry. This event will be the first of many,” he said.
As part of the day's highlights, three schools were recognised for their outstanding presentations: Perseverance Secondary School received first place, with Praslin Secondary School and Belonie Secondary School earning second and third places, respectively. Additional acknowledgements, including Best Speaker and the People’s Choice Award, were also presented to celebrate individual excellence and peer support.
The Tourism Challenge is part of a broader set of actions led by the Tourism Department to encourage workforce development, strengthen industry-education collaboration, and ensure continued investment in the human capital that drives Seychelles’ tourism sector.
The Tourism Department is also actively exploring ways of attracting and retaining local talents in the industry, with a renewed emphasis on empowering Seychellois to see tourism as a viable and rewarding long-term career path. Plans are already underway for future editions of the Challenge and complementary activities.
