(Seychelles News Agency) - Showcasing Seychelles to a global readership is the aim of the second edition of ‘Absolute Seychelles,’ a recently released magazine promoting the beauty and must-see attractions of the islands.

“From those in pursuit of the luxury five-star resort to the eco-conscious and the traveller looking for affordability, but still a level of luxury, the magazine will provide an idea of all these if you decide to take a trip to these magical islands,” said Simon Darcy Abbott, one of the owners. 

The first edition of the ‘Absolute Seychelles’ magazine-- a travel guide published by UK-based Absolute Magazine -- was published last year. The magazine is published once a year in the UK and Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. There is also an online version.

Abbott said, “The magazine went on the global web-based publishing tool in early April and within one week had already had 10,000+ reads and downloads, which is amazing.”

He added that there are 2,000 copies currently on their way to Seychelles and 1,000 copies to the London offices of the Seychelles Tourism Board as well.

The Seychelles Tourism Board is supporting the publication.

“The magazine will help in giving added visibility to Seychelles and the various products and services the destination has to offer, and also fill the knowledge gaps,” said Sherin Francis, the chief executive of the Board.

She said that STB has supported the publication in the form of an advert, a bit of content and photos, “as we normally do for other publications of that nature. I have also written the forward for this second edition of the Absolute Seychelles magazine.”

Work on the 240-page magazine started last year as Abbott said that he wanted to make some key changes to the design and the content flow.

“A typical example will be the cover.  This time we wanted something different, with depth and impact, not just the standard beach picture you always see, but something different,” Abbott said.

Elaborating on how the magazine is put together, Abbott said that the team had to travel to Mahe, Praslin and Bird Island and tried to meet face to face with as many local businesses as possible.

“We then came back to Seychelles again in February for a final effort to see all those we couldn’t meet prior.”

He said that although it was a lot of work “we got there in the end and have a gorgeous magazine that I truly feel now shows off all aspects of the Seychelles to the readers."