President James Michel visited several businesses on La Digue this weekend, which forms part of a series of visits to various communities and businesses this year.

President Michel met with a fibre-glass boat builder, a hairdresser, a farmer, the owners of a carpentry and construction workshop, an engineering workshop, a fish pond, three guesthouses, a restaurant, a café and a retail shop. He also visited a restaurant at Anse Source d’Argent which had a large part of its premises burnt down in a fire.

“ I had a great impression of businesses on La Digue... tourism is doing well on the island.... a lot of Seychellois on la Digue want develop guesthouses and we should facilitate this...there is a lot of potential for the development of the Blue economy here as well.. I spoke to a lot of the young people, and I see the potential and the energy in them, they are very enthusiastic about it,” said President Michel.

He said that there are many young people who would like to work at sea, to obtain boats for diving business, excursions and fishing, and that they would need training as well as access to credit to start-up these careers.

The President said that the residents of the island appreciated the government’s moratorium on the construction of big hotels on la Digue, so that only Seychellois can develop small guesthouses, which he said is part of a policy to ensure Seychellois take ownership of the tourism industry, to create employment, and wealth, and conserve the environment of the island.

He said that many people want their tourism establishments to expand, and he was encouraged to hear that the occupancy rates are high in the guesthouses, whose owners see a great future in the business. He said that the Government would work to ensure they are able to get the loans facilities to develop, as well as encouraging business that support the industry, like arts and craft, to flourish. The President said that the island needs more artisan workshops, and that there are plans for a craft village at l’Union Estate.

President James Michel was accompanied on the visit by the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation, Mr. Michael Benstrong, the Secretary General in the Office of the President, Mrs. Lise Bastienne, the Principal Secretary for Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation, Mrs. Marise Berlouis, the Member of the National Assembly for the Inner Islands, the Hon. Chantale Ghislain, the office manager of the District Administration office of La Digue, Mr. Brian Morel , the Land Transport coordinator for La Digue, Mr. George Dine, as well as senior officials in the Office of the President.

Editor's note

• Photo caption: President Michel walking to the Fish Pond attraction on La Digue.