By Jeremy Jowell
Often compared to a string of pearls lying in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles is the ultimate tropical holiday for the upmarket traveller. Blessed with a multitude of gorgeous beaches and natural beauty, the archipelago, located just south of the equator, consists of 115 islands scattered across 1,3-million km2.
These lush islands were discovered just over 200 years ago by British and French settlers who arrived to find them teeming with wildlife. Other people who soon inhabited the shores included Indian and Chinese merchants and African slaves.
The main industries are tourism and fishing, particularly tuna, marlin and red snapper which are sold locally and also exported to European countries. There are three official languages - Creole, English and French.
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Perfect day in paradise Seychelles has an abundance of bird and marine life and is often referred to as 'the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean'. The country boasts two Unesco World Heritage Sites - Aldabra, the largest raised coral atoll in the world that is home to 150 000 giant Aldabra tortoises, and Vallée de Mai on Praslin Island, famous for the Coco-de-Mer coconut seed and the country's national bird, the rare black parrot.
Only 16 of the Seychelles' islands offer hotel accommodation and it is an expensive destination with many of the resorts being luxurious and of five-star quality.
"Seychelles does attract the upper-class traveller and it is often perceived as an elitist holiday destination," says Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, chairman of Seychelles Tourism Board. "But the reality is that half of our hotel rooms are not five-star resorts. There are many cheaper hotels and guest houses that offer affordable accommodation."
When Seychelles Tourism started marketing the country 30 years ago, it purposefully set high standards and limited the numbers of tourists.
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