Seychelles is a group of small tropical islands, and the tourism industry has always posed a huge challenge. At an early stage, policymakers became aware that the natural uniqueness of Seychelles is the core attraction for Seychelles’s tourism industry and subsequently its economic base. The only possibility to profit from this resource without destroying it was through sustainable development. Therefore, the tourism sector constitutes one of the 10 thematic areas of the EMPS [http://www.pps.gov.sc/enviro/EMPS_2000-2010.pdf or the case study on “Incorporating MEAs into the Environment Management Plans of Seychelles” following Guideline 39
for more information on Seychelles’s EMPS process], and there is an emphasis on ecotourism and sustainability.
Today, any tourism development is subject to the Environment Protection Act and the Town Country Planning Act. An Environmental Impact Assessment is mandatory for all tourism projects, as requested under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and these assessments screen the project details and encourage public consultations before and during the project’s implementation.
In a consultative process with all the stakeholders from the public and private sectors, the Ministry of Tourism and Transport developed VISION 21, which is a “road map” that presents a strategic vision for tourism development in Seychelles. While it is a key component of the State’s development strategy, VISION 21 also has an explicit “commitment to the protection and conservation of the natural environment and biodiversity.” VISION 21 mandated the development of a Seychelles Ecotourism Strategy (SETS 21), which was launched in 2003. At the 7th CBD COP, Decision VII/14 adopted Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development. When developing SETS 21, Seychelles considered the CBD guidelines as a basis, while adapting them in the specific national context of Seychelles. SETS 21 provides for implementation of pilot projects, which will test the applicability of the Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development, as requested under VII/14. Additionally, under SETS 21, local communities will be provided with capacity-building and financial resources to increase their involvement in tourism policymaking, development planning, product development, and management.
For more information, see http://www.tourism.gov.sc or contact Frauke Fleischer-Dogley FFDogley@tourism.sc, Marc Marengo Mmarengo@tourism.sc, or Michel Nallentambydgt@tourism.sc