AGP Executive Report

Seychelles Tourism Strategy: The Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and pushing market diversification to build resilience after Middle East disruptions, with Russia leading the rebound and growth also seen in China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey. Cruise & Ports: A Seychelles parliamentary delegation visited Mumbai International Cruise Terminal to study passenger facilities and cruise tourism links, including discussion of the Mumbai Marina Project and sustainability initiatives. Bilateral Culture & Tourism: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan attended the launch of the 3rd China Film Festival in Seychelles, with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Deepam Cinema partnering to strengthen cultural exchange. Visa Access for Seychellois Travellers: Canada added Seychelles to its eTA-eligible list, allowing air travellers to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization instead of a full visa process. Regional Travel Rules Impacting the Region: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days from September 15 for many nationalities, while Seychelles and Mauritius get a separate 15-day exemption; land border entries will also be capped at twice per year for most travellers. Health & Travel Disruption: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut has been postponed after an Ebola-related public health order prevented the team from travelling to the DRC. Local Sports Calendar: Seychelles Football Federation unveiled a packed international programme for senior, youth and beach soccer competitions, including Olympic qualification and CAF qualifiers. Injury Update: Australian tennis coach Tim Horpinitch remains in ICU in Seychelles after a scooter crash, reported as life-threatening.

Seychelles Tourism Strategy: The Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual Marketing Meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and pushing a more resilient, diversified plan for 2027 after Middle East disruptions. Cruise & Maritime Links: A Seychelles parliamentary delegation visited Mumbai International Cruise Terminal to study passenger facilities and cruise tourism potential, including the proposed Mumbai Marina Project. Diplomacy & Tourism Cooperation: Seychelles VP Sebastien Pillay met Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss expanding economic and tourism partnerships. Football & Travel Disruption: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked the team from travelling to the DRC. Regional Sports Calendar: Seychelles Football Federation outlined a packed international season, with senior and youth teams plus beach soccer set for major qualifiers and tournaments. Global Travel Policy Watch: Thailand is cutting visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days from Sept 15, while Seychelles travellers get a separate 15-day exemption.

Seychelles Tourism Strategy: The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual Marketing Meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and pushing market diversification to protect the destination from future shocks, with July and August showing momentum and Russia leading the rebound. Seychelles Football & Travel Disruption: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut has been postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked the team from leaving Seychelles for the DRC. Seychelles–India Links: Seychelles and India continue to deepen ties, with a Seychelles Tourism and Culture minister meeting China’s ambassador on cooperation in culture and tourism, and Indian parliamentary speaker Om Birla discussing stronger cooperation and shared values with Seychelles’ counterpart. Regional Travel Policy Watch: Thailand’s visa-free rules are changing from 15 September—30 days for most nationalities, 15 days for Seychelles and Mauritius, plus tighter limits on land border entries—important for Seychelles travellers planning onward trips. Cruise Interest for Island Hoppers: Seabourn opened bookings for its 138-day 2029 world cruise, including an overnight-style itinerary with Praslin in Seychelles among the stops.

Seychelles Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual Marketing Meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and pushing a more resilient, diversified plan for 2027 after Middle East disruptions; Thailand Visa Shake-up: From 15 September 2026 Thailand will cut visa-free tourism stays from 60 to 30 days for 60 countries, while Seychelles (and Mauritius) get a separate 15-day visa-free tier; land border entries for most nationalities will be capped at twice per year; Bilateral Cooperation: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss boosting economic and tourism ties; Cruise Spotlight: Seabourn opened bookings for its 138-day 2029 “Iconic Islands & Remote Horizons” world cruise, including Praslin (Seychelles) and overnight stays in key ports; Local Sports Disruption: Seychelles club Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked travel to the DRC; Regional Football Calendar: SFF unveiled a packed international programme for Seychelles football, with senior, youth and beach soccer teams set for major qualifiers and tournaments.

Seychelles Tourism Strategy: The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual Marketing Meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and setting a 2027 roadmap focused on stronger market diversification and resilience after Middle East disruptions, with July–August showing momentum and Russia leading the rebound. Seychelles–India Links: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to discuss deeper cooperation in culture and tourism, including heritage protection, archives, fashion exchange, tourism promotion and skills training. Seychelles Sports & Travel Disruption: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked the team from leaving Seychelles for the DRC. Regional Football Calendar: The Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) unveiled a packed international programme for senior, youth and beach soccer teams, including Olympic qualification and CAF qualifiers. Thailand Entry Rules (for Seychellois travellers): Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days from 15 September, while Seychelles gets a separate 15-day visa-free tier and land-border visa-exempt entries are capped at twice per year. Cruise Buzz: Seabourn opened bookings for its 138-day 2029 world cruise, with stops including Praslin in the Seychelles.

Seychelles Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual Marketing Meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and setting a 2027 roadmap focused on stronger market diversification and resilience after Middle East disruptions, with Russia leading the rebound and growth also seen in China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey. Seychelles-India Ties: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to discuss deeper cooperation in culture and tourism, including heritage protection, archives, fashion exchanges, promotion and skills training. Seychelles Diplomacy: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to explore ways to expand bilateral cooperation, including economic and tourism partnerships. Seychelles Travel & Safety: Seychelles Football Federation Cup winners Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked the team from leaving for the DRC. Cruise Spotlight (Praslin): Seabourn opened bookings for its 138-day 2029 world cruise, featuring Praslin in the Seychelles among 58 destinations and 25+ UNESCO World Heritage sites. Global Travel Policy Watch: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days from September 15, with Seychelles and Mauritius getting a separate 15-day visa-free tier, plus new limits on land border entries.

Cruise News: Seabourn Quest has opened bookings for its 138-day 2029 “Iconic Islands & Remote Horizons” world cruise, sailing Miami–Lisbon (Jan 7–May 26) with 58 destinations across 31 countries, including Praslin in Seychelles plus overnight port stays in places like Easter Island, Bora Bora, Singapore, Sydney, Zanzibar and Cape Town. Seychelles Tourism Strategy: The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual Marketing Meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and pushing stronger market diversification to build resilience after Middle East disruptions, with July–August showing momentum and Russia leading the rebound. Aviation & Connectivity: IndiGo plans daily Mumbai–Dar es Salaam flights from November, adding another East Africa link and noting Dar es Salaam as its second continental Africa destination (with Seychelles already in its network). Bilateral Cooperation: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss boosting economic and tourism ties. Football & Travel Disruption: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked the team from travelling to the DRC. Visa Rules Impacting Travellers: Thailand’s visa-free scheme changes from Sept 15, cutting most stays from 60 to 30 days, while Seychelles and Mauritius get 15-day exemptions.

Seychelles Tourism Recovery Plan: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual Marketing Meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and mapping 2027 implementation, with visitor arrivals picking up in July and August after a tough first half linked to Middle East disruptions; Russia is leading the rebound, while China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey are also growing. Football & Travel Disruptions: Cosafa moved the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier from Mauritius to Mozambique (Sept 18–27) after Mauritius pulled out, while Seychelles Football Federation outlined a packed international season including Olympic qualification and CAF Beach Soccer qualifiers. Ebola Impact on Sports Travel: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked the team from leaving Seychelles for the DRC. Thailand Visa Rules for Seychellois Travelers: Thailand will cut its visa-free scheme from 60 to 30 days for most countries from Sept 15, but Seychelles (and Mauritius) will get 15-day visa-free stays, with Visa on Arrival limited to just three nationalities. Diplomacy & Tourism Links: Seychelles’ tourism ministry met with China’s ambassador to discuss culture and tourism cooperation, and Seychelles VP Sebastien Pillay met Saudi FM in Riyadh to explore expanding economic and tourism partnerships. Cruise Interest in Praslin: Seabourn opened bookings for its 2029 world cruise, featuring Praslin in the Seychelles among 58 destinations.

Regional Football: COSAFA has moved the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations COSAFA qualifier from Mauritius to Mozambique at short notice, with the tournament still set for Sept 18–27. Seychelles Football: The Seychelles Football Federation has unveiled a packed international season, with national teams and beach soccer set for Olympic qualification, COSAFA U-20, CAF Beach Soccer AFCON qualifiers, and the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival. Public Health & Sport: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut has been postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked the team from leaving Seychelles for the DRC. Tourism Policy: Thailand is tightening entry rules from Sept 15, cutting visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for most travellers, while Seychelles (and Mauritius) get 15 days visa-free. Diplomacy & Tourism: Seychelles’ tourism ministry met China’s ambassador to discuss deeper culture and tourism cooperation, including heritage protection and skills training. Cruise Buzz: Seabourn opened bookings for its 2029 world cruise, featuring Praslin in the Seychelles among 58 destinations.

Seychelles Tourism & Culture: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to discuss deeper cooperation in cultural heritage protection, archives management, fashion exchange, tourism promotion and skills training. Seychelles Residency Rules: The government has set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered, including not being a prohibited immigrant, having family/domestic ties, and showing a meaningful contribution (or intended contribution) to life in Seychelles. Seychelles & Russia Links: A new Russian ambassador interview highlights priorities to keep momentum in Russia–Seychelles cooperation, with tourism, culture, trade, sport, research and healthcare flagged for further development. Sports: Seychelles Football Federation unveiled a packed international programme for the new season, with senior, youth and beach soccer teams set for regional and continental competitions. Health Impact on Travel: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut has been postponed after an Ebola-related public health order prevented the team from leaving Seychelles for the DRC. Regional Travel Policy Watch: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for most travellers from 15 September, while Seychelles and Mauritius get 15-day visa exemptions.

Tourism Policy: Thailand has confirmed major changes to visa-free travel from 15 September 2026, cutting stays for citizens of 60 countries (including Seychelles’ 15-day category) from 60 days to 30 days, while Seychelles and Mauritius will get 15-day visa-free exemptions; the new rules were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August. Diplomacy & Culture: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to discuss deeper cooperation on cultural heritage protection, archives, fashion exchanges, tourism promotion and skills training. Cruising: Seabourn opened bookings for its 138-day 2029 “Iconic Islands & Remote Horizons” world cruise, featuring 58 destinations and including Praslin in the Seychelles among the Indian Ocean stops. Seychelles Travel & Community: Seychelles Tourism Academy held a Russia “Knowledge Day” lesson for Culinary Arts students, with a strong environmental education focus. Family Tourism: Seychelles is seeing growing demand from GCC families and multi-generational travellers, with resorts highlighting visa-free access, connectivity and flexible family stays. Environment Watch: A new report flags booming coral trafficking worldwide, with shipments often mislabeled to bypass customs—an issue with direct relevance to Seychelles’ reef protection.

Seychelles Tourism & Travel Policy: Seychelles has set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered, including having family or domestic ties to the islands and showing a meaningful contribution or intended contribution to life in Seychelles. Seychelles–India Links: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles’ National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta in Delhi, highlighting shared democratic values and renewed interest in promoting Yoga on the islands. Sports & Health Impacting Travel: Seychelles’ Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF competition debut has been postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked the team from leaving for the DRC. Cruise & Luxury Travel: Seabourn opened bookings for its 138-day 2029 World Cruise, with Seabourn Quest visiting 58 destinations across 31 countries, including Praslin in the Seychelles. Regional Travel Rules: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for most eligible travellers from 15 September, while Seychelles and Mauritius will get 15-day visa-free access. Local Business & Visitor Economy: Thomas Cook India expanded its Chennai network with a new Manapakkam outlet, offering end-to-end holidays and cruises—an indicator of continued demand from key source markets.

Social Infrastructure Push: Seychelles plans a new $2B fund focused on health, education and infrastructure, with an independent governance setup to protect public resources and limit political interference. Cruise Tourism: Seabourn opened bookings for its 138-day 2029 “World Cruise: Iconic Islands & Remote Horizons,” featuring 58 destinations across 31 countries and stops including Praslin (Seychelles) and other UNESCO sites. Parliamentary Ties: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta in Delhi, highlighting deep India–Seychelles friendship and cooperation, including interest in Yoga. Residence Permit Rules: Seychelles outlined three conditions foreigners must meet before residence permit consideration, including having qualifying family/domestic ties or making a meaningful contribution to life in Seychelles. Family Travel Demand: Seychelles is seeing more GCC family and multi-generational visitors, with resorts like Canopy by Hilton Seychelles positioning for longer, experience-led stays. Blue Economy/Environment: A new report warns coral reefs are under pressure as marine heatwaves and climate signals intensify across the Indian Ocean—an issue directly tied to tourism and fisheries. Regional Travel Policy Watch: Thailand’s visa-free stay rules are changing from 15 September (60 days cut to 30 for most), while Seychelles and Mauritius get 15 days—important for planning regional itineraries.

Seychelles Residence Permits: Seychelles has set out three clear conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered: they must not be a prohibited immigrant, they need family or domestic ties to Seychelles, or they must show a contribution they’ve made (or plan to make) to life in the islands. Seychelles Tourism Demand (GCC & Multi-gen): Canopy by Hilton Seychelles says GCC travellers remain a key luxury source market, and expectations are shifting as more families and multi-generational guests choose Seychelles for shorter, meaningful escapes. Blue Economy & Fisheries Talks: Seychelles’ fisheries ministry met India to explore marine aquaculture, tuna fisheries, hatcheries, stock assessment, post-harvest tech, conservation, and even AI for harvest management. Thailand Visa Rules Impacting Travel Plans: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for citizens of 60 countries from Sept. 15, while Mauritius and Seychelles get a 15-day exemption. Coral Smuggling Warning: A new report highlights widespread live coral smuggling globally, with shipments often mislabeled to slip past customs—bad news for reef health and tourism. Local Seychelles-Linked Crime Case: A Seychelles holiday trip ended in arrest in South Africa for an alleged R600m Tembisa Hospital procurement syndicate boss. Travel Tech/Payments (Seychelles HQ): XT Exchange officially listed HKB1 on its Seychelles-based platform, positioning it for consumer payments and cross-border settlement use cases. Beach Soccer (Seychelles in the Mix): Seychelles has been drawn against Malawi in the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Seychelles Immigration: The government has set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered: the applicant must not be a prohibited immigrant, must have family or domestic ties to Seychelles, and must show a contribution (or intended contribution) to life in the islands. Thailand Visa Update: Thailand has formally cut visa-free stays for citizens of 60 countries from 60 days to 30, starting Sept. 15, while Mauritius and Seychelles get 15 days and visa-on-arrival is limited to just three countries. Tourism Demand (Seychelles): A Seychelles hotel group says the destination is drawing more GCC families and multi-generational travellers, with visa-free access and strong connectivity helping shift it beyond a pure honeymoon market. Blue Economy Talks: Seychelles and India discussed expanding fisheries cooperation, including aquaculture, tuna processing, monitoring and surveillance, and digital tools for sustainable harvest management. Coral Protection Warning: A new report highlights booming coral trafficking worldwide, with shipments often mislabeled to slip past customs—an issue with direct implications for reef health and tourism. Crime & Travel Link: A man accused in a R600m Tembisa Hospital procurement syndicate was arrested after a Seychelles trip, as fraud investigations intensify.

Seychelles Tourism & Families: Seychelles is drawing more GCC families and multi-generational travellers, with resorts highlighting visa-free access, strong connectivity and flexible stays like residences with kitchens and kids’ facilities. Blue Economy & Fisheries: Seychelles and India held talks on expanding blue economy cooperation, including marine aquaculture, tuna fisheries, hatcheries, fish stock assessment, post-harvest tech, conservation and improved fisheries data systems. Conservation & Climate Pressure: New reporting warns the Indian Ocean is under mounting stress, with marine heatwaves and an El Niño expected to intensify—raising risks for reefs, fish and coastal tourism. Coral Smuggling Alert: Wildlife trade data points to widespread live coral smuggling globally, with shipments often mislabeled to slip through customs—an issue that matters for reef health and visitor experiences. Tourism Value Debate: Ambassador Alain St.Ange urged the industry to measure tourism by real community value, not just arrivals, stressing local ownership and cultural protection. Travel Business: Island Bookings BV launched an affiliate program to help travel publishers and agencies sell Seychelles island ferry and island-hopping bookings more directly. Sports (Seychelles in the mix): Seychelles has been drawn against Malawi in the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with matches set for October.