Seychelles Tourism Board welcomes Maria Azemia as new Deputy CEO to steer destination growth
The Indian Ocean archipelago of Seychelles has strengthened its tourism leadership with the appointment of Mrs Maria Azemia as the new Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB). The announcement, made by the Office of the President, signals a fresh chapter for one of Africa's most sought-after luxury island destinations, and carries significant implications for tourism professionals across the sub-Saharan region who work closely with the Seychelles market.
Mrs Azemia steps into her new position with an impressive academic pedigree. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Business Administration from Amity University in India, complemented by a Bachelor's Degree in Tourism Management and Marketing earned from Edith Cowan University in Australia. This blend of international education places her in a strong position to understand both Eastern and Western tourism dynamics, an increasingly valuable skill as African destinations diversify their source markets.
Her professional journey spans more than a decade of hands-on experience in leadership, strategic planning, and tourism development, gained across both public and private sector roles. Among her most notable achievements is her tenure as Director of the Seychelles Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai, where she helped showcase the island nation to a global audience during one of the most watched international expos of the decade. She also previously served as Director of Destination Development at the Seychelles Tourism Board, giving her a deep understanding of the institution she now helps to lead. Beyond these roles, Mrs Azemia has held a variety of marketing leadership positions at both local and international levels, sharpening her expertise in branding, positioning and product development.
Immediately before this appointment, she served as Executive Director in the Office of the Principal Minister within the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and the Blue Economy. This experience within the Blue Economy portfolio is particularly relevant to Seychelles, where marine resources, sustainable ocean tourism, and eco-friendly island experiences are increasingly at the heart of the country's tourism identity. Her exposure to policy-making at the highest levels of government adds a strategic dimension to her return to the tourism sector.
Mrs Azemia will work alongside current CEO Vesna Rakić, forming a leadership duo tasked with driving the archipelago's tourism agenda forward. For African travel trade professionals, this appointment holds considerable interest. Seychelles remains a high-yield destination that attracts honeymooners, luxury seekers, family travellers and increasingly, meetings and incentives clients from across the African continent. A strengthened leadership team at the STB typically translates into more focused destination marketing, sharper trade partnerships, and expanded training opportunities for tour operators and consultants selling the destination.
The Seychelles has consistently positioned itself as a benchmark for sustainable island tourism, and the arrival of an executive with roots in both marketing and the Blue Economy hints at further alignment between conservation and commercial tourism goals. This is a theme that resonates strongly with African markets, where operators are being asked to sell more responsibly and demonstrate real value to environmentally conscious travellers.
Looking ahead, industry observers in sub-Saharan Africa will be watching to see how the STB, under this refreshed leadership, deepens engagement with continental markets. Regional connectivity, joint marketing campaigns, and easier trade cooperation could unlock fresh demand from countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda. With tourism development, destination marketing and sustainability now firmly on the strategic table, Mrs Azemia's appointment could shape how Seychelles is packaged and sold across Africa in the coming years, offering trade partners renewed reasons to invest time in this iconic Indian Ocean destination.
