Emirates will increase services between Dubai and Seychelles to seven flights per week starting November 4 in an initiative to support the development of the archipelago's tourism sector.
A memorandum of understanding highlighting joint promotional activities in the Middle East was signed on Tuesday between the airline and the Seychelles Tourism Board in Dubai in the presence of Jean Paul Adam, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles, and Adnan Kazim, Emirates' DSVP Planning and Research.
The additional flight will operate on Thursdays and increase existing capacity by 16 per cent per week per direction, making it easier for leisure travellers, especially tourists from the Middle East, to visit the popular getaway.
Flight EK 705 will depart Dubai at 0230 hours and will arrive in Seychelles at 0700 hours. On the return journey, flight EK 706 will depart Seychelles at 0830, arriving in Dubai at 1300 hours. The service is operated by an Airbus A340-500 aircraft, offering 12 seats in First class, 42 seats in Business Class and 258 seats in Economy.
Majid Al Mualla, Emirates' Senior Vice-President Commercial Operations, West Asia and Indian Ocean, said: "With the increase in frequency that took place in February, this is the third additional flight we are introducing on the Seychelles route this year. This is a clear indication of our trust in the tourism industry of the Seychelles and demonstrates that all our marketing efforts are bearing fruits."
Alain St Ange, Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board, said: "The Seychelles Tourism Board values the support it has been receiving with Emirates that has now clearly established Dubai as a hub for the Seychelles. The MoU between Emirates and the Seychelles Tourism Board will consolidate this working partnership and will bring about results that will benefit both Emirates and the Seychelles."
Various initiatives to promote travel to the archipelago have taken place during the year. This includes the launch of special packages to the Seychelles in markets such as the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Greece and Turkey. Furthermore, a press trip comprising journalists from the Middle East visited the Seychelles in April, courtesy of Emirates Holidays.
From the start of its operations to Seychelles in January 2005, Emirates has promoted the island destination throughout its network. Every year, Emirates Holidays' brochure - A World of Choice - dedicates a prominent part to the destination.
In 2009, 157,541 tourists visited the Seychelles; the leading markets being France, Italy, Germany, the UK, South Africa and Russia.
For Seychelles travellers, the additional frequency will provide more flexibility to Dubai and to the global network of the airline, representing more than 100 destinations around the world.
By Staff
© Emirates 24|7 2010
