Seychelles | Deepening Bilateral Ties with Réunion Through Targeted Agreements on Tourism, Professional Training, Creole Culture, and Trade

The Seychelles and Réunion are actively deepening their bilateral ties through targeted agreements, focusing on tourism, professional training, Creole culture, and trade. The two Indian Ocean islands are leveraging their shared identity to build resilient partnerships with a series of initiatives in various fields.

Seychelles Ambassador Alain St Ange and  Réunion Regional Council President Huguette Bello held high- level discussions in Réunion on 23 and 24 May 2026 on the sidelines of the 1st International Summit and Festival of Creole Chefs, focusing on expanding cooperation in tourism, air connectivity, trade and fishing  with both sided identifying their shared Creole identity as a foundation for stronger partnerships.

Tourism emerged as the most advanced area of cooperation. Both islands taking full advantage of their geographical proximity, are exploring integrated, multi - destination holiday and cruise packages under the Vanilla Islands organization of which Seychelles Ambassador is a founding member.

Vanilla Islands is a joint marketing and tourism organization representing six island nations and territories in the Indian Ocean, formed in August 2010, created to promote the region as a combined, cohesive travel destination rather than having each island market itself independently.

Air connectivity featured prominently in the talks, with discussions exploring the conditions required to re - establish a direct flight link between Réunion and Seychelles, including connections to European markets to ensure commercial viability.

Fisheries cooperation was also on the agenda, with meetings focusing on joint training initiatives and shared expertise, bolstered by Réunion 2025 acquisition of a stake in deep - sea fishing operator SAMPER.

Previously the two countries also established a collaboration in the educational sector. The Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Seychelles and the Académie de la  Réunion signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 19 May 2026, an agreement that strengthens professional training and education, particularly within the hospitality and restaurant sectors.

Follow - up steps are expected to include the development of sectoral roadmaps, with both territories looking to engage regional frameworks including the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Indian Ocean Commission to advance the partnership.

Link

https://atta.travel/resource/seychelles-and-reunion-move-to-deepen-tourism-and-trade-ties.html