Seychelles plans to let tourists on Aldabra atoll

VICTORIA: The Seychelles plans to open up the Aldabra atoll, four remote coral islands in the Mozambique Channel, to a small number of eco-tourists and is looking for developers, the Seychelles Island Foundation said on Thursday.

The atoll, a United Nations World Heritage site 680 km (420 miles) east of the African mainland, is home to the world's largest population of giant tortoises, and also to the last flightless bird in the west Indian Ocean, the white-throated rail.

The Seychelles Island Foundation (SIF), which manages the site, says it is short of funds to maintain and conserve the islands.

"Hence we want to have some tourism development on Aldabra which will generate more funds for us," head of SIF Lindsey Chong-seng said.

"We are inviting interested parties to build six chalets on one of the islands at Aldabra. The developer will not be allowed to build an airstrip and will be required to do an environment impact assessment."

SIF will advertise locally and internationally, he said.

Reuters, 8th August 2003