For the first time ever in the Seychelles history, an Ethiopian Airline charter touched down at the Seychelles International Airport with a full load of 152 Chinese holiday makers.

The three hour and 50 minutes flight from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa landed on Sunday 22nd January at 1515hrs. As it was its maiden flight, the plane got its customary water canon salute from the Fire Brigade department at the Seychelles International Airport before the landing of its passengers. To further generate the wow effect of this inaugural chartered flight, the Seychelles Tourism Board had brought together around a hundred school children dressed in their uniforms waving Seychelles and Chinese flags and distributing flower garlands and Hongbao (red Chinese envelopes with a one rupee coin) to the first big group of Chinese holiday makers.

Proceeding to the arrival lounge, the passengers were welcomed by the Seychelles minister responsible for culture; Mr Bernard Shamlaye, the Chinese ambassador to the Seychelles; Mr Shi Zhongjun, the chairman of the Seychelles Tourism Board; Mr Barry Faure and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board; Mrs Elsia Grandcourt.

Despite the long haul flight from Beijing to Addis Ababa and on to the Seychelles, the Chinese holiday makers were overwhelmed to be in the destination on the eve of the dragon year. It had taken almost two months for the China Travel Services, (CTS), to put together this flight to the Seychelles. The Deputy President of the China Travel Services head office, Mrs Chao Quian, was on board this flight together with Mr Jia Yin the CTS manager.

Mrs Chao Quian had emphasised on the good relationship which she said "exists between the China Travel Services, Ethiopian Airlines and that of the Seychelles Tourism Board”. According to her, this had immensely helped in the process of bringing the 152 passengers to the Seychelles. She also noted that Seychelles, as a destination, had a lot of potential for the Chinese market and added that this "first batch of passengers is just the start and there's more to come".

For the 2010-2011 season, China emerged as the best performing potential market for the Seychelles, shooting up with a 97% growth. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Mrs Elsia Grandcourt, said that since last year "with President Michel’s visit to china, efforts were underway to tap the Chinese market". She added that 'other Indian Ocean destinations are already tapping the Chinese market and that Seychelles can also reap benefits from it.

The 7 degrees South is the main Seychelles DMC (Destination Management Company) which will take charge of the stay of the 152 passengers during their one week in the Seychelles. They will be staying in three of the main hotels and resorts in the Seychelles (the new Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Berjaya Beau Vallon Beach Resort & Casino, and Le Meridien Fishermen's Cove Hotel).

Doris Cooposamy, product and company manager at the 7 degrees South said that her company is “proud to bring such a big group of Chinese passengers to the Seychelles to coincide with the Ethiopian Airline’s first chartered flight", adding that it is a market which will eventually grow. The Ethiopian Airline left the Seychelles hours after its landing and is scheduled to come back on the 27th January to take the vacationers back to China.