Port Victoria has received further international recognition, having been named the Indian Ocean’s Best Cruise Terminal 2026 at the World Cruise Awards. The award was announced on 12 October 2026 during the World Cruise Awards Gala Ceremony, held at Princess Grand Jamaica as part of World Travel Week.

The Ministry of Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation acknowledges this achievement and recognises the ongoing efforts of the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA), which manages Port Victoria, to maintain service standards and strengthen Seychelles’ position in the regional and international cruise industry.

Port Victoria competed alongside other regional port facilities, including Port Réunion, Maldives Commercial Port Harbour and Port Louis Harbour. The award recognises efforts to enhance port services and improve the cruise passenger experience, further supporting Seychelles’ standing as a destination in the Indian Ocean cruise market.

This latest accolade follows Port Victoria’s recognition as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Port at the 2026 World Travel Awards, announced during a ceremony held at CROSSROADS Maldives on 27 September 2026. Together, these awards highlight the continued efforts of SPA and its teams to maintain service standards and respond to the evolving expectations of the cruise industry.

With the 2026–2027 cruise ship season scheduled to commence on 17 November 2026, the Ministry continues to work closely with SPA, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, and other stakeholders to prepare for the arrival of cruise ships and their passengers. These preparations focus on ensuring that the necessary arrangements are in place to support port operations, passenger services and the overall visitor experience.

The Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Ms. Veronique Laporte congratulates SPA and its team on receiving another prestigious international award, acknowledging their continued contribution to the development of Seychelles’ maritime sector and their efforts to enhance Port Victoria’s services and reputation as a leading cruise destination in the Indian Ocean.

The Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Ms. Veronique Laporte, held a fruitful meeting with the newly accredited Ambassador of Georgia to Seychelles, H. E. Mr. Gia Matcharadze, following the presentation of his credentials to President Patrick Herminie.

Minister Laporte congratulated the Ambassador on his accreditation and wished him every success during his tenure, while reaffirming Seychelles’ commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Georgia.

The discussions also centered on maritime and aviation affairs, namely on cooperation concerning the recognition of training and certification of seafarers for service on Seychelles-flagged vessels. Both sides also explored ways to further advance this cooperation.

Constructive discussions were also held in regards to the aviation sector, with both sides exploring opportunities to deepen cooperation and identify areas of mutual interest including air connectivity between Georgia and Seychelles.

Also present in the meeting were Principal Secretary for Ports and Civil Aviation, Mr. David Bianchi; Principal Secretary for Land Transport, Ms. Sheryl Vengadasamy; Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority, Captain Daniel Adam; Head of Air Transport at the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Kurtis Lespoire; Executive Director to the Minister, Ms. Vanessa Marie; Policy Analyst, Mr. Joel Pompee; and Third Secretary for Bilateral Affairs, Mr. James Carpin.

H.E. Mr. Matcharadze was accompanied by the Deputy Head of Mission in his Embassy, Mr. Ruben Morgoshia.

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Empowering young people to become advocates for safer roads was the focus of a Youth Road Safety Forum held last Saturday at the Dockland Auditorium. Organised by the Road Safety Advisory Committee in partnership with the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), the forum encouraged youth to take an active role in promoting responsible road use and helping to reduce road crashes.

The forum was attended by the Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Ms. Veronique Laporte, and the Minister for Youth and Sport, Ms. Kalsey Belle, who reaffirmed their ministries' commitment to empowering young people to become active advocates for safer roads.

The event builds on the renewed Memorandum of Understanding signed in May between the Department of Land Transport and SNYC under the National Road Safety Campaign, reinforcing the partnership to educate, engage and empower youth in promoting road safety.

Addressing participants, Minister Laporte described road safety as a shared responsibility and encouraged young people to lead by example by promoting safe road practices within their schools, families and communities. Minister Belle urged participants to use their voices to influence positive behaviour, noting that young people have a vital role to play in reducing road crashes and saving lives.

The forum featured a presentation by the Principal Secretary for the Department of Land Transport, Mr. Patrick Andre, under the theme "Youth Empowerment Towards Road Safety," highlighting the important role of youth in fostering a culture of responsible road use.

Participants also engaged in an interactive panel discussion with representatives from the Ministry of Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, the Seychelles Police Force, Seychelles Land Transport Authority and the Ministry of Health.

The discussion explored key road safety challenges and the collective responsibility of all road users in preventing crashes and protecting lives.

The forum concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, encouraging participants to become ambassadors for road safety and help strengthen a culture of responsible road use across Seychelles.

In line with the Ministry's ongoing consultations with transport stakeholders, the Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Ms. Veronique Laporte, met with the Chairman of the Motorsports Association of Seychelles (MAS), Mr. Francis Mein, and members of the association.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the Minister to better understand the association and guide its members on the importance of consulting key stakeholders and to develop a safe environment and proper framework for motor racing.

The Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Ms. Veronique Laporte, held a fruitful meeting with the Minister for Social Affairs, Family and Equity, Mrs. Pamela Charlette, to strengthen collaboration between the two ministries. The meeting was held yesterday at the Botanical House.

Discussions focused on enhancing accessibility and inclusivity within the transport sector, as well as reinforcing the child protection framework. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to working together to ensure that policies and initiatives promote equal access to transport services while safeguarding the wellbeing of children and other vulnerable members of the community.