Seychelles Country & Tourist Information

Location
Indian Ocean, 1600km (990 miles) east of Kenya.

Area
455.3 sq km (176 sq miles).

Population
81,100 (official estimate 2005).

Population Density
177.7 per sq km.

Capital
Victoria (Mahé).
Population: 71,000 (2005).

Government
Republic since 1976. Gained independence from the UK in 1975.
Recent history: In April 2004, after more than a quarter of a century in power, Albert René retired and handed presidency over to his vice-president, James Michel. Michel promised to introduce a more open dialog, particularly over economic matters, and to involve the private sector in the national economy. Michel was re-elected in the July 2006.

Language
Creole, English and French.

Religion
83 per cent Roman Catholic with Anglican, Seventh Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha’i and other minorities.

Time
GMT + 4.

Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz. British three-pin plugs are in use.

Head of State
President James Alix Michel since 2004.

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 248. Phonecards are available. SEYTELS offers a 24-hour service for telegrams, telephones and faxes via SEYTELS/Cable & Wireless Ltd, Francis Rachel Street, Victoria, Mahé.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies.

Internet
There are several internet cafes on Mahe. Most of the larger hotels have arrangements for visitors to obtain a temporary guest account.

Media
The government controls much of the islands’ media, and operates the only radio and TV stations and the sole daily newspaper.


Post
The main post office is in Victoria. Airmail collections are at 1500 weekdays and 1200 Saturdays; airmail to Western Europe normally takes up to one week. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0800-1200.

Press
Seychelles Nation is an English-language newspaper (morning daily except on Sundays); Regar is an opposition weekly publication.

Radio
SBC operates national mediumwave (AM) services and music station Paradise FM. The BBC World Service and Radio France Internationale are available via FM relays.

Below are the Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1-2 Jan New Year.
6 Apr Good Friday.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
5 Jun Liberation Day (Anniversary of 1977 Coup).
7 Jun Corpus Christi.
18 Jun National Day.
29 Jun Independence Day.
15 Aug Assumption/La Digue Festival.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2008
1-2 Jan New Year. 
21 Mar Good Friday. 
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
22 May Corpus Christi.
5 Jun Liberation Day (Anniversary of 1977 Coup). 
18 Jun National Day.
29 Jun Independence Day.
15 Aug Assumption/La Digue Festival.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.


Contact Information:

Embassy of the Seychelles in France
51 Avenue Mozart, 75016 Paris, France
Tel: (1) 4230 5747.

Seychelles Tourist Office in the UK
Aviareps House, Gatwick Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9RB, UK
Tel: (01293) 596 649.
Website: www.seychelles.com

Embassy of the Republic of Seychelles in the USA
Suite 400C, 4th Floor, 800 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 972 1785.


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