Seychelles' delegation has returned from last week's World Travel Market (WTM) meeting in London with the news that providing value for money is the order of the day.

Represented by Tourism and Transport Minister Simone de Comarmond, the STMA, the SHTA and 26 tourism companies, the group was told by travel operators responsible for selling Seychelles overseas that charging prices of up to US$1000 per night is still acceptable in today's travel market, as long as clients get their money's worth.

Speaking at the marketing authority's Bel Ombre headquarters STMA CEO Mr Francis Savy said that Seychelles must be able to compete in terms of service levels.

"We have operators saying to us that it's okay to charge US$1,000 or US$500 a night, but we have to ensure that in return that much service is given," said Mr Savy.

Mr Savy went on to explain that the minister's attendance at the WTM was an endorsement of the marketing work being done and reinforced the value of the event as a public relations exercise.

While attending the WTM meeting the minister took the opportunity to meet key Seychelles travel operators and to discuss tourism policies.

In addition to Minister de Comarmond the travel trade group was also accompanied to London by the Pointe Larue Member of the National Assembly MNA) Dick Esparon, representing the National Assembly's Tourism Committee.

After what was his first foray into overseas destination marketing, Mr Esparon said that his impression from the WTM was that the Seychelles' delegation was very serious and committed and that despite coming from a large variety of tourist establishments they had nevertheless worked well as a team.

Mr Esparon went on to repeat the concerns expressed about value for money, acknowledging that while many destinations had cut their prices in response to global tourist reductions, prices in Seychelles had, due to factors such as GST, increased, making it even more important to ensure that clients receive the standard of product they pay for.

Mr Esparon's remarks were echoed by Mr Louis D'Offay, speaking on behalf of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association, who said that the lack of availability of certain products, that many clients expect to be supplied in luxury resorts, has lead to some complaints.

Mr D'Offay said that he found the British travel operators to be cooperative and helpful, but at the same time very concerned about diminishing visitor figures. He said that they had expressed their willingness to continue to back Seychelles, but that the situation could not carry on indefinitely.

Held in the recently renovated Docklands area of London, the meeting was the 24th World Travel Market and was attended by representatives from a record 189 countries.

The four-day event, which ran from November 10 to 13, was also used as the platform for STMA to announce a partnership with Condé Naste Traveller magazine, which sees a promotional feature on Seychelles take up several pages in the December edition of the influential travel magazine.

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