Seychelles and Reunion Move to Deepen Tourism and Trade Ties
Seychelles Ambassador Alain St Ange held a series of institutional meetings in Reunion on 23 and 24 May, on the sidelines of the 1st International Summit and Festival of Creole Chefs, aimed at reviving and expanding bilateral cooperation between the two Indian Ocean islands. Discussions with Regional Council President Huguette Bello centred on tourism, Creole culture, fishing and air connectivity, with both sides identifying their shared Creole identity as a foundation for stronger partnerships. Tourism emerged as the most advanced area of cooperation, with the Vanilla Islands organisation - of which St Ange is a founding member - cited for its progress in developing cruise and multi-destination holiday packages across the region.
Air connectivity featured prominently in the talks, with discussions exploring the conditions required to re-establish a direct flight link between Reunion and Seychelles, including connections to European markets to ensure commercial viability. Fisheries cooperation was also on the agenda, with meetings focusing on joint training initiatives and shared expertise, bolstered by Reunion's 2025 acquisition of a stake in deep-sea fishing operator SAPMER. Follow-up steps are expected to include the development of sectoral roadmaps, with both territories looking to engage regional frameworks including the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Indian Ocean Commission to advance the partnership.
Source: Seychelles News Agency
