Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework (2024–2034)

Project Overview
TRC Tourism partnered with TEAM Tourism Consulting to create the Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework (SSTPF), a 10-year strategic roadmap designed to transform Seychelles into a global exemplar of sustainable tourism. This framework aligns with Seychelles’ economic vision, recognising the tourism sector’s pivotal role in contributing approximately 58.8% of GDP and employing two-thirds of the workforce. The SSTPF aims to achieve a balance between economic growth and the protection of Seychelles’ cultural and natural heritage by adopting a value-over-volume approach to tourism, ensuring equitable distribution of benefits and fostering long-term resilience.

Key Challenges and TRC Solutions
The SSTPF addresses critical challenges, including economic leakage, limited diversification of tourism offerings, and environmental pressures like climate change. TRC developed strategies to:

• Strengthen governance and stakeholder collaboration, enabling private and public sectors to work cohesively.
• Foster local investments and upskill the workforce, ensuring economic benefits stay within Seychelles.
• Protect biodiversity, cultural assets, and communities through comprehensive sustainability practices.
• Equip stakeholders with tools for data-driven decision-making and sustainability integration.
  Unique consultation approaches, such as extensive stakeholder engagement and alignment with Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) principles, ensured a collaborative and locally relevant framework.

Achievements

• Comprehensive strategies were developed under five pillars: governance, investment resilience, cultural and environmental preservation, climate adaptation, and data-driven tourism management.
• The framework encourages community ownership and private-public partnerships, creating pathways for inclusive growth.
• Innovative recommendations promote renewable energy, waste management improvements, and cultural tourism diversification.

Recommendations to the Client

1. Strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration through national coordinating mechanisms.
2. Expand sustainable tourism policies to align with global standards, fostering local business competitiveness.
3. Prioritise capacity-building initiatives for MSMEs and workforce development.
4. Implement robust visitor management systems to protect high-value cultural and natural sites.
5. Monitor and report progress on sustainability metrics to ensure ongoing policy alignment.

This transformative approach establishes Seychelles as a leader in responsible tourism, leveraging sustainability as a cornerstone of economic prosperity.