UAE travel reps become first Seychelles SMART Graduates

STMA staff with SMART graduates

Thirty of the United Arab Emirates top leisure travel professionals have become the latest ambassadors for Seychelles after successfully completing the Seychelles SMART programme.

The travel industry reps from Kanoo, Emirates Holidays, DNATA & Omeir Holidays completed the four module tour operator and travel agent certification programme which was launched over a year ago in Dubai.

The programme is designed to give the agents more knowledge and ability in order to promote Seychelles and deliver a more personalised service to their customers.

The Seychelles SMART Graduation Lunches took place at the Hilton Abu Dhabi on Saturday, May 29 and the Fairmont Hotel in Dubai on Sunday, May 30.

 “STMA’s global strategy is based around defining the diversity and purity that differentiates Seychelles from similar destinations around the world. There are many destinations that offer beautiful beaches with swaying palms but few can compete with the natural pure beauty of the environment that Seychelles offers. The primary objective of this programme is to initiate an exclusive club of faithful operators who are knowledgeable and able to service consumer demands with the utmost confidence” said STMA's Jenni Harris Beggs in her address to the agents at the graduation ceremony.

Mohamed Al Geziry, director of the Seychelles Tourism Office in Dubai, said that the self-study programme was launched in the UAE last year, "as part of an overall marketing strategy to increase awareness of the Seychelles and we have plans to extend this programme in the near future throughout the Middle East."

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