Hotel development triggers Emirates speculation

Mr d'Abo

An impending US$50 million hotel development at Petite Anse, southern Mahé, has given rise to hopes that Dubai's Emirates Airline may soon be adding Seychelles to its flights schedule.

The new resort is being financed by the Dubai based Albwardy Investment group, the director of which, Philip d'Abo, said that he had been involved in discussions between the investment company, Emirates Airlines and Seychelles tourism officials.

"I have been helping STMA talk to Emirates, the Vice-President (Mr Joseph Belmont) met with them in Dubai three or four weeks ago, so I think, subject to arrangements suitable for both parties, before we open (the hotel) they will be flying here and if they do that will boost tourism in all categories from bottom to top," said Mr d'Abo.

The Albwardy director was speaking at the Seychelles Tourism Marketing Authority (STMA) offices where he formally announced the hotel investment which will see the construction of a five-star, 55-suite and 19-villa resort at Petite Anse.

To be operated by the well known Four Seasons hotel chain, the Petite Anse resort is due to open in late 2006, at a cost of tens of millions of dollars.

Mr d'Abo said the cost of building the resort would be in the region of US$50 million, while an adjacent villa development is likely to add a further US$15-20 million to the price tag.

However, Mr d'Abo would not reveal how much Albwardy had paid Cosproh (Compagnie Seychelloise pour la Promotion Hotelière) for the site and Cosproh Managing Director, Ranil Bibile, was unavailable for comment.

Mr d'Abo said that the new resort would target Seychelles' traditional European tourist base, but would also aim to tap into new markets, especially through the possible Emirates connection.

Being added to the Emirates schedule would, according to Mr d'Abo, "open up routes for visitors who don't come here at the moment, people like the Japanese. It would open up the whole Far East and we also have direct flights from the US to Dubai everyday."

Director of Civil Aviation, Gilbert Faure, confirmed that an Air Services Agreement between Seychelles and the United Arab Emirates – which would allow Emirates to fly to Mahé – is already in place.

The agreement, signed in June 1992, allows the designated airline of each country to fly a maximum four flights per week between the two countries as well as on a number of other onward routes.

According to Mr d'Abo negotiations between Albwardy and the government have been under way for the last four years, with delays caused by the strict enforcement of environmental controls and the price asked by Cosproh for the sale of the land.

Questioned as to why his company had chosen to invest in Seychelles, he said, "Most beautiful places have been messed up, they don't have any thought for the ecology, but here it has been kept in pristine condition. The people are very nice and if you feel welcome in a country you want to work there."

He added that once operational the hotel will likely create around 200 local jobs and also confirmed that non hotel guests would still have access to the Petite Anse beach.

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