The Seychelles have made a groundbreaking decision to ban cruise ships in Port Victoria until 2022 in light of the coronavirus outbreak effective immediately.
The island nation wants to mitigate the spread of the virus and this is the second step taken to do so. In March, the international airport on the island of Mahe was closed. It is scheduled to reopen on 1 June.
According to the island’s national newspaper, Seychelles Nation, the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Didier Dogley said that government is working to protect the tourism industry.
These measures include financial support that will help tourism-related businesses stay afloat. Other measures include soft loans, salary guarantee until June and a tax holiday.
Speaking to Seychelles News Agency (SNA), Minister Dogley said: ‘The Seychelles Ports Authority appreciates the fact that the government has made a prudent decision to mitigate the impact that COVID-19 may have in the medium term. It is to be noted that the cruise industry has been a major catalyst by which the COVID-19 has spread throughout the world.’
Also speaking to SNA, Ronny Brutus added: ‘But it is important to recognize the fact that the risk factor of a resurgence of the COVID-19 in Seychelles far outweighs the opportunity cost of not having cruise port calls for the next two years.’
Seychelles has 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases and no deaths.
Image: Getaway Gallery/ Anse Royale beach in the Seychelles
