Designed specifically for travel agents, this comprehensive resource provides exclusive access to expert information on the most sought-after destinations and experiences across Southern and East Africa, as well as the Indian Ocean islands.

“In our new travel brochure, we’ve showcased our wonderfully diverse continent’s most spectacular countries and regions, from South Africa’s Cape Winelands and sunny KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique, Namibia, and Botswana,” says Murray Gardiner, CEO of GILTEDGE Group. “We are confident that this beautifully-packaged information will play a leading role in attracting more international visitors to Africa.”

The GILTEDGE travel brochure features detailed information on travel experiences, preferred airlines, and explores GILTEDGE’s commitment to sustainable and purposeful travel. It also highlights each destination and the company’s esteemed accommodation partners.

“At GILTEDGE, we are dedicated to promoting responsible tourism and empowering our agents to help their clients make a positive difference within the communities they visit,” adds Gardiner. “All our carefully selected partners share our values, placing sustainability at the core of their operations.”

In addition to the new travel brochure, GILTEDGE has introduced an innovative map resource. This tool allows clients to visualize their prospective itineraries, acting as a valuable aid for travel agents. The map resource can be pre-ordered separately or together with the brochure.

To pre-order the GILTEDGE brochure with map insert, interested travel trade can complete this form – GILTEDGE Brochure Pre-order.

For media enquiries, please contact inga@bigambitions.co.za

Contact GILTEDGE
International tollfree telephone:
USA: 1 877 511 6860, UK: 0800 680 0423, AUS: 1 800 737 403
South Africa telephone: +27 21 713 0296 Email: info@gilt-edge.com

Mauritius recently extended its travel ban against Southern African countries until 31 January 2022, despite the presence of Omicron variant in that country and the lifting of travel bans by the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Ireland, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark which have cited that with community transmission in their own countries a travel ban is less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad.

The approach by Mauritius to keep its travel ban against South Africa mirrors that of the French Government, which has South Africa, eSwatini and Lesotho listed as the only countries on a ‘scarlet red’ list, designated for countries with “particularly active virus circulation and/or discovery of a variant likely to present a risk of increased transmissibility or immune escape”. France reported a record high of 206,243 confirmed cases in a 24-hour period on 30 December.

“ASATA is profoundly frustrated and disappointed by the Mauritian Government’s decision to further extend a travel ban when it is evident there is no scientific basis to continue the ban,” says Otto de Vries, CEO ASATA.

“The high infection rates in over 50 countries means a person is as likely to catch the Omicron variant in Port Louis, Berlin, Brussels or Paris or as they are in Johannesburg or Cape Town. Travel bans have become redundant in the face of this reality,” de Vries adds.

ASATA has written to the Mauritian government twice in the past month, drawing attention to the decision of international governments to lift their travel bans and sharing Discovery Health’s recent findings from the first real-world assessment of the variant that vaccines continue to confer high protection against severe complications from Omicron and that the risk of severe illness and hospitalisation is lower for those with Omicron..

“Considering travellers to Mauritius must also show proof of a negative PCR test before arrival to fly to Mauritius and then an antigen test on arrival, there is simply no logical reason why South Africans should be banned from travelling to Mauritius,” de Vries said.

The travel ban has had dire consequences for the travel and tourism industries of both Mauritius and South Africa; the latter typically sending about 120,000 travellers to the island annually. In December, this number can be as high as 24,000 travellers. The estimated losses due to this travel ban, just on packaged holidays, is estimated at R 1 billion for December 2021 and an additional R 400 million for January 2022.

Further, an estimated 280 South African millionaires — those with investable assets of more than $1m — have moved to the island since 2007, according to market research group New World Wealth. This group provides high value spend on the island all year round, but typically at this time when they would normally spend their summer holiday there.

“We believe there is a compelling and rational case for the immediate lifting of the travel ban against South Africa. On behalf of the travel and tourism value chain in both our countries, we urge the Mauritian Government to reconsider their extended ban and lift it as a matter of urgency,” de Vries concludes.

In the latest Health Entry and Stay Conditions for Travellers update (V3.5), South Africa is removed from Seychelles’ list of ‘Restricted Countries’, meaning that passengers from South Africa, vaccinated or not, will be allowed entry to the islands without need for quarantine on arrival.

According to the advisory, entry and stay conditions will not be affected by COVID-19 vaccination status, but visitors are strongly encouraged to be fully immunised before travel. Passengers will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test done within 72h of departure and complete a Health Travel Authorisation at https://seychelles.govtas.com/. They will need to provide proof of valid Travel & Health insurance to cover COVID-19 related quarantine, isolation or treatment.

Visitors from South Africa meeting the above criteria may, whilst they are in Seychelles, stay in any certified tourism establishments with no minimum length of stay in first establishment. They need not take a routine Day 5 surveillance PCR Test2. Conditions for stay for children up to age 17, regardless of their vaccination status, will be as for the parent/guardian they are accompanying. Visitors who have been in Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Nepal and/or Pakistan, countries which remain on the Restricted List, in preceding 14 days will however not be permitted entry into Seychelles.

The Indian Ocean islands’ tourism authorities have welcomed the news, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde professing his delight at the reopening of the market and “the opportunities that this important market offers, primarily for the fly-fishing niche, and beyond that to the South American market. With over 71% of our population fully vaccinated and the vaccination of adolescents 12 -18 years well under way, Seychelles is doing what is necessary to keep both its population and its visitors safe.”

Seychelles is a sought-after destination for South Africans, with the destination recording over 14,355 in 2017. The pandemic and ensuing restrictions have hamstrung travel and from generating 12,000 visitors prior to the pandemic in 2019, arrivals dropped to less than 2,000 last year and to 218 as at 5 September this year.

Whilst addicted to beaches and swimming pools, South African travellers are very adventurous, and like to venture on nature trails, hiking, snorkelling, diving, sailing, are keen to meet the local population and participate in cultural activities whilst on holiday.

The removal of restrictions is also welcome news to a significant number of Eden Island homeowners living in South Africa who will now be able to return to Seychelles with their families.

David Germain, the Tourism Seychelles Regional Director for Africa & the Americas who is based in Cape Town greeted the announcement with enthusiasm. “This is wonderful news, the arrival of the South African travellers back to our shores is long overdue. Travellers want to stay safe in a pure environment whilst on holiday and what better place than the Seychelles at this time of uncertainty. Tourism operators and their staff have all been trained to minimise and mitigate risk posed by COVID-19, developing standard operating protocols in collaboration with the health authorities, earning COVID-safe certification. In South Africa itself, mass vaccination of the South African public has already begun and is taking place nationwide in the country, and this is instilling confidence in travel,” he said.

The Tourism Seychelles Office in South Africa is ready with marketing activities programmed to take place in South Africa and the other African countries over the next few months. “This will include a series of trade and consumer activities, with a ‘Seychelles Africa Virtual Roadshow’ being the main activity, to provide products and services as well as important travel advisory updates to the African travel trade community for travel to Seychelles,” Mr Germain explained. A series of ‘Seychelles Virtual Destination training’, press trips and travel trade familiarisation visits to Seychelles are scheduled in November, as well as consumer advertising campaigns, and joint-collaboration marketing efforts with the South African travel trade.

For complete details of requirements, all visitors should consult https://advisory.seychelles.travel/ and https://seychelles.govtas.com/ prior to travel.

For any additional enquiries please contact pha@health.gov.sc or info@seychelles.com

The news, much anticipated by the tourism industry, was announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr Sylvestre Radegonde during a joint press brief with his counterpart from the Health Ministry, Mrs Peggy Vidot on Thursday, January 14, 2021. 

The review follows the recent launch of the immunisation campaign in the small island nation. The campaign expected to have just under three quarters of the local adult population vaccinated by mid- March 2021. 

With immediate effect, Seychelles will be welcoming vaccinated visitors from any part of the world.

The beautiful colors of the Air Seychelles A320neo aircraft was spotted at the O.R. Tambo International Airport upon landing at 12.30pm greeted by a guard of honor salute.

The flight operated by Captain Michael Robert and First Officer Eddy Cesar, was supported by Cabin Manager Jacqueline Confiance, Cabin Senior Kethra Quatre as well as Flight Attendants Herve Bonne and Yannick Commettant including Engineer Bertrand Bristol.

During the month of November, Air Seychelles will operate weekly flights on Saturdays between Johannesburg and Seychelles. In December, the airline will expand its operations to three flights per week on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

The exciting Friday evening departure will continue direct onto the Maldives, making it the fastest way to get from South Africa to the Maldives during the festive season.

For bookings, travellers are invited to visit airseychelles.com, contact the Call Centre on +2484391000 or visit their local travel agent.

The decision was taken following guidance and intensified measures being implemented by the health authorities, including the importance of maintaining social distancing against the spread of COVID-19.

The airline’s sales offices and call centre will remain closed during this time. 

For essential companies requesting for domestic flights on a charter basis, please email: hmcharters@airseychelles.com. For medevac requests please contact +248 4391175 or +248 4391173.

Seychelles remains closed for international flying through 30th April 2020.  

1. Effective as from 20H00 GMT (00H00 local time) today Monday 16 MAR 2020 and applicable until 30-Mar-2020,
   • “Any foreign national having resided in or with a history of travel to and from Reunion Island in the last 14 days will not be allowed entry or to transit in the Republic of Mauritius (including Rodrigues Island)” 
2. Effective as from 20H00 GMT (00H00 local time) on Wednesday 18 MAR 2020 and applicable until 01-Apr-2020,
   • “Any foreign national having resided in or with a history of travel to and from, any member state of the European Union, United Kingdom, Ireland (sic) and Switzerland within the last 14 days, will not be allowed entry or to transit in the Republic of Mauritius” 
3. Mauritian nationals, residents, their spouse and children falling under the categories in paragraph 1 and 2, will be allowed entry in the Republic of Mauritius and will be placed in quarantine.

As at today, Air Mauritius is maintaining its flights to and from Paris, London and Reunion. Air Mauritius is closely monitoring the situation and will adapt its operations accordingly.

Passengers falling under the categories mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 are advised that they will not be uplifted on Air Mauritius flights after the respective deadlines.

Air Mauritius regrets inconveniences caused.

Saint Denis is the administrative capital of the French overseas region, located on the north end of Reunion Island and Radisson’s newest hotel is located on the major axe within walking distance from the main commercial and financial district. It is ideally positioned in front of the Promenade, between the old town and the main highway, allowing easy access across the city. The hotel has unrivalled access to Saint Denis Roland Garros International Airport, the main airport in the Reunion Island, less than 20 minutes away.

Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “Radisson provides a unique value proposition to both guest and owners in the full service segment based on a compelling guest experience within an efficient real estate framework. We now enter our third Indian Ocean Island with the first upscale internationally branded hotel.

The hotel will feature 124 rooms, five food and drink outlets, with cuisine suited to every taste at the all-day dining restaurant, the destination restaurant as well as the lobby café. For a refreshing drink, guests are invited to explore the hotel bars, which includes a bar and lounge on the rooftop that overlooks the infinite views of the Island.

The hotels 416m² of meeting and events space will be made up of a large conference room and six meeting rooms along with a fully equipped gym.

The new generation aircraft which forms part of the airlines plan to refresh its fleet, will generate unbeatable efficiency, lowest operating costs and will significantly reduce environmental footprint.

Equipped with 12 Business and 156 Economy Class seats, similarly to the current A320neo aircraft, the latest addition to the fleet will also be named after one of Seychelles critically endangered bird, as part of the airline’s commitment to raise awareness about the protection of the Seychelles ecosystem and its endemic species.

In addition to providing increased capacity across the airlines network, the newest acquisition will further improve the operational performance of the airline, allowing better schedule flexibility within the overall flight programme, especially when conducting the aircraft allocation plan according to a specific route, apart from standardizing the galley equipment on board the aircraft.

Remco Althuis, Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles said: “The delivery of the second A320neo aircraft, will complete an integral part of the Air Seychelles business transformation plan, related to the entire refresh of the airlines jet fleet.

“Besides operating the most technologically advanced aircraft in the region, in 2020, Air Seychelles will also maintain the youngest fleet of modern aircraft in the Indian Ocean, thus positioning itself as the airline of choice in the region.

“For the past three months, the overall on-time-performance of the current fleet has been operating at 83 per cent and by next year with the arrival of the second A320neo aircraft, we expect this performance to improve significantly.”

In August 2019, Air Seychelles became the first airline to take delivery and operate the first A320neo aircraft in Africa.

Following a successful three months of operation and having completed 298 flights, to date, the new aircraft has generated 20 per cent fuel savings on average per flight, with approximately 50 per cent reduced noise footprint and nitrogen oxides (N0x).