President Danny Faure announced that commercial passenger flights to Seychelles are to resume on August 1, 2020. The decision was announced following a meeting at the State House, chaired by President Danny Faure and attended by officials from the Public Health Authority; Ministry of Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning; Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS); Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles (Ceps); Seychelles Inter-Faith Council (Sifco); Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) and the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
The resumption of commercial passenger flights will be undertaken as per the newly established National Framework for Integrated Management of the Reopening of Seychelles, presented by the public health commissioner, Dr. Jude Gedeon and based on three main pillars public health protection, community resilience and safe economic response and recovery.
According to Dr. Gedeon, Seychelles will only allow entry of visitors from low and medium risks countries and these visitors will also undertake a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, not more than 72 hours before flying to Seychelles to ensure that they are free of COVID-19.
It was also announced that the visitors will not be quarantined, and likewise, the same conditions will apply to returning Seychellois nationals as long as they also take the PCR test. Department of Foreign Affairs therefore recommends that visitors wishing to visit Seychelles, view the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) website.
The new lift in air travel restrictions on the destination comes an indication of the successful progression of the implementation of the first phase of movement restrictions effective as of June 1, 2020. As the destination tops holiday’s searches in the region, the availability of flights comes at an opportune time for visitors planning to find a peaceful and picturesque vacation.
It is with the aim of ensuring the safety of visitors travelling to Seychelles for a holiday and the local population that a new series of guidelines has been issued by the Public Health Authority in Seychelles and the Tourism Stakeholders.
The guidelines, which has been meticulously discussed by all the different parties within the Seychelles tourism industry, encompasses various information relating to travelling to Seychelles and the requirements for same to happen under the new normal.
The document, which also includes the list of countries, has been made available on the department of tourism website since Friday July 3, 2020.
Prominent points of the documents are highlighted below:
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Passengers boarding from medium risk countries are expected to conduct a PCR test within 72 hours of travel while passengers boarding from low risk countries are required to submit to an antigen test within 72 hours of travel.
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Airlines companies are strongly advised not to board any passengers or crew who are symptomatic of COVID-19.
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Any passenger who arrives in Seychelles without this proof will be turned back on the same aircraft.
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Entry screening will be done upon arrival starting with completion of the health check form, symptomatic check, temperature scanning.
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Visitors may be required to undergo a rapid antigen test.
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It is compulsory for all visitors to provide travel insurance coverage.
