Seychelles clamps down on black market forex

FROM this month, black market foreign exchange is a criminal offence in the Seychelles. Money exchange may only be done at banks, authorised money dealers at Seychelles International Airport and hotel cashiers. It has also become illegal to enter or leave the country with more than 2 000 Seychelles rupees. Visitors may only use foreign currency - US dollars, pound sterling or Euro - when paying for hotels, guesthouses, car or boat hire, tour operators or travel agents, casinos and domestic transfers. Duty-free allowances for spirits and cigarettes have been doubled to two litres and two cartons respectively. Incidental purchases such as in restaurants, shopping and taxi fares are payable in Seychelles rupees. (Hilka Birns)