Cultural and creative tourism development enhances visitors' experience in Seychelles, effectively improving customer satisfaction and value generation from different tourism products, promoting and safeguarding Seychelles' national heritage and repeated tourist rate by improving customer satisfaction.

Cultural and creative tourism experiences increase spending per visitor and length of stay, diversify tourism products, and improve the tourism value chain, effectively mitigating the economic vulnerability created by overreliance on tourist arrivals as the main catalyst of the economy.

New tourism channels, such as creative tourism, offer authentic experiences that increase per capita tourist spending and sustain value streams from tourism-related businesses.

Improper handling or commercialization of tangible heritage sites or artefacts may cause damage or impede their preservation.

Increased tourist inflows may indirectly bring about higher local prices for the domestic population, restraining their access to services.

The endurance of the positive impact of cultural and creative tourism development depends on the participation of the youth, who may continue local traditions and national heritage.

Firms' capacity to align culture and creative arts into the business model may fail to reach the expected level of positive impact.

The positive impact of cultural and creative tourism development might be impaired by climate change and external environmental pressures.

If creative experiences are geared towards international tourism, thereby increasing pricing and rates, the local population's access might be curbed.

Safeguard national heritage and shared prosperity from services sector by improving access to resources and generate higher tourism income by diversifying offerings and promoting longer stays.

Seychelles National Development Strategy, 2019-2023: Sets tourism as one of the key intervention areas and targets the promotion of creative industries and cultural tourism for preserving and creating value from Creole culture (2).

Victoria Masterplan 2040, 2015: Sets out the vision and strategy for the development of Victoria and aims to position the city as the cultural and creative hub of Seychelles, embracing Creole heritage and culture (18).

Creative Industries Policy, 2012: Aims to promote cultural tourism in Seychelles, including creative industries and authentic Seychellois cultural experience for tourists (14).

Reserved Economic Activities Policy, April 2020: ensures that certain economic activities that are doable and affordable to the Seychellois investors and businesses shall remain reserved for them; the list includes accommodation of 1 to 15 rooms (26).

Financial incentives: In 2020, the Government of Seychelles made available a new SCR 100 million Covid Relief Scheme carrying 1.5% interest via the Development Bank of Seychelles to assist MSMEs in sectors adversely impacted by the crisis with 70% unsecured loans of up to SCR 100,000 (25).

Fiscal incentives: Seychelles offers marketing and promotion deductions for the tourism sector up to 5% of the taxable income or the actual expenditure and special rates for accelerated depreciation (8).

Other incentives: There is a deduction allowance for the training certified by the Department of Tourism in 150% of the actual expenditure incurred (8).

Tourism Development Act, 2019: Facilitates the planning and implementing of policies relating to the tourism industry in Seychelles (20).

Tourism (Incentives) Act, 2003: Aims to attract private investment in the tourism sector, targeting high-standard projects to enhance the marketing image of Seychelles. Provides incentives for licenced accommodation, tour operators, fuel concessions, etc. (22).

Licences Regulations, 2010: Provides more transparent procedures for issuing and renewing licenses. The act facilitates yachting tourism, boat charters, tour operators and travel agents, car hire, tourist guides and others (23).

Seychelles Heritage Foundation Act, 2006: Provide for establishing the Seychelles Heritage Foundation and connected matters. This Act establishes the Seychelles Heritage Foundation, defines its objectives, and provides for its internal organization (24).

S.I. 76. - Seychelles Investment (Economic Activities) Regulations, 2022: lists entertainment services, including theatre, live bands and circus services, as an activity a non-Seychellois may invest in with the requirement to conduct an Economic Needs Test (ENT) (27).

Only individual enterpreneurs are currently involved in developing heritage sites and extending creative offerings in Seychelles.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade, Seychelles National Institute of Culture Heritage & the Arts, Seychelles Planning Authority, Office of the Mayor of Victoria, Creative Seychelles Agency, National Arts Council (NAC), L'Union Estate.

Multilaterals: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Federation of Arts Councils and Cultural Agencies (IFACCA), IKI, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF).

Vanilla Islands Association, Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Association (SHTA), Cooperatives des Artisans, Seychelles Music Association (SeyMas).