The Seychelles Is Open for Tourism — Here's What to Know Before You Go

Editor's Note: The COVID-19 policies and procedures listed below are up-to-date as of press time. However, we encourage all readers to head to each individual country’s governmental tourism website prior to travel to confirm the information regarding entry protocols.

Despite a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and a tightening of restrictions last week, tourism officials in the Seychelles are insisting that the African archipelago remains safe for visitors.

A collection of 115 islands about 1,000 miles off the eastern coast of Africa, the Seychelles are home to about 95,000 residents, and the destination reopened its borders to international travelers on March 25 after a substantial majority of the population had been fully vaccinated. 

The archipelago’s seven-day rolling average of positive cases jumped from 120 on April 30 to 314 on May 8, according to data released by the Seychelles Ministry of Health, and officials say that although some flattening has occurred in recent days, “the rate of transmission remains high and is of concern.” The Ministry of Health also noted that 37% of the new cases were reported by individuals who’ve already received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine — a development that’s generated a rash of global headlines in recent days.  

“No country in the world can claim to be COVID-19-free,” said Sylvestre Radegonde, minister of foreign affairs and tourism for the Seychelles, in a May 7 statement. “The government and all industry partners are dedicated to ensuring that Seychelles remains safe for all guests. … It is not in the interest of Seychelles, our partners or our guests to do otherwise, knowing how our economy is heavily reliant on tourism.”

The spike in new COVID-19 cases has been attributed, in part, to residents “letting down their guard over the Easter weekend,” according to the statement from the tourism board, which said a number of restrictions were re-introduced last week, including the early closure of shops, bars and casinos; limiting gatherings on beaches to groups of four; and delaying the start of the new school term. 

“[As of May 7,] the Seychelles currently leads the world chart with the highest [number of] vaccinations administered, with over 62% of all adults having received the two doses of the Sinopharm and Covishield shots,” tourism board officials said.

The Latest Travel Restrictions and Requirements

More than 20,000 international visitors have traveled to the archipelago since the March reopening, according to the tourism board, which expressed confidence about safety measures currently in place to protect both residents and vacationers. 

“With only 10% of the current active cases being visitors, the infection rate amongst guests testing positive upon exiting the country remains relatively low,” the statement continued. 

All travelers looking to visit the Seychelles need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departing for the archipelago. Documentation of that negative test result needs to be uploaded to the destination’s Health Travel Authorization app, which will ask users other health questions and require additional information about where visitors are staying.

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Fully vaccinated travelers still need complete a COVID-19 pretest to visit, according to David Germain, the Seychelles Tourism Board’s regional director for Africa and the Americas, who said no further testing will be required after visitors have arrived.  

Germain also said no plans are currently under consideration that would allow fully vaccinated travelers to the Seychelles to bypass the destination’s 72-hour pretest mandate, as is the case in other destinations that have reopened to visitors.  

“Authorities do advise travelers to try and be vaccinated before traveling,” Germain added. “But it is not a must.”

What should U.S. visitors expect?

Tourism officials in the Seychelles said in their May 7 statement that reintroduced health and safety restrictions should not impact a visitor’s experience in the destination, and Germain echoed that sentiment in a May 10 interview. 

“Seychelles is open,” he said. “The beaches are open. Restaurants are open. Visitors can go on tours and excursions. They can wander about and go to the market.”

Seychelles is open. The beaches are open. Restaurants are open. Visitors can go on tours and excursions. They can wander about and go to the market.

Safety protocols require people to wear masks in crowded public places and on public transportation, according to Germain, but he said folks are free to enjoy some socially distant outdoor activities without masks, such as time at the beach. 

Just about all of the Seychelles’ large hotels and resorts are now open, Germain said, noting that list includes properties under the Four Seasons and Six Senses brands; all of the destination’s open properties have completed a health certification program mandated by the government. The Seychelles has also created widespread exit testing facilities for travelers requiring proof they’re negative before flying home. 

“They're not at the resort; they are in the villages,” Germain said of the exit testing locations. “But all the hotels have the addresses where they are located, and they assist visitors to book appointments.” 

European countries such as Germany, France, Italy and the U.K. are traditionally the Seychelles’ largest source markets, according to Germain, who described North America as an “investment market” for the destination. Still, numbers were on the rise from the U.S. and Canada prior to the pandemic. 

“We received 12,000 North American travelers in 2019,” Germain said, noting that figure was an all-time high.

U.S. visitors typically fly in via the Middle East on carriers such as Emirates, Turkish Airlines or Qatar Airways, according to Germain, who said it’s also not uncommon for Americans to add three or four nights in the Seychelles to relax and recuperate after a safari vacation in Kenya or Tanzania.

“They might also go diving, snorkeling, sailing — a lot of sea activities,” Germain said of U.S. tourists. “But a lot of it is relaxation, spa and wellness. They certainly enjoy our nature-related activities, including hiking, and cultural tours are very popular.” 

With many of their top feeder markets still on lockdown, Germain said the Seychelles has had to look elsewhere since the March reopening, including Romania, Russia and Israel. 

Despite the recent spike in new COVID-19 cases, Germain was quick to say that “authorities in the Seychelles feel very, very confident we have opened the archipelago in a responsible way.” 

Authorities in the Seychelles feel very, very confident we have opened the archipelago in a responsible way.

COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in the Seychelles

The destination has certainly managed the pandemic relatively well to this point. Through May 10, 8,172 confirmed COVID-19 cases and a total of 28 related deaths have been reported in the Seychelles, according to its Ministry of Health. 

Officials noted in a May 10 statement that 2,486 of those cases are currently active, but said “almost all the critical and severe cases that require ICU care had not been vaccinated. To date, none of the persons who died with COVID-19 had been fully vaccinated.” 

Germain said rolling out a comprehensive inoculation plan was a critical first step to restarting Seychelles tourism, which he described as the country’s main industry. 

“Everybody who wants to be vaccinated in the Seychelles has received the vaccine, and nearly all of them have received the two doses,” he said. “And we're keeping fingers crossed that things will run smoothly for us and also for the visitors coming to the islands.”

The Details 
Seychelles Tourism Board