(Seychelles News Agency) - Mason’s Travel, one of Seychelles Destination Management Company, has been awarded Thomas Cook’s ‘Local Label’ for its excursions to Praslin and La Digue, the archipelago’s second and third most populated islands, according to a press statement issued this morning by the Seychelles Ministry for Tourism and Culture.

British global travel company, Thomas Cook, launched its Local Label excursion programme in 2013 with the aim of promoting local cultures amongst travellers.

This is where travellers are encouraged to head out on traditional experiences to get a taste of the region they're visiting and supporting the communities involved by encouraging tourism.

As an affiliated partner of Thomas Cook Mason’s Travel now joins some 40 other travel companies providing excursions in 23 destinations that carry the Local Label.

"This is a great achievement for Seychelles and Mason’s Travel as it highlights Mason's Travel continuous effort in promoting the Seychelles local traditions and the great lengths Mason's Travel go to for the protection of the Seychelles environment," Nicole St.Ange, Mason’s Travel Group Branding & Communications Manager, said in the statement.

St Ange has told SNA that Mason’s Travel actually handles all of Thomas Cook’s clients that come on holiday in Seychelles and that it was the British travel company’s local representative who encouraged the local DMC to apply for a Local Label for one of its excursions.

Mason’s Travel offers more than 10 different excursions.

“We chose to apply for a Local Label for our Praslin/La Digue tour because it is our most popular excursions amongst the travellers,” she said.

In order to award a particular excursion with a Local Label, Thomas Cook judges their application based on a set of criteria which also sees the company’s representative go on that excursion to have a first-hand experience.

The level of engagement with the community, as well as environmentally friendly practices adopted on the excursions, are some of the things assessed.

St Ange has told SNA that Mason’s Travel plans to apply for another Local Label for its Reef Safaris excursion in the near future.

Recently there has been more focus on promoting the island nations’ local tradition and culture, as well as the environment amongst visitors.

Speaking at the Seychelles Tourism Board’s mid-year marketing meeting recently archipelago’s Minister for Tourism and Culture emphasised that tourism is no longer just sun, sea and sun but it’s also culture and experience.

Tourism remains the pillar of the Seychelles archipelago. Last year saw a record arrival of 230,272 tourists to the Indian Ocean archipelago compared to 208,034 the previous year.