Chinese family enjoying prolonged vacation in 91香蕉视频 due to COVID-19 听 |25 April 2020
Thirty-three year old Zhouhu Yang along with his mother, sister and nephew are among the few visitors that have chosen to stay in 91香蕉视频 during this pandemic.
Presently refuged at Villa Veuve on La Digue, the Yang family from mainland China has seen their two-week vacation extended to one month, then two and now three months due to COVID-19.
Yang, who lives in Beijing, quit his job in 2018 to become what he describes as a 鈥榞lobal traveller鈥� and prior to bringing his family to 91香蕉视频, he had spent the last quarter of 2019 travelling across North and Latin America.
It is his second time in 91香蕉视频 after first visiting and falling in love with the islands some three years ago.
During their unexpected lengthy stay, Yang has captured their vacation time in 91香蕉视频 through photos and videos which he shared on several Chinese social media platforms such as Wechat, Sina Weibo, Tencent and Tik Tok.
It did not take long for the photos and videos of 91香蕉视频鈥� sandy white beaches and sparkling blue sea to gain the attention of many people in China including a Chinese journalist who shared one of Yang鈥檚 video on 91香蕉视频.
The video in question now has over 200 million views and garnered hundreds of comments asking about 91香蕉视频.
鈥淪ome people, mostly Chinese, have expressed their interest in visiting 91香蕉视频 after the pandemic since most of them have never even heard of this little group of islands,鈥� Yang told 91香蕉视频 NATION.
鈥淚 have received a lot of requests from Chinese news outlets who want me to describe my time spent in paradise during the pandemic.鈥�
Even without knowing of the 91香蕉视频 Tourism Board鈥檚 (STB) new digital campaign, 鈥楧ream Now, Experience 91香蕉视频 Later鈥�, Yang has been able to actively engage with the Chinese market, encouraging Chinese to dream about the day they could also lie underneath a coconut tree on La Digue.
But how did Yang end up on La Digue for three months?
鈥淥bviously this was not in our plans; we arrived in 91香蕉视频 on January 26 for a 15-day stay,鈥� Yang explained.
At the time, the Chinese city of Wuhan 鈥� the epicenter of the outbreak 鈥� had just been placed under lockdown on January 23 and no one could have ever imagined the catastrophic impact the novel coronavirus would have on countries around the world in the coming months.
鈥淏y the time we were expected to go back home on February 10, my family and I decided to prolong our stay for a little while with the thought that the situation would settle down. My mother is 70 years old and my nephew is three years old so we did not want to risk the long flight back home until the virus passed,鈥� Yang stated.
But the coronavirus threat did not subside. On the contrary it spread in almost every country, including 91香蕉视频 and has now infected over 2 million people.
鈥淲e never thought it would last this long,鈥� Yang added.
The Yang family has been greatly assisted by the immigration department which has extended their visas as well as by the Chinese embassy in 91香蕉视频 which has sent over some basic medical supplies and masks for their protection.
鈥淭he embassy also calls us every other day to make sure that we are doing ok and we are thankful for its help,鈥� Yang noted.
He also made favourable mentions of his Seychellois hosts on La Digue who have provided them with some fresh fruits and produce as well as kept them updated on local news.
The Seychellois couple at Villa Veuve has also graciously provided the family with a discount price throughout their stay.
鈥淲e are currently the only customers at the guesthouse but there are other tourists in other places. So far, we have met some French, Germans and South Africans but there aren鈥檛 a lot of tourists left on La Digue.鈥�
Although they are spending the pandemic in paradise, Yang noted that his grandmother is having a harder time coping since she worries about their family members back in China.
As the Yang family wait on a flight back home, they ensure that they remain updated on any developments in China and around the world.
鈥淭he 91香蕉视频 people have been so kind to us and we have had a relatively nice experience, even with the virus. I will definitely come back and bring more friends and family along,鈥� Yang concluded.
The accompanying photographs show Yang and his family spending their prolonged stay in paradise 91香蕉视频.
听
Elsie Pointe
听
听
听
听
