1. Managing Tourism and Environmental Protection for Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States 18 April 2014 Busan, Republic of Korea Lessons from Seychelles

2. Republic of Seychelles The Republic of Seychelles is comprised of 155 Islands situated in the Western Indian Ocean with a population of 87,400 (the smallest in Africa and 12 th smallest in the world) The total land area is 451 km 2 (with an EEZ of 1.3 million km 2 ) Seychelles has amongst the highest percentage of protected area in the world with close to 60% of its land territory under legal protection The tourism industry, represents 30% of GDP (60% of foreign earnings), with 208,034 arrivals in 2012 90% of all tourism accommodation establishments are owned and operated by Seychellois

3. Seychelles Sustainability Tourism Label The SSTL label was developed as a minimum standard for hotels to subscribe to sustainable practices 8 hotels that have received the certification and is aimed to promote hotel that have green practices The project aims to have 20 hotels certified by the end of 2014 http://www.seychelles.travel/sstl/index.php

4. Partnerships Four Seasons Hotel Seychelles and Sustainability for Seychelles for improved coastal zone and biodiversity management Le Matelot de Praslin and Wildlife Club for Seychelles for forest restoration and development of tourism trails at Anse la Blague Denis Island Resort and the Ministry of Environment and Energy for improved biodiversity management Cerf Island Resort and Marine Conservation Society Seychelles for improved management and capacity building of hotel and government staff working in the protection of the St Anne Marine National Park

5. Legislation and Policy EIA regulations being revised to be more comprehensive in the scope of development it covers and a number of carrying capacity studies are underway to determine the potential and limitations for future tourism developments on each of our major islands The consolidated national Land Use Plan for the inner islands allocates 60% of the land area as no-development zone, leaving scope for considerable expansion of nature tourism such as hiking trails.

6. Questions? Simon Springett United Nations Resident Coordinator UNDP Resident Representative UNFPA Representative Seychelles and Mauritius simon.springett@one.un.org