President Faure chaired meeting on resuming commercial flights to Seychelles
On Tuesday 23rd June the President chaired a consultative meeting with key representatives of the government and the private sector at State House (in the morning) to discuss the reopening of Seychelles’ borders for commercial flights. The representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations were also present.
During the session, the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Mr Didier Dogley, provided a brief on the work of the Task Force, which had been set up to establish the modalities to reopen the airport for commercial flights. The Task Force constitutes of representatives from both the Government and the private sector.
The Public Health Commissioner, Dr Jude Gedeon made a representation on a National Framework for the integrated management of reopening Seychelles’ borders. The reopening of the borders will be based on three main elements: Public Health Protection, Community Resilience, and Safe Economic Response and Recovery.
Dr. Gedeon also presented a National Framework for oversight, monitoring and coordination to demonstrate how workplaces, hotel establishments, car hires, bars, tour operators and other entities will need to function in light of the heightened risk of COVID-19 and the criteria they need to meet to ensure that the country is ready for tourist arrivals. Stakeholders will meet for a review of the National Framework for oversight, monitoring and coordination on 14 and 21 July 2020.
Following discussions at the meeting, it was agreed that Seychelles will reopen its borders for commercial flights from 1 August 2020 for Seychellois overseas, foreign visitors, and those on Gainful Occupation Permits (GOP) to enter Seychelles, provided the criteria as set by the Department of Health are met.
The President stressed on the importance to follow the guidelines as set by the Public Health Authority and to get use to the observance of social distancing at all times. The President noted that these practices need to be perfected as Seychelles and its citizens prepare for the reopening of our borders.
The next consultative meeting will be held next Tuesday 30 June.
