Africa’s richest island nation teams up with Kenya Airways to lure North American tourists with twin safari-and-beach holidays

A New Push for Twin-Centre Holidays

The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and Kenya Airways have launched a joint campaign to promote twin-centre holiday packages to North American travellers, combining Kenyan wildlife safaris with Seychelles beach stays. The initiative leverages Kenya Airways' non-stop service between New York and Nairobi, with onward connections to Seychelles, to simplify long-haul travel for North American visitors.

The campaign is aimed at encouraging travellers already planning Kenyan safaris to extend their itineraries with an island stay, targeting tour operators and travel advisers to build unified packages. According to one report, tourism officials hope to significantly boost visitor numbers and raise the global profile of both destinations.

A Natural Pairing

David Germain, STB's Americas representative, and Anthony Brinn, Kenya Airways' US commercial manager, met recently to discuss the campaign's potential. Germain said the pairing "brings together some of the best that Africa has to offer." In a separate account, he elaborated: "An African safari in Kenya followed by a holiday in Seychelles brings together some of the best that Africa has to offer – from exceptional wildlife to iconic beaches and the remarkable natural beauty of the Seychelles Islands."

Germain also highlighted the importance of the flight network, stating: "Kenya Airways' non-stop connection between New York and Nairobi, together with its onward service to Seychelles, provides a strong platform for growing Seychelles' share of this market." He described the packages as having "massive potential."

Kenya is widely celebrated as a premier safari destination packed with national parks and wildlife reserves, while Seychelles offers a contrasting experience focused on island-hopping, luxury tourism, and marine activities. Tourism is the top contributor to the economy of the 115-island archipelago, making long-haul travelers particularly valuable.

Official Reactions and Future Plans

STB chief executive Vesna Rakić welcomed the collaboration, describing it as an opportunity to diversify access and markets for Seychelles. She said: "We greatly value our long-standing partnership with Kenya Airways and welcome this opportunity to strengthen twin-centre travel between Kenya and Seychelles. It also supports our direction to diversify access and markets for the destination."

To support anticipated demand, Kenya Airways – which currently operates four weekly flights between Nairobi and Seychelles – plans to increase its flight frequency from September 2026. Tourism officials also noted that recent travel disruptions in the Middle East have heightened interest in East African routing among international travellers.