The Seychelles islands - dive into an investment
Posted By Sara-Lise Haith on 27 January 2005
Land Ownership
According to local information, the land acquired during the coup d'etat was left idle. Some of it, however, was turned over to state enterprises. Fifteen years later there was a redistribution of land, whether any original owners received back their entitlements, remains a political argument within the Seychelles, and from what I have read, is unresolved.
From what I understood from the resort owners where I stayed (Iles des Palmes), Seychellois people get long-term leases on land and are allowed to build resorts. The sensible, island-wide edict forbids building a structure higher than the highest palm. Hence the locals have managed to maintain an unspoiled landscape with their marvellous mountainous backdrops which loom over crystal clear lagoons. As a result, resorts are built outwards, as opposed to upwards. The "Miami" effect that has spoiled a lot of Caribbean islands is not present here. Buildings are low and resorts are spacious with large gardens, lots of them housing special gardens for conserving the Seychelles Giant Tortoise. The roadsides and beaches are kept immaculate, in fact, they are the cleanest tropical islands I have seen anywhere in the world. Driving along you see people sweeping, trimming back hedges, clearing away coconuts and generally keeping tidy. What a pleasure. And the beaches were immaculate.
There are also a few resorts "in trouble". Poor management and lack of good marketing has landed some excellent investment opportunities for potential investors who don't want to build from scratch. At the time I was there, Mango Lodge was looking for a buyer or investor. Mango Lodge is a beautiful B&B resort with A-frame bungalows which have been recently refurbished. The owner, an eccentric South African lady with a wonderful flair for rustic island decoration poured her heart (and finances) into making these chalets into very comfortable abodes. There are some older resorts in desperate need of a lift, or an efficient (and safe) water sports operation to improve their services. The possibilities are endless, and 5 new resorts are to commence construction this year.
The Seychelles have commenced dredging projects to be able to accommodate visits from Cruise Liners. However, there is not much in the way of island shopping. New shop fronts will have to be built and typical cruise shipper stores will be needed (luxury goods, jewellery, alcohol and souvenirs). Easy access snorkel operations will need to be set up with the capacity to support 100s of bathers and snorkellers.
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