The ponant cruise ship was the last to call at the Seychelles in March 2020 (Ponant)
The Seychelles, which was one of the first nations to announce a complete ban on cruise ships in 2020, now want to reopen in time for the lucrative cruise season in winter 2021. The Indian Ocean authorities have reversed their decision in May 2020 to ban all cruise ships by 2022, stating that cruise ships with a maximum of 300 passengers will be allowed to dock in Port Victoria and cruise in the country’s waters from mid-November.
In May 2020, the Seychelles attracted international attention when the government announced that it had decided to ban all cruise lines for two years in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The Seychelles are now joining a growing number of countries in North America, the Caribbean and Europe, easing restrictions and making it easier for cruise lines to resume operations. However, Asia, including China and Australia, continues to delay the resumption of large cruise lines. Seychelles was considering reopening the cruise industry in March 2021, but plans have been delayed due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.
The decision to reopen Seychelles follows the launch of an ambitious vaccination campaign that has made the country one of the most highly vaccinated nations in the world. To make it easier to reopen, the government has created a checklist for COVID-19 businesses and cruise lines to facilitate safe resumption of operations. The checklist, which has been developed in accordance with the guidelines of the European Maritime Safety Agency and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, describes the tasks and powers of the agencies in the Seychelles, the regulations of the passenger terminals in all ports of call , the contingencies in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak and the coordination between cruises and ports in relation to COVID-19 in general.
“This is a requirement for cruise line operators to ensure that ships take the minimum safety measures that must be implemented when operating in the Seychelles,” said Alan Renaud, general secretary for civil aviation, ports and navy for the Seychelles News Agency.
Tourism is a significant part of the country’s economy and is the second largest industry in Seychelles after commercial fishing. Last year, tourism income fell 61 percent, a loss of $ 322 million, with tourist arrivals falling 70 percent. Ahead of the pandemic, Seychelles welcomed 384,204 visitors in 2019, of whom 63,442 came from cruise ships, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics. The port of Victoria received 39 cruise lines during the 2019/2020 season, the last ship allowed to arrive in March 2020 being the Ponant’s Le Bougainville.
Island Sky, operated by London-based Noble Caledonia, is currently expected to open the season with calls to four of the Seychelles’ outer islands – Aldabra, Assumption, Farquhar and Cosmoledo. The 4,200 GT cruise ship can accommodate only 118 passengers.
Historically, the Seychelles have also received larger cruise lines, but the government has made a broader decision to open the port amid ongoing concerns about the possible spread of the virus.
