Thursday, March 7, 2013

Mr. D'offay Warns of Bubble Bursting in Seychelles Tourism

Welcome to this latest issue of our industry’s mouth piece. 
 
The State of the Nation Address by President James Michel has come and gone and we are left trying to find ourselves in the new environment and finding the way forward for our industry. 

The first major drawback is the new bureaucracy in recruitment of needed staff to manage and to make our respective properties work for our country’s economy. After years of cumbersome bureaucracy, Vice President Danny Faure had led a committee to bring order in a chaotic situation where resorts were just unable to operate and some even were pushed to close speciality restaurants due to lack of necessary staff. The new system based on a quota system has worked well and tourism, the pillar of the Seychelles economy had found a new way forward. But now all seems to be heading back to the era of days gone by.  Work permit applications are being refused even when it falls in the agreed quota set by the committee chaired by Vice President Faure. It is now the Department of Labour who decides who a hotel should employ. They have become Managing Directors of our properties.  This is a sad turnaround and it will spell disaster for the industry we have all worked hard to get back on its feet. 

The second challenge before us is cost of operation which continues to escalate. The two new taxes, even when we are told it is only .05% remains added costs and is doing a lot in pushing Seychelles to be overpriced when compared to its competitors. We cannot understand why we are trying to shoot ourselves in the foot. Hotels in our country are not competing against each other, but instead with resorts in the region. Yes we needed a bigger marketing budget, but just milking us is asking us to increase our prices and in so doing make a Seychelles Holiday package more expensive. These new Social Responsibility Tax and Marketing Tax come over and above higher electricity and water bills and the new VAT. No one will be able to point the finger at SHTA when the bubble eventually bursts. 

The third sad challenge is our country’s inability to do what it says. We heard Air Seychelles complimenting the Civil Aviation Authority for the opening of our airspace when the new strategy meeting took place recently. This statement remains a stated policy on paper only, and it remains a policy that sounds good and that gives a good impression to the outside world. In reality we are being over restrictive with our air policy and that at the detriment of our tourism industry. Recently, The People newspaper reported that Turkish Airline was starting flights to Mauritius . This great and popular airline applied to fly to Seychelles before it applied to land in Mauritius.  We are still playing with the paperwork whereas Mauritius has grabbed the bull by its horns and ran to issue the necessary permits. The industry fails to understand this, especially when we know that a direct flight from Europe is what we need today. That direct overnight flight is the request by tour operators, travel agents, our repeat guests and all families wanting to still promote Seychelles  and to come to Seychelles for a holiday. 

Mr Cramer Ball, this should show you that we have not opened our airspace as you would want us to believe. There is another case worth mentioning in this same line of opening our airspace. Mega Maldivian Airline has looked at Seychelles for a flight that would link Maldives to Mauritius via Seychelles. Whatever happened to that great possibility remains a mystery, but this week Mauritius and Maldives announced their cooperation for direct flights using Mega Maldivian airline. 

We all know that this Maldives airline flies a large number of direct flights from Maldives to mainland China.  Now Mauritius will benefit of twin center holiday possibilities with Maldives at our expense.  As Seychelles loses out, Mauritius is being helped consolidate its tourism industry. 

The sad reality is we are still making the mistake of protectionism with a view of helping Air Seychelles, but this at the detriment of the Seychelles economy. Seychelles owns 100% of its economy, and Seychelles owns but 60% of Air Seychelles . This our Government should never forget… 

Marketing of Seychelles and the grumbling inside the STB is being spoken about as well as the staff exodus. What has gone wrong is not known, but we need to just restate that we made a proposition to the President on the revamping of the whole tourism department about a year ago when we saw the duplication of a confusing situation when a Ministry of Tourism was created. This proposal was made after a Board meeting of the SHTA as we felt we were well placed to voice our concern and propose a way forward.

Another point of concern to industry players is the way we communicate our problems. We have had too many recently for a beautiful country like Seychelles, hungry for tourists
For example:
  • Battling Somali pirates in Seychelles
  • Seychelles has a dengue fever outbreak
  • Seychelles suffers with floods and landslide
All these did no good to our tourism industry. It would appear we are eager to tell the world that all is not well in Seychelles without considering its negative impact on the tourism industry.

Finally on a positive note, our arrival numbers are holding up but we shall continue to battle with the yield until we increase our visitor arrival numbers to settle our supply & demand issue. As we gave permission to build new hotels, we needed to increase air lines to Seychelles. Increasing our arrival numbers will enable everyone to find themselves and increase our rates to be in line with our individual standard.
Have a good month,
 
Louis D’Offay
Chairman SHTA

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

As SFp ahs been saying fro some times now,Mr D'Offay an experience expert in the industry is also keeping repeating to PP over an over agin its mistakes and waht it should do.But PP palys deaf ears.

Turiksh Lines in guess the reason why it has not start direct operation from Europe/seyxchelles could be for the fact that the Airline is being forced to transit regardless what in Dubai,or there is a poosibility that The Rabs airlines see the Turkish Airline a potential competitors that need to be put aside in order that ARABS aIRLINES CONTROL THE MARKET WHICH HAVE BEEN A STARTEGY OF THESE aIRLINES FOR SOMETIMES NOW.

The bubble will burst if PP fail to listen to those in the tourism industry and take logical and apporpriate actions to get things moving forward.

That Laporte durbened the main industry of the country with taxes of all sort show how irresponsible these guys are--In a fiancial crisis any persons will common sense will tell you--that reducing taxs is the best solutions to help get the indsutry back of track--Pp communists prefer instead to raise all sort of taxes to pay their cost of their failures and lavish lifestyle and excessive governemnt spending.

St Ange even now IMF representative are trying to tell us that Touriism on our main markets are suffering from the economic crisis.That is a big lie,for Malidves,Mauritius,Sir Llanka all those countries main market is Europe and they been having record arrivals since 2012 )5 pe4rcent of their arrivals were EUROPEAN PP/IMF.The trutzh is that those countries take actions ,conduct real policies that have a real effect on their toursim industry like making deals with Airlines that operate direct flgihts from Europe to Maldives etc....with direct flghts they would have also find themselves as Seychelles.

Direct flight St Ange is want affect a bulk part the industry,there is no need to try and tell us otherwise.Facts are there to seee,you cannot fake it.

Jeanne D'Arc











Anonymous said...

i guess

Anonymous said...

I am disgusted by this. Dictators directing our businesses!! And again I will repeat myself; SO SHOULD WE EXPECT CONFISCATION OF OUR ASSETS & WEALTH??? it seems to me that these dictators are desperate more so than ever before. Business in Seychelles is already like SLAVERY with ridiculous taxes. NOW THEY WANT TO DICTATE US WHO TO EMPLOY! What is next on those morons list?

Hotels owners are like dolphin, trained to demonstrate an awesome show, while PP group of sharks devours the dolphins hard labour.

Anonymous said...

Turkish Airways offers 7 flights a week to Seychelles directly from Europe and SPPF PL slow down the process to allow them to start flights directly to Mauritius?

You guys are really nuts.

Thank you Emirates Airlines for offering the 50% discount on Europe legs to Seychelles while Etihad and Air Seychelles charge euro 1,700.00 round trip economy.

Emirates has saved Seychelles Tourism Industry in 2013, and we should continue to work with them.
Seselwa Unite!

Air Seychelles=60% Seychellois!

Seychelles Tourism =100% Seychellois!

Did everyone see the free flyers huddle to see the delivery of the new Airbus? They all stood in line waiting for their free tickets which is what bankrupted Air Seychelles in the first place.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

Christopher Gill
Leader
Seychelles Freedom Party

Anonymous said...

Mr Gill, you are a very successful businessman. I am sure you can investigate the possibility of chartering a flight from Europe to Seychelles say twice a week to start with. I am sure there are enough Seychellois that will support this initiative. I for one will make US$500,000 available if there is a solid business plan in place. Obviously this will all depend on SCAA granting us favourable landing rights !

PSP

Anonymous said...

Count me in I don't have US$500,000.00 available. But have US$387,000.00 sitting in the bank doing nothing, beside interest.

Anonymous said...

PSP
A National Airline is something that we already have,lets make it more effective and useful for the interest of the co8ntry.A National Airline plays a role of a country's National branding Ambassador and also give Seychellois a sense of National pride.Being a branded Mabassador or flag bearer is something that should be interwinded in National identity.A private owed Airline cannot have the same effect as that of National airline.

Jeanne D'Arc

Anonymous said...

AS Mr D'Offay warns of bubbling,Pp thugs continue to preach about piracy giving a bad image and makeing a bad publicity of our country thus detrimental to our tourism industry.

We are the proof on the situation on priacy in 2013.

According to the EUROPEAN UNION NAVAL FORCE--intensive naval operations had by February 2012 led to a further drop in successful pirate attacks in the Indain Ocean.By September 2012,the heyday of piracy in the Indain Ocean was reporteddly over.According to the Interantional Bureau of Maritime,piracy attacks had by October 2012 dropped to six-year low,with ONLY ONE(1)ship attacked in the third quarter compared to 36 during the same period in 2011.

PP continued preaching on piracy is solely to cash international money while its preaching is damaging the image of our land and discouraging Cruiseships to come to our shores.And the other fact is,becuase PP has decided to make our shores a depot for international pirates in return for somw dollars .
STOP tarnishing our country's imagie Pp with fraudulent publicity.Piracy in our EZZ is virtually after the military intervention of ther Kenyan army almost inexistance.

Jeanne D'Arc

Anonymous said...

here are the proof

Anonymous said...

where

Anonymous said...

Today is our day, womens day. Mr Doffay is a sexual offender as he abuses women in his hotel. Before he can tell others what to do he should stop abusing Seychellois women. THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT. It is criminal to take advantage of women and young girls who depend on a job to feed their families. Doffay is a sex offender.

Anonymous said...

Can the butcher and thugs stop tarnishing our country'd imamge with priacy that does not exist.The bad image has already affected our tourism industry that some Hteols must sell their rooms cheaper than a packet of Makrele.

Jeanne D'Arc

Anonymous said...

Stop lying about Doffay you moron. Is it desperation that's make you lie, so you can milk him try. It will not work you sick bastards.

Anonymous said...

dry

Anonymous said...

Very interesting comments from all sides and those Jeanne D'Arcs are spot on! The good news are Jeanne D'Arc is doing a great in-service of how a government should run. And the bad new is Sir James Mancham is being PISSEDOFF becauce according to him the IWD (International Women's Day)forgot to mention his late dear old famous mother Mrs.Evelyne Mancham Tirant.This lady was also the mother of Mickey, son of Mr.Gill the greatest SFP leader.Also the vinyl legend singer with popular songs like: LANDEPANDANS PA NOU KIN DEMANDE SPUP KIN DEMANDE, HEP-HEP ZOLI MANZEL,LANMISIK ZANFAN NOU TOU NOU FYER LER NOU VWAR NOU LA POLIS,and the list are long....

And the not so good news is why he didn't join the Alliance Opposition to make thinks work.

END.

Anonymous said...

jeanne D'arc deserve a gold medal, Go On Jeanne D'arc you are the man Seychelles needs our future president.

Anonymous said...

I can so tell when people blow their own trumpet. Very amusing indeed.

Anonymous said...

11.49PM

Seychelles needs all its sons and daugthers to move forward.I am doing my contribution as a patriot and would have liked to see espsecailly all those silcend intelluctuals,in fact all our citizen should do the same contribute as the can, in order to transite dictatorship to democracy what our country can move forward at it really should.

I am not in a competition for gold medaille but rather struggling for genuine change of our land.Our country deserve much better than the mess Pp offers.

Jeanne D'Arc

Anonymous said...

Well said Jeanne D'arc.

Anonymous said...

100% Jeanne D'Arc!

Anonymous said...

I always read Mr. d Offay articles 2 or 3 times over, not because i do not understand but it is such a pleasure reading from such a learned and experienced businessman. Mr. D Offay has no doubt made sufficient money to retire comfortably several times over but why does feel the need to still express himself? without being presumptuous i feel as a few others he loves this country more than anything. i just wish we had few more than him. great article and i hope he is taken seriously.
Vox

Anonymous said...

200% Jeanne D'arc

Anonymous said...

Mr Doffay owes everything he knows to Jeanne D'arc.

Anonymous said...

Bravo everyone is on their best behaviour tonight.

Anonymous said...

Reply to Opposition Alliance request to make things work-

The opposition alliance is made up of money launderers, drug trafficker, and sell outs, that is why SFP will not join them and become a voiceless opposition that is reduced to a begging bowl team.

Seselwa Unite!

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

Christopher Gill
Leader
Seychelles Freedom Party

Anonymous said...

Reply to Opposition Alliance request to make things work-

The opposition alliance is made up of money launderers, drug trafficker, and sell outs, that is why SFP will not join them and become a voiceless opposition that is reduced to a begging bowl team.

Seselwa Unite!

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

Christopher Gill
Leader
Seychelles Freedom Party

Anonymous said...

Mr. D'offay indeed is 200% on his article.

Anonymous said...

Well said Gill. We agree.

Anonymous said...

Blame JRM for the situation we see ourselves in today.he sold the country.he could not control his urges,fucking woman around the world instead of providing leadership for our country.
Now he came back to suck us up and sold the rest of our sole to the Arabs.fuck you mancham.

Anonymous said...

Mr. D'Doffay should join the SFP and start to undo the ills that he has helped created. No pseudo please! Come out man, we're waiting for your support. You'll do well alongside Mr. Gill.

MICROBIOME :) :)

Anonymous said...

Mr D'Offay like all business persons in the tourism industry have been slear and warning PP from the very beginning namely,having direct flight operation betweem Europe and Seychelles is premodial for our tourism industry.St Ange,Dr Michel and other PP crooks oppese it becuase they must kiss the arse of Khalifa,Pp is now feeling the consequences of their foolishness.

I hope Laporte will finally get our U$ 2,5 billion back from Swiss banks.

Jeanne D'Arc

Anonymous said...

clear

Anonymous said...

WE WANT DAILY TURKISH AIRLINE FLYING INTO SESEL !

Anonymous said...

The Turkish was ready to do that.Michel and Khalifa unfortunately when them to transit by forced in DUBAI which for the Turkish is unacceptable when calculating their operational cost and unlike St Ange Turkish understands that DIRECT flight means flghting to a start point without stop in between to the destination point.The Turks cannot accept the idea that Khalifa and Michel are going to dictate and dicided how the would operate unlike Airseychelles Turkish Airline has its own business strategy it just cannot follow the dictation of its concurrence .

St Ange again we want direct flight not transit flgiht in DUBAI.

Jeanne D'Arc

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