Linking different U.K.-based players in the tourism industry is one of the ongoing activities of the Indian Ocean Club (IOC) as it promotes Seychelles as a travel destination.

The club is at the moment doing this through the distribution of a high quality 12-page newsletter to different travel agents in England.

IOC's managing director, Mr Lewis Betsy, said this on Saturday December 13, when the club's local supporters met during a dinner dance at Le Surmer Hotel and Restaurant.

"Next month we will launch a website, www.indianoceanclub.com, which will bear details of the many attractions there are in the Indian Ocean," Mr Betsy told the guests.

Talking to Nation, he said that the club, which will produce and distribute 4,000 copies of an Independence Day issue on Seychelles in June next year, also seeks to promote tourism in Mauritius.

"A similar publication on Mauritius is planned for 2005," he said, adding that IOC raises money through regular functions it holds in U.K.

"Our last dinner dance was dedicated to raising money for Seychelles Red Cross," he said, explaining that with participation of the Mauritian Sega Dancers, "who put on a terrific show free of charge," the club recently raised R2,000 for Seychelles Red Cross.

Releasing a full-colour newsletter he had produced specifically to mark Saturday's dinner dance, he said the night was a special one in the history of IOC "because we are having our first function in Seychelles."

Saying he has contacts with 2,000 Mauritians living in England, Mr Betsy, who works for The Daily Mail newspaper in London, said that he sends copies of the IOC newsletter to the Mauritians and to various embassies based in U.K.

He said that 18 supporters of the 200-strong club, which was formed last year, had travelled to Seychelles for the function.

"Given our activities and visibility, people realise that we are a rip-off organisation that is determined to pursue our goals," he said.

Agreeing that IOC is a genuine body with the "welcome" aim of making Seychelles and the Indian Ocean nations better known, Mr Ralph Volcere, who acted as the event's master of ceremony, said he helps serve as the link person for Betsy in Seychelles.

The evening saw young Seychellois designer Sammy Hoareau put up a fashion show as singer "Jana'" of African woman, fame sang Have you ever.

Addressing the guests, Seychelles' first Minister for Tourism, Mr David Joubert, who serves as an adviser to the club, commended the efforts IOC was making and thanked all its supporters.

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