Seychelles in 2002 was a nation of many contrasts. Located in the Indian Ocean, it was a small nation of only 90,000 people but with immense natural beauty. Its main industries were tourism and fishing, with the latter providing much needed employment for the locals. According to computerannals, the capital of Victoria was a bustling port city, full of activity and opportunity.

The island nation had its share of challenges too. In 2002, Seychelles had just emerged from an economic crisis caused by a combination of global recession and mismanagement by the government. As such, poverty levels remained high and infrastructure was lacking in rural areas. Despite these challenges, Seychelles was making progress towards becoming an increasingly prosperous nation. The government implemented several initiatives to improve education opportunities and diversify the economy away from its reliance on fishing and tourism. This included encouraging foreign direct investment to help spur economic development as well as investing in renewable energy sources such as solar power to help reduce energy costs for businesses and households alike. The country also made strides towards improving its healthcare system, introducing universal healthcare coverage for all citizens in 2002.

Yearbook 2002

Seychelles. In early autumn, parliamentary elections were announced until December 6, four months before the term of office expired. According to Countryaah website, national day of Seychelles is every June 29. The ruling Progressive People’s Front (Seychelles People’s Progressive Front, SPPF) won by 23 seats and just over 54% of the vote, followed by the Seychelles National Party (Seychelles National Party, SNP) which received eleven seats and just under 43%. The result meant that the ruling party reached the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments by a small margin.

Information that President Albert René bought a ranch in Australia fueled speculation that he was about to leave power..

Seychelles Climate

The climate of the Seychelles is determined by the monsoon: from December to March the north-west monsoon prevails, followed by a calm transition phase in April. From May to September, the rain-free but stormy time of the southeast monsoon follows, in October-November there is another windless transition phase. Heavy storms are rare.

The duration of sunshine is determined by the location near the equator. Astronomically, 12 hours per day are possible (from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time); the influence of cloud cover means that an average of 5–8 hours per day is achieved. Temperatures fluctuate between 24 ° C and 30 ° C during the year, the sea water temperature is 26 ° C all year round.

The amount of precipitation on Mahe varies between 2880 mm in the capital Victoria and 3550 mm in the mountain regions. The air humidity is always more than 80 percent.

The preferred travel time to visit the Seychelles is May to October.

Creole is spoken and paid in rupees

Seychelles and Mauritius have a similar history. The Portuguese would be the first to visit the islands, from which pirates seeking gold and ivory cargoes found an excellent hiding place. Then came the French in the mid-18th century. They set up coconut plantations on the island and began collecting cinnamon with the help of African slaves they brought from the mainland. The descendants of the white and black races became the current indigenous population of the islands, which still speaks Creole French as their main language, a local dialect of French born during the colonial rule. There are also plenty of speakers of pure French and English. More ethnic color to the islands was gained when Indian and Chinese merchants moved to live in them. The Asian currency, for example, the rupee, tells about the Asian influence. In the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century, the British seized Mauritius and the Seychelles from the French, which became a separate colony of Britain. The island nation gained full independence in 1976. Left-wing policies in recent years have emphasized free education, health care, and pension security. Funding for them has been found in tourism.

Seychelles Country Overview

Visas
Finnish citizens do not need a visa for Seychelles. A free Visitor Permit is provided upon arrival in the country. Note! Changes in visa policies and fees are possible.

Insurance
Every person participating in the trip must have a valid travel insurance that covers medical expenses in the event of illness or other similar need. Please check the validity of your own insurance and the terms and conditions of the insurance cancellation cover.
Many hiking or diving trips require more extensive insurance, which covers, for example, diving or moving on a glacier. Please check the contents of your insurance with your insurance company.

• According to ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG, SYC stands for Seychelles.

Vaccinations and health
Check that your basic vaccinations according to the national vaccination program are valid. In addition, hepatitis A and B vaccination is recommended. If yellow fever is reached in the Seychelles from the area of ​​occurrence, a yellow fever vaccination certificate must be presented upon arrival in the country.

Currency
The currency is the Seychelles Rupee (SCR). Check availability and course at www.forex.fi.
There are ATMs in Mahella, Praslin and La Digue. Of the credit cards, Visa, MasterCard and Amex are available at most locations. You can also pay in euros in several places.

Tips
In many places (restaurants, taxis, etc.) the price of the invoice includes a service fee of about 5 – 10%. Tips can be given for good service at your discretion.

Time difference
The Seychelles time difference to Finland is +1 hour in summer and +2 hours in winter.

Electricity
The Seychelles has a current of 240 V. The socket is similar to that in England, so an adapter is required for devices used in Finnish sockets.

Mobile phones
Please check the coverage and prices of your mobile phone with your operator. The area code for Seychelles is +248.