It is four hours from the Gulf, visa-free for all nationalities and served by double-daily Emirates flights via Dubai, yet Seychelles wants UAE travellers to see it as a holiday that feels a world away from home.
In an interview with Dubai Newsweek on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai, Vesna Rakic, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, said the UAE remains one of the archipelago’s top five source markets and a high-value one.
Vesna Rakic
“Seychelles for the GCC is close, with excellent connectivity, and it’s a year-round escape to the extraordinary,” said Rakic, who was appointed three months ago and was attending ATM for the first time.
Close to home, but a different pace
Rakic said the short flight makes Seychelles workable even for a long weekend.
“You can arrive in the morning, be on the beach, spend the weekend, and fly out in the evening on a Sunday flight,” she said. Travellers leaving on a Friday could be back at the office on Monday.
For longer school holidays, she said, the appeal changes. “Even though it’s so close, it’s quite different. It’s a nature-based destination. The rhythm is slower, island life,” she said, adding that it offers families “an opportunity to slow down and reconnect with each other in nature.”
Entry is simple. Seychelles is visa-free for everyone, Rakic said, though travellers must complete a quick online travel authorisation before departure and show proof of accommodation and return tickets.
Families, honeymooners and weddings
The region’s travellers, she said, include both UAE nationals and the expatriate community. Family travel, including multi-generational trips, is a major driver, alongside the romance and honeymoon segment Seychelles is known for. Weddings are another growing area.
“There’s something for every generation to enjoy,” she said.
More than a beach holiday
Asked how Seychelles stands apart from rivals such as the Maldives and Mauritius, Rakic said all three destinations are special in their own way, but that island-hopping is central to the Seychelles experience.
A single trip can take in two or three islands, either pre-packaged or independently, supported by roads, inter-island ferries and domestic flights. Mahé is the main arrival point, Praslin is home to the Vallée de Mai UNESCO World Heritage Site, and La Digue is best explored by bicycle.
She also pointed to a difference that matters to many visitors. “Wherever you stay on any of the islands, you have access to all the beaches,” she said, meaning guests are not restricted to the beach of their own resort.
Beyond the shoreline, she highlighted ancient granite rock formations, mountains, rich biodiversity and nature expeditions, as well as the Creole culture, a mix of Asian, African and European heritage. “They are all living in harmony, naturally together in Seychelles, which is unique in its own way,” she said.
Value over volume
Rakic said the national direction is “higher value, lower impact.” Visitor numbers remain important, she said, for both the destination and airline feasibility, but success will also be measured by length of stay, spend per visitor, tourism earnings and a better year-round spread of visitors and where they stay.
“Lower impact means caring for nature, celebrating culture, respecting communities and preserving authenticity,” she said.
Rebound after early-year disruption
Rakic acknowledged that the year has been uneven. There was disruption early in the year, and arrivals are still slightly below last year, which was a record. However, she said the market has rebounded since March.
“We are seeing really positive signs as recovery is ongoing,” she said.
Partnerships and outlook
The tourism board renewed its memorandum of understanding with Emirates during the show. Rakic described the airline as “one of our most valued and long-standing airline partners” after more than two decades of connecting Seychelles with the world. The renewal, she said, will support closer cooperation, joint marketing and travel trade engagement.
Partnerships, she said, have taken on added meaning this year. “As an island state, we rely heavily on connectivity. And when there were disruptions, we saw how much it affected us,” she said, adding that seeing partners support one another through the disruptions “has really meant a lot to us.”
Looking ahead, Rakic said Seychelles already has strong visibility in the UAE and will work with Emirates to keep it a preferred choice. The board is also looking to develop markets such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
“We have a strong base, but for sure we are interested in strengthening that,” she added.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
