Kingdom Hotels Investments , based in Dubai, which will soon develop the “ RAFFLES RESORT & RESIDENCE” at Anse Takamaka, Praslin, is joining a growing list of foreign companies selling luxury villas to rich foreigners who may also rent them out.
Unlike most other tourism projects mushrooming all over the archipelago, Kingdom Hotels Investment will be the unique owner of the Raffles resort, facing Curieuse Island off Praslin. Like other resorts, however, there are plans to divert a 500 metre coastal road across the site for a distance of 1.5 km to significantly increase the area of beach frontage.
It is claimed that the project is worth $ 137 million in direct foreign investment, or what remains after importing all that is necessary in terms of goods and services. In the case of Seychelles, since almost everything besides rock dust, macadam and water is imported, that slashes the worth of the investment to about 10%, especially considering that an almost entirely expatriate labour force of 1,400 will be involved.
Like Port Launay, the Anse Takamaka beach is in a marine park and extremely prized by beach-goers; Praslinois and visitors alike, for bathing and barbecues, particularly at a spot called “pti Zil”.
Like Port Launay, the developer has said that the beach hitherto accessible via the coastal road will remain freely accessible to the public as required by law.
According to official documents, the project will have two components; a 90 room beach resort and 23 residential villas will be up for sale and also rental.
The developers will have to be wary that unlike Dubaiwhich was previously desert and barren, Seychelles is a large archipelago of beautiful islands, ringed by white coral beaches and crystal clear ocean.
Potential negative impacts on the marine park frontage may come from a number of sources. These include waste water discharge into the lagoon as well as silt-laden run-off during execution of earthworks by the road diversion and construction. Sewage, rain water run-off and the brine solution from the desalination plant must be taken care of to ensure that the marine parks are not adversely affected. All precautionary measures should also be taken regarding the discharge of hydrocarbons or oily waters from the power plant.
The site has since Creation been under natural darkness, unlit at night and that condition certainly suits the marine and terrestrial animal species that haunt the waterfront. Floodlighting by the resort may scare away wildlife from their habitats, particularly marine turtles off their reproductive beaches.