In preparation for the reopening of the Seychelles International Airport for commercial flights on August 1, the tourism department has worked on a Seychelles Visitor Travel Advisory.

It provides guidance to visitors from the booking stage, disembarkation, transfers, stay in accommodation and emergency procedures in the event of symptoms which could be related to COVID-19.

The Seychelles International Airport will re-open on August 1 and will only accept commercial flights from 37 countries that have been deemed low and medium risk in relation to the COVID-19 infection.

To give more details on the precautions and process that visitors will go through once they arrive in the country, the principal secretary for tourism Anne Lafortune held a press conference yesterday afternoon at the Botanical House where she also discussed the many safety measures that the tourism department in collaboration with the health department have put in place.

“Only visitors from low and medium risk countries will be able to visit Seychelles and all of them must have a travel insurance that will cover all their medical costs,” said PS Lafortune.

New GOP framework discussed

A new gainful occupation permit framework related to COVID-19, strategies required to be in place beyond July 1 and proposals for the way forward for national programmes and employment schemes were some of the points discussed during yesterday’s fourth consultative session.

President Danny Faure chaired the session with key representatives of government and private sector at State House.

The meeting was a follow-up of previous consultative sessions held between the respective sectors regarding the economic response to COVID-19.

The meeting was centered on feedback from the Central Bank of Seychelles and Ministry of Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning regarding points raised last Tuesday, and the presentation of a new gainful occupation permit (GOP) framework related to COVID-19 by the Ministry of Employment, Immigration and Civil Status.

The members also discussed strategies required to be in place beyond July 1 and proposals for the way forward for national programmes and employment schemes. The implementation of the Financial Assistance for Job Retention programme (FA4JR) was also reviewed.

Employment policies and GOP procedures discussed

Relief schemes being implemented to reduce the economic impacts of COVID-19 on businesses, employment policies, procedures for gainful occupation permits are some of the topics discussed during yesterday’s third consultative session.

President Danny Faure chaired the session with key representatives of government and private sector stakeholders at State House.

The meeting follows on from sessions previously held between the two sectors regarding the economic response to COVID-19.

Oliver Bastienne, chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), noted that the private sector further expressed its frustrations in regards to the financial assistance scheme for employees.