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Dream islands Seychelles - paradisiacal beaches, giant turtles, giant sea coconuts.
And they have been back for just under a week: the tourists.
O-tones tourists
"It's fantastic, for the children and for us. After such a tough year."
"Our family and friends have already booked tickets, they come from London, here from Paris. People really like what happens here."
Because the Seychelles have opened their doors wide, without quarantine for visitors.
That gave the island a real boom.
Original sound from Sherin Francis, Chair of the Seychelles Tourism Office
"Since we opened our doors on March 25th, more than 3,000 tourists have come within four days, with a wide variety of airlines. You could say that people's wanderlust leads to a high number of bookings."
The Seychelles' secret to success: vaccinating in a hurry.
By the end of April, 70% of the population should be vaccinated.
The islands rely on herd immunity.
Original sound from Dr. Sanjeev Pugazhendhi, Corona crisis team in the Seychelles
"We hope that the high number of vaccinations will lead to a significant reduction in the risk - even though so many tourists are coming to the country now. But to be honest: we have to wait and see if it really works."
Opening up the country again - it is also a great experiment.
The hoteliers, in turn, are happy.
Now the guests are slowly coming back, also from Europe.
Original sound from Robert Payet, hotel owner
"We are among the top nations in the world when it comes to vaccination speed. That played a crucial role in attracting tourists again. It has resulted in us being seen as a safe country."
We visit one of the vaccination centers in the Seychelles.
Residents are currently here to pick up their second dose.
The vaccines come from AstraZeneca for the elderly and Sinopharm from China for the younger ones, injections are made every minute.
Opening up to tourism - a necessary sacrifice for many here.
Quotes vaccinated
"If we don't open the borders, how are we supposed to survive, there is only tourism. We would starve, so let's pull it off and pray to God."
"I'm not that happy, but what should we do? We have no choice, we need the foreign currency in the country, life must finally come back here."
"I noticed that some tourists do not wear masks and do not adhere to the Corona rules. But if we all behave responsibly, it will work out."
Hebrew is the main language spoken on the islands' beaches at the moment, with most visitors coming from Israel.
From vaccinated to vaccinated - because Israel and the Seychelles are the world's front runners when it comes to vaccination campaigns.
Now you can travel again.
Original sound tourist
"I'm from Israel and most of us are vaccinated. And that's the same in the Seychelles, so we feel safe."
O-ton tourists
"Definitely, we wanted a place where we could feel safe." "We feel safe here." "It's like in Israel, everyone is vaccinated."
And European tourists are also slowly coming back thanks to open borders.
Original sound tourist
"Yes, of course, nowadays you have to find out a little bit about where you can go and where you can't. And of course, when many are vaccinated, the government will find it easier to open the country to tourists more quickly. And that plays us naturally good in the cards that we come here. "
But the experience of the Seychelles also shows: Neither masks nor a high number of vaccinations can completely prevent new infections, the incidence remains very high.
The health authorities know that too.
Original sound: Sanjeev Pugazhendhi, Corona crisis team in the Seychelles
"The corona vaccinations prevent people from getting sick, but they do not prevent the same degree from catching the virus and infecting others. But it is more herd protection than herd immunity."
After all: the number of severe courses has decreased drastically since the vaccinations.
Germany still lists the Seychelles as a high incidence area, and the obligation to quarantine after their return discourages many tourists.
In the vaccinated paradise, however, it gets fuller from day to day.
