afrol News, 30 July - The archipelago of Seychelles is known for its magnificent nature and luxury, at some of the highest prices offered in the worldwide tourism industry. This "unfortunate" image of costly accommodation is now to be softened by Seychellois authorities.

The Seychelles Tourism Marketing Authority so far has been careful not to attract low budget travellers to this tropical paradise, building on a luxury image for the upper end of the world's travellers. Yachting, luxury resort, a delicious Creole cuisine and pure nature provided a sound backbone for high class travel to the islands.

But the fragility of the global tourism industry is also noted in Seychelles, located far away from all major tourist markets. An average of 150,000 well-paying visitors annually create the basis of the country's economy and gives it the best standard of living in Africa.

The newest marketing campaign from Air Seychelles thus makes an amazing first-ever effort to diversify the tourist market. "Seychelles is a dream destination for which it is perfectly possible to enjoy a holiday without an enormous budget," the airline promises in its campaign trying to reach "normal" travellers.

- Seychelles unfortunately has a perception of merely offering costly accommodation, Air Seychelles holds. "However, it is possible to find accommodation to fit your budget." According to the national airlines, it was now possible to find a double room for 2 persons starting at euro 75.

At this price, travellers would "not have all the luxuries," however. Still, it is the first time the airline seeks to attract budget travellers to the otherwise expensive archipelago. "Special flight offers" from around euro 650 (departing Munich) are also to attract new groups of European travellers.

Air Seychelles also has other tips on how to make the stay a cheaper affair. The airline assists in finding guest houses, self-catering apartments and bungalows "which are affordable to all budgets." In the self-catering establishment, which are equipped with a kitchen, tourists might even avoid the expensive restaurants of the islands.

As the general price level is very high in Seychelles, a visitor in any way will not avoid spending lots of euros, rand or dollars. Recently, Seychelles was ranked one of the world's ten most expensive holiday destinations by European researchers.

And when Air Seychelles says it can find accommodation "affordable to all budgets," the monopoly airline knows it is addressing only possible clients with a medium-or-above budget. Real low budget accommodation is still not available and low budget travellers are in reality not welcome on the archipelago. As the airlines carefully points out: "Camping is forbidden in the Seychelles."

The Seychelles Tourism Marketing Authority, meanwhile, continues with its successful upper-class campaign branded "as pure as it gets". Here, potential visitors are presented to "sumptuous 5 star lodges, exotic island hideaways and resorts," leaving no doubt that the Seychelles are and will remain a luxury tourist destination.

By Rainer Chr. Hennig

© afrol News

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