From an aerial view of the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean" Seychelles, one can see green islands dotted with varying shades of blue sea, surrounded by pristine white beaches or coral reefs... In the 50 years since its independence, this African archipelago country has vigorously developed its tourism industry while also taking into account the protection and development of marine resources, forming a unique island economy with per capita gross domestic product (GDP) ranking first in Africa for many consecutive years.
Africa's' Tourist Paradise '
Seychelles is composed of over 40 granite islands and more than 70 coral islands on the periphery. These islands are located in the western Indian Ocean, between approximately 4 degrees and 11 degrees south latitude. Among them, Mahe Island, where the capital Victoria is located, is the largest island in Seychelles, with about 80% of the country's population living on this island.
Walking in Victoria, known as the "smallest capital of Africa", the streets are clean and spacious, the traffic is orderly, the national flag is fluttering in the wind, and signs celebrating the 50th anniversary of national independence can be seen everywhere. The faces of the people are filled with confident smiles.
For tourists, Seychelles is a renowned vacation destination. For development researchers, Seychelles is a rare sample: with a land area of only about 456 square kilometers and a population of just over 120000; By 2025, the per capita GDP will be about 18500 US dollars, ranking first in Africa for several consecutive years; The Human Development Index has long been among the top in Africa.
However, Seychelles was not born with a "golden spoon" in its mouth. In history, it has changed hands multiple times by British and French colonizers. At the beginning of independence in 1976, the reality facing Seychelles was very severe: limited natural resources, weak infrastructure, no industrial base, and the economy mainly relied on the export of primary agricultural products such as coconut, cinnamon, and vanilla... How to develop?
Seychelles' choice is to open up to the outside world and vigorously develop its tourism industry.
The magnificent sunset at Bovary Beach on Mahe Island, the giant granite landscape on Radig Island, the rare coconut native forest in May Valley on Pulan Island, the habitat of giant turtles in Aldabra Coral Atoll, and the bird watching destination "Bird Island"... From tropical scenery, exotic flora and fauna to the local Creole culture, Seychelles has a diverse range of natural and cultural tourism resources. After independence, the Seychelles government invested heavily in developing major inter island and external sea and air transportation, attracting a large number of international high-end hotel brands to settle in and attracting tourists from all over the country.
From then on, Seychelles gradually became the darling of the global high-end tourism market, and the tourism industry became the pillar of the national economy, contributing more than 70% of GDP. The local driver told reporters, "God has given Seychelles beautiful scenery, and Seychelles people have learned to turn scenery into industry
However, this development model also has a fragile side. During the 2008 international financial crisis, the number of tourists significantly decreased; After the outbreak of the COVID-19, the global tourism industry nearly stopped, and the Seychelles economy suffered a heavy blow. Various factors such as external demand fluctuations, geopolitical risks, and global economic downturns may have a direct impact on this highly open small country.
In each crisis, Seychelles has begun to re-examine its own development logic.
The 'blue economy' endows new momentum
Our land is small, but our ocean is vast. "This is a phrase that Seychelles people often say.
Due to the vast distribution of islands, Seychelles has a territorial sea area of approximately 400000 square kilometers and an exclusive economic zone area of around 1.4 million square kilometers. In recent years, after becoming a "tourist paradise," the "blue economy" has become another distinct national label for Seychelles.
The so-called 'blue economy' is not simply about developing marine resources, but about achieving a balance between economic growth, social welfare, and environmental protection while protecting the marine ecosystem. For Seychelles, this is not only a development path, but also a survival strategy.
On the one hand, as one of the world's important tuna processing and transportation centers, Seychelles' fisheries are closely related to export earnings and employment. On the other hand, the tourism industry is highly dependent on high-quality marine ecology, and risks such as coral bleaching, coastal erosion, and declining biodiversity can weaken tourism competitiveness.
Seychelles has actively explored ways to balance development and protection. In 2015, Seychelles established the "Blue Economy Department" specifically responsible for "blue economy" affairs; In 2018, the world's first sovereign blue bond was issued to raise funds to support sustainable fisheries and marine conservation; Continuously promote marine spatial planning and include about 30% of the exclusive economic zone in the protected area.
In the waters near Pulan Island, a fisherman told reporters that nowadays, fishing at sea not only requires compliance with fishing restrictions and quotas, but also avoids marine protected areas and fish breeding seasons. In the past, people were more concerned about "how many fish can be caught today", but now they are more concerned about "whether there will be fish to catch in ten years".
In the context of global climate change, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and frequent extreme weather events have put more direct survival pressures on small island countries. For this reason, Seychelles has continuously called for attention to the special vulnerability of small island developing states in international settings and actively participated in global ocean and climate governance agendas.
Realizing sustainable development is the core goal of Seychelles' 'blue economy. Seychelles' Minister of Tourism and Culture, Amanda Bernstein, recently told Xinhua News Agency that Seychelles has always insisted on developing the tourism industry while protecting resources and avoiding overdevelopment.
Chinese friends are always there
Walking on the streets of Victoria, many locals talk about China and say, "Chinese friends are always there
A good reputation stems from mutual understanding and assistance spanning half a century. On June 30, 1976, the day after Seychelles gained independence, China and Seychelles established diplomatic relations. China was one of the earliest countries to recognize Seychelles' independence and establish diplomatic relations with it. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 50 years ago, China Serbia relations have maintained stable development, and cooperation between the two countries has continued to deepen and become more solid.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's dispatch of medical teams to Seychelles. At Victoria Hospital in Seychelles, radiologist James Varo told reporters that many medical staff in the Seychelles health system have experience working with their Chinese counterparts, which has greatly helped the development of the country's healthcare industry.
Educational cooperation has also yielded fruitful results. The Confucius Institute at the University of Seychelles was established in 2013, providing more local people with opportunities to learn Chinese language and traditional Chinese culture. In recent years, China has continued to support the capacity building of vocational and technical education in Seychelles, inviting multiple groups of teachers to China for training. More than 100 Seychelles students have completed higher education in China and have been active in fields such as education, engineering, and business after returning home, becoming disseminators of Sino Seychelles friendship.
Seychelles youth Wu Dekai studied at the Confucius Institute at the University of Seychelles and later pursued further studies at Dalian University of Technology. He currently works at a Seychelles trading company. He said, "Learning Chinese has given me a better understanding of myself and the outside world, as well as a deeper understanding of my own culture
In May 2013, China and Seychelles signed a visa free agreement, making Seychelles the first African country to fully waive visas with China. In recent years, China Serbia cooperation has expanded to areas such as digital economy and addressing climate change. In 2024, the relationship between the two countries will be upgraded to a strategic partnership, and the friendly cooperation between China and Serbia will reach a new level.
In the evening, the sea breeze of the Indian Ocean gently brushes, and the landmark building "Little Ben Clock" in downtown Victoria quietly bathes in the afterglow of the sunset. For 50 years, Seychelles has proven through practice that even a "small boat" can sail towards its own starry sea as long as it has a clear direction and is good at taking advantage of the east wind. (Outlook New Era)
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