Simplification by the Seychelles of the rules for the entry of foreigners into the country will have a positive effect on the tourism sector. Alexan Mkrtchyan, General Director of the Pink Elephant travel agency network, told Izvestia on Thursday, March 25.
“Facilitating the entry of foreigners by the Seychelles will have a positive impact on tourism, including from Russia. The flow there from the Russian Federation all this time was almost zero due to the lack of transportation. With the opening of direct flights by Aeroflot <...> it will grow exponentially, “he said.
Also, the general director of a network of travel agencies pointed out that the season is now in the Seychelles. According to him, they go there for the sake of a beach holiday, and it is already available in Turkey, and, moreover, three to four times cheaper. At the same time, at the end of May, Russian resorts will also open for swimming.
In this regard, there will be no mass flow from Russia to the islands until October, he noted, recalling that the Seychelles is, first of all, a competitor to the Maldives and the United Arab Emirates, that is, expensive holiday destinations.
The Seychelles have resumed accepting foreign tourists from March 25, including those from Russia, if they have a negative PCR test for coronavirus, made no earlier than 72 hours before arriving in the country. It was also emphasized that there is no quarantine upon arrival in the camp.
In turn, Aeroflot announced in early March that it would start flying from Moscow to the Seychelles from April 2. According to the schedule on the airline’s website, flights will be operated twice a week: on Fridays and Sundays.
Regular and charter flights were suspended by Russia in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, restrictions on air traffic with a number of states were gradually removed.