New investments for the Country are being announced as ‘the’ major breakthrough for Seychelles. It is a fact that today the majority of these new investors landing on our shores originate from the Middle East area and India. It is important for the Seychelles Tourism Industry’s Association, as the grouping of all serious players of that industry, to not only welcome the new investors, but also to take the opportunity to bring out the need for the new developments to be genuinely committed in the consolidation of the main industry of the country for the long term.
The Seychelles and its Tourism Industry needs investors, this is an accepted fact, but what has never been spelled out is that we need investors who will look at the consolidation of the tourism industry at the same time as it looks at its own investments. We need team players and those with the commitment to work with us in the Industry’s Association, united for the one cause, the Country’s Tourism Industry. At the crossroads where the Seychelles finds itself today, it is not individualism that is needed in the new investors, and it is not those prepared to negotiate the best concessions for themselves at the detriment of the ‘home grown’ that is needed, because this will only fuel animosity, which will lead to divisions within the industry, and disrupt what can and what should be a solid tourism industry - one that can remain the main pillar of the country’s economy for years to come. This statement is echoed at the start of this article to table what should, at all cost, be the path followed for Seychelles and what should be discouraged from the list of new imports.
In my capacity as Chairman of the Tourism Industry’s Association, (S.H.T.A.), I work tirelessly to unite every interested party in our industry to ensure we all speak with the one voice, so that we may discuss with the Government, our facilitators, for the benefit of every player. Too often, the lack of clears directives from some Head Offices of International Hotel Groups leaves their General Managers sitting on the fence, instead of being serious and committed partners in the Country’s Tourism Industry. They are left alone complaining privately about situations that could be remedied if we were all working together for Seychelles. As we welcome newcomers to our shores, and as these new Investors arrive on our shores in search of new riches, we must plead, on the one hand, to the investors themselves to be team players, and that they direct their General Managers to be an integral part of the Country’s Tourism Industry, and on the other hand, we must plead to the Government to understand the situation on hand, and to have one Investment Code that treats every investor, ‘home grown’ or foreign, existing or in its project stage alike and with same administrative yard stick.
The need to emphasize to all new players to unite under the banner of the Country’s Tourism Association, to speak with the one voice, and to tackle head-on, points of contention and those that could impact negatively on the industry, is today more important than it has ever been. A stable industry will see the consolidation of the industry for the long term, but the industry will benefit of such a positive climate only when everyone is on a level playing field before the Government, and when Industry Players are not being unfairly assisted at the detriment of other Players. This appeal to the Government is necessary to bring about the guarantee needed for stability and for the long term progress of the industry.
We can learn from competing destinations, and realise that Seychelles’ natural assets is too valuable for it not to be disposed of lightly. The beauty of Seychelles makes for an ideal tourism destination. The pristine state of our environment is inviting for developers but the question that begs an answer, is when will our country’s natural assets and the prime land it is offering for major developments be recognized as our valuable inheritance, held only in trust by the President of our Republic, that should not just be given away in the interest of short-term gains.
The time has come for new investors to have to develop infrastructure facilities for our people in the district in which they have decided to plough their funds. This is a minimum expectation to be granted the right to be one of us. We know that today Seychelles finds itself in the position that for every Foreign Investor turned down four more appear on the horizon. We meet them all as the Association representing the Country’s Tourism Industry, and we hear from them before and after their initial inquiries. Seychelles must take stock that as we do have limited potential sites left, we must maximize the returns from the sale or lease of every inch of what we have. Giving away our inheritance just to see a new establishment open its doors is not and should not be an option anymore, as that will cost the people and the country dearly in years to come.
The time has come for the country to see the benefits from its inheritance and from its natural assets. The Government, as Custodians of the Land belonging to the People of Seychelles, must be seen to be serious Custodians and the People must be fully updated on every land deal between the Government and a Foreign Investor. Investors on their part should be conscious of the likely consequences of moving on state land without a proper and transparent Tender Process of the property or island in question.
The onus is as much on the investor as it is on the Ministry responsible of Lands to ensure that the land being acquired has been obtained through a means that would be acceptable under any international norm. The Seychelles with its peace loving people will face its future as part of the globalised world, and as times gets harder in the world arena, the Seychellois as a People will also face the pinch. Every investor in the Country must be satisfied that they are on the side of those with a ‘clear conscience’.
Todays new resorts are breaking ground whilst others are entering final construction stages in a country that has been free of political upheavals and of labour unrests. Today also the country finds itself in what can be described as the most difficult times in its history. The development has surpassed expectations but as the State Coffers remain empty, the ‘home grown’ small investors, in any field and in any form, remain the back bone of the country. This is why I can permit myself to speak openly as I invite newcomers to invest in Seychelles to work with us and alongside us, and as, at the same time, share my experiences openly, I do that for Seychelles and in the interest of the new investors.
It is no longer acceptable to hear discussions in Europe that as new investors one can still get better conditions than those already operating and holding afloat the country’s economy. To ask for better conditions, is like stabbing your industry colleague in the back, and the Government must now lay all the conditions clearly for all to see and allow genuine investors only to make the next move. Today we are hearing that such an outer coral island, belonging to Seychelles, has gone to a South African Consortium, yesterday it was another coral island that went to an Indian Entrepreneur, and tomorrow you will hear of the fight between two Seychellois wanting the same, Government Owned granitic island. This would not be news if all was above board and if all was being done with every Seychellois’ Interest at heart. It is news only when no transparency procedures are followed. The People will remain judge and jury of the current process being applied, and the People’s anger is not one that any country and any investor needs to see, or would want to see erupt.
Seychelles must move on, and the Tourism Industry wants to be seen to be behind the personal efforts of the President of the Republic and of his Government, in attracting new players and in moving the country ahead. We want to be seen as serious partners, working alongside the Government for Seychelles, and for its long term interest. We should all adopt this approach not only to safeguard our own investments, but also for Seychelles.
I end by committing myself, as the newly re-elected Chairman of the Country’s Tourism Industry, to continue, with my Committee, to work with the President of the Republic, with the Vice President who is our Minister responsible for Tourism, with the Minister of Finance and with the Minister of Employment to see the consolidation of our Country’s Tourism Industry. We shall continue to use every means available to us, to assist our Country in a bid to strengthen its economy for the benefit of every single Seychellois.