The Republic of Seychelles has transitioned from its national 50th Independence anniversary celebrations directly into hosting the 69th UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) Meeting and its high-level Thematic Conference in Baie Lazare. The commencement of the continental summit follows the conclusion of the Golden Jubilee Independence Parade at Stade Linite and the wrapping up of national celebratory events across the island.
The scheduling of the UN Tourism CAF meeting alongside the Golden Jubilee highlights Seychelles’ ongoing strategy to position itself as a prime hub for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) by integrating cultural heritage and community-led hospitality into its destination branding.
“We warmly welcome all of our various delegates to the beautiful islands,” said Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary of Tourism.
Four-Day Local Food Fest Concludes at Roche Caiman
Serving as a cultural prelude to the incoming UN Tourism CAF summit, the fourth edition of the national Local Food Fest concluded its four-day run at the Roche Caiman Sports Complex. Held as an official component of the 50th Independence anniversary programme, the extended festival functioned as a temporary tourism village designed to connect international hospitality brands with local creative enterprises.
The collaborative pavilion featured several participating organizations from across the hospitality, tourism, and creative sectors. International resort brands, including Constance Ephelia, Hilton Seychelles, Canopy by Hilton, Story Seychelles, Mango House, Savoy, and Minor Hotels, operated alongside local institutions such as the Seychelles Tourism Academy, Takamaka, Koko Sey and Zil Kreol Brewery.
At the official closing ceremony, Sherin Francis, the Principal Secretary for Tourism, highlighted the expanded scale of the 2026 edition:
“We are successfully closing the fourth edition of our Local Food Fest, and this year it has been bigger and better,” Principal Secretary Francis stated. “Because it coincided with the Golden Jubilee, we extended it to four days compared to two days last year, and two years ago, it was only one day. We are very happy with the creativity shown by all participants.”
Launch of Culinary Publication ‘Sun, Sea and Spice’
The festival finale, overseen by PS Francis and the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Amanda Bernstein, featured the official launch of a curated culinary publication titled “Sun, Sea and Spice: The Magic of Seychelles Creole Cuisine.” The cookbook, which was presented as a commemorative keepsake to all participating vendors, marks an institutional effort by the ministry to document and preserve Creole gastronomy as a core asset of the country’s tourism portfolio.
During the festival, exhibitors were tasked with utilizing locally sourced ingredients and reinterpreting traditional Creole recipes for international resort audiences.
“The effort to use locally produced ingredients was very visible,” Francis observed, linking the event’s execution to broader national sustainability targets. “It goes hand in hand with our sustainability initiatives and team as well, and how we want tourism in Seychelles to evolve.”
To integrate international visitors into the local celebrations, scheduled transfers were organized from various hotels and tourism establishments across Mahé, allowing foreign tourists to visit the festival grounds alongside local residents.
Human Capital Development Anchors UN Tourism CAF Agenda
The operational model of the Local Food Fest, which emphasizes the integration of local communities, agriculture, and small-scale entrepreneurs into the primary hospitality value chain, reflects the core themes of the incoming 69th UN Tourism CAF Meeting.
Seychelles and UN Tourism have centered the high-level thematic conference precisely around Human Capital Development, a key priority for the tourism sector across the African continent and a stated pillar for the international organization’s leadership.
“We are happy that Seychelles will be finally hosting the 69th session of the Commission for African Tourism meeting,” PS Francis stated in her welcoming address to the continental delegations. “We hope it will be two successful days of discussion, especially that we have centered the conference around the theme of human capital development, which is very, very important for the tourism industry for Africa, and for Seychelles as well.”
Future Outlook for Events Tourism
Following the logistical delivery of both the Golden Jubilee events and the opening of the UN Tourism summit, the Ministry of Tourism has indicated that the expanded four-day tourism village format of the Local Food Fest will likely become a permanent fixture on the national events calendar.
As Seychelles enters its second half-century of independence, the dual programming of cultural festivals and international diplomatic summits underscores the country’s policy direction of leveraging sustainable cultural products and local human capital to drive its tourism economy.
