5th March 2021
Indian Ocean island destination, The Seychelles, has announced that it will be welcoming visitors from across the globe, irrespective of their vaccination status, as from 25 March 2021. Visitors from South Africa will still not be permitted to enter Seychelles for the time being until further review.
Visitors will now only be required to present a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure. There will be no quarantine requirement nor restriction on movement upon entry into Seychelles. Additionally, the minimum stay in establishments upon arrival will no longer be applicable.
August 2020
All passengers coming to Seychelles from Aug. 1 when the airport opens for scheduled passenger flights must have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test not more than 72 hours old before boarding their flight to the island nation, said a top official on Tuesday.
The Public Health Commissioner, Jude Gedeon, told a press conference that there are additional travel conditions for visitors, Seychellois and resident permit holders coming to Seychelles.
Visitors must be from low- or medium-risk countries and an application form must be submitted to visitor@health.gov.sc. The list is posted on the website of the departments of tourism and health.
“Visitors from high-risk countries will not be allowed to travel to Seychelles. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is dynamic and can change at any time visitors must ensure that flight and hotel bookings permit flexibility on cancellation or postponement at short notice,” he added.
Upon arrival in Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, all visitors must show proof of accommodation in an approved tourism establishment, a list of which are available for download on the department’s website.
“As from Aug. 1, visitors are permitted to stay in not more than two approved establishments for the first seven days. When they change accommodation we must be able to track where they are going to stay next,” said Gedeon.
President Danny Faure on June 23, 2020 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: i) public health protection, ii) community resilience, and iii) safe economic response and recovery.
Where to stay:
Fregate Private Island
Fregate Island Private will also be accepting private jet travel, becoming the first luxury destination in the Seychelles to do so.
Fregate Island, it says, has always been COVID-19-free and intends to remain a safe environment by following the Seychelles Health Authority’s advice and recommendations. To that note, the private island will be operating at a limited capacity with a maximum of 28 guests; this includes the operation of eight villas, as well as Banyan Hill Estate.
The Fregate Island Private professional team has been further trained on the importance of handwashing and social distancing and are undergoing regular medical checks by the island’s resident nurse. Hand sanitizing dispensers are located in all guest and staff areas, and there is an increased frequency of the island’s cleaning schedule with regular cleaning of all areas, including common contact surfaces, such as door handles and tabletops.
For more information send us an email to info@hauteretreats.com
