The Seychelles is opening a new government-backed tourism academy in Mahe with work on a fully fledged wellness and spa training facility starting at the end of this year.

To be constructed in three phases, the first part of the build – aimed to finish by 15 July – will comprise an academic block housing 15 classrooms, a language lab, library and public restaurant.

For construction works on part two of the development, to be completed by 14 December, a main admin block will be introduced along with a demonstration kitchen and restaurant.

Once phase two is completed the third phase will see the introduction of a hotel and a wellness and spa training facility, with work to start in January 2015.

The expanding market demand for wellness and spa facilities in existing, new and upcoming hotels in the Seychelles has given rise for the need of more qualified local people in the region.

The two-year spa training course has been designed in partnership with the Constance Hospitality Academy in Mauritius and aims to provide students with an introduction to the operational and skilled areas of the wellness sector.

The academy will also offer training for students in tour guiding, hospitality management, restaurant and bar work, food production and culinary arts. Reception operation services with apprenticeships are also available in those fields.

“Our key objectives are to increase student output to diversify, expand and upgrade training programmes to be more aligned to industry needs – locally and globally," said Seychelles’ Tourism and Culture minister Alain St Ange.

"We aim to establish secure affiliations with local and international reputed hotels and tourism training schools and institutions; while giving students practical and industry experience through our hotel and other facilities.

“We are determined to continue to train our local workforce to ensure we have Seychellois at the front line of our resorts.”

The training academy will function as a business, with the 30-bedroom hotel, 30-bedroom hostel for international students, business centre, public restaurant and bar, public lounge, banqueting centre, plus the wellness and spa centre all open to the public.