(Seychelles News Agency) - An Austrian couple in their 50s were attacked on Seychelles second-most populated island of Praslin, the police said on Tuesday.

The police said that an investigation has started on the incident which happened in the vicinity of La Pirogue in the Praslin sub-district of Cote d’Or on Monday. A search has been launched for a male suspect.

The couple, who were staying at Le Duc de Praslin, were treated for injuries they sustained from the attack. The police did not provide additional details. 

The chairperson of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) Sybille Cardon confirmed to SNA on Wednesday that there has been an increase in attacks against visitors in the Cote d'Or area. Cardon said that the area is targeted because that is where many tourists' establishments are located.  

"We are going to have meetings with owners of the hotels, restaurants and other tourism establishments in the area and then decide how to tackle the problems," said Cardon.

She said that there is an urgent need to install lights and clear the area something which owners of the establishments have been asking for many years. With such an incident happening in the same place, Cardon hopes that maybe now attention will be given to their concerns.

The issue of security in Seychelles has been raised by the Leaders in the National Assembly in their replies to the 2018 budget proposal.

Note: updated Wednesday 2 pm.