APA - Victoria (Seychelles) Seychelles is setting up an "Affordable Seychelles Campaign" in order to offer to tourists “a once-in-a-lifetime vacation at a once-in-a-lifetime price”, the Vice President Joseph Belmont announced on Saturday in the Seychellois capital Victoria.

Speaking at the general tourism meeting on Saturday at the International Conference Centre in Victoria to introduce the new director for tourism marketing Alain St Ange, Belmont declared that the campaign will highlight the new favourable conversion rates of the rupee.

He declared that it is a unique window of opportunity for visitors to enjoy the vacation they always dreamed of at significantly discounted prices.

Belmont pointed out that there has already been a 15% drop in tourist arrivals since January 2009 and the forecast for the rest of the year is even bleaker.

He added that the government fears that revenue from the tourism industry will this year also drop by 25% as it will be badly affected by the global recession.

The Vice President stated that all stakeholders of the tourism industry should contribute to make the campaign a success. He has also asked hoteliers to be more flexible in pricing their products sensibly and that the prices should match their promises.

Belmont disclosed that the "Affordable Seychelles Campaign" will be unveiled at the ITB Travel Fair in the German capital Berlin next week.