Back from the recent South African Indaba travel trade fair, Seychelles' delegates have this week said that the premier African travel meet scores points over other fairs due to the different operators it attracts.

Seychelles Tourism Marketing Authority's Director of Marketing Operations, Jenni Beggs said that the Indaba fair affords Seychelles' tourism operators a chance to meet with travel operators from North and South America, groups which they do not usually have direct contact with.

Mrs Beggs explained that Indaba is primarily an opportunity for southern African countries with game park style holidays on offer to sell to overseas clients, but that Seychelles' tourism operators are able to use it to meet with travel operators who also serve the Indian Ocean region.

"We don't go there to meet with our South African tour operators, but with tour operators who send clients to South Africa," she said.

Mrs Beggs also said that combining visits to South Africa and Seychelles as part of a "two centre holiday," was a possibility raised at the fair.

The Indian Ocean region was initially excluded from the Indaba fair, but Seychelles later qualified for participation through falling within SADC boundaries.

The fair, which was attended by 17 representatives of Seychelles tourist operations, attracted delegates from some 78 countries

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