Seychelles Ports Authority is gearing up for a bumper cruise season by implementing strict measures of control at the commercial port.
With cruise season about to begin (mid-October to May), the Ports Authority is implementing a schedule for taxis, DMCs and tour operators that will only grant them access to the port on a timed system. According to Ronny Alcindor, Chief Security Manager at the Seychelles Ports Authority: “Once the cruise ship arrives, we will let in the DMCs which have the larger groups of clients. This includes Creole Holidays, Masons Travel and 7˚ South. Two hours later, it will be the turn of the tour operators to come in to collect their clients.”
Additional measures in place also state that tour operators will only be allowed back into the port after three hours. Only four taxis will be allowed to enter the premises at a time. Those waiting will queue in a designated area outside the port.
Hoping to address the habit of taxi drivers refusing to transport passengers only travelling a short distance, Alcindor said a taxi driver caught doing this would be denied access to the port for the whole of this cruise season.
A colour-coding system has been introduced to streamline the process which will help distinguish licensed taxi drivers, tour operators and commission officers from each other.
The Seychelles Tourism Board will have a kiosk at the port to provide visitors with any information required. A total of 46 cruise ships are expected to dock at Port Victoria this season.
