Officials and operators in Seychelles convened to address various issues related to the upcoming cruise ship season spanning from October 2023 to May 2024. The meeting, held at the Docklands Auditorium in the capital city and principal port Victoria, involved discussions regarding unlicensed service providers and the provision of entertainment options for cruise ship tourists.
Tourism Seychelles gathered with key service providers, including taxi drivers and commission agents, to deliberate on procedures at the newly established Cruise Village. This village will be located at the Island Development Company (IDC) car park adjacent to the Port of Victoria and will operate from October 24 until the season's conclusion.
The Cruise Village's primary objective is to discourage unlicensed service providers from competing with licensed businesses once the season commences. To this end, providers participating in the Cruise Village will be required to adhere to a set of rules. These rules include registering with Tourism Seychelles to obtain identification badges and respecting the designated spaces within the car park.
During the meeting, Sherin Francis, the Principal Secretary for Tourism, emphasized that while the department has established the rules and regulations, they are open to revision after the first ship berths in Port Victoria.
Representatives from the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA), the police, and the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA) were present to address service providers' inquiries. Providers were informed that non-compliance with the regulations could lead to consequences, including warnings, suspensions, license revocations, or denial of access to the Cruise Ship Village.
Participants in the meeting expressed optimism that the new measures will contribute to maintaining order at the port during the upcoming cruise season.
The first ship scheduled to call at Port Victoria for the season is SH Diana, set to arrive in Seychelles on October 24.
The cruise shipping industry plays a significant role in Seychelles' tourism sector, with 40 cruise ship calls in Port Victoria in 2023. For the upcoming season, Seychelles anticipates another 40 cruise ship calls, with MSC Splendida, (LOA length 333 meters) being the largest vessel in the lineup.