AMBASSADOR MAURICE LOUSTAU-LALANNE TO BE SWORN IN TOMORROW
(Posted 29th December 2016)
Following the parliamentary approval earlier today of newly nominated Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, has State House Victoria announced that the formal swearing in will take place on Friday morning, following which the Seychelles will once again have a substantive Minister for Tourism.
Ambassador Maurice has close links to the portfolios as he has previously served as CEO and Executive Chairman of the Seychelles Tourism Board in 2008 before for some time holding the position as Acting Executive Chairman of Air Seychelles in 2011, just ahead of Etihad Airways acquiring a 40 percent stake in the national airline.
Amb. Maurice also served as Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs before being appointed as Secretary of State of the Seychelles in 2015.
‘Filling Mr. St. Ange’s shoes will be a big challenge for anyone but at least does Ambassador Loustau-Lalanne have some experience in the key sectors of tourism and aviation. This will make his work somewhat easier and he has a very dedicated team, at the tourism board and at the ministry. His Principal Secretaries and the CEO of STB will pull out all stops to continue the amazing success of the industry as seen over the past eight years. And we have no doubt that Alain St. Ange will give advice and guidance when asked by his successor to ensure the growth of tourism can continue even though a hostile parliament can cause major upheavals for the sector‘ wrote a regular source from Victoria a short while ago when discussing the way forward for Seychelles’ most important economic sector.
While again expressing a fond farewell to Alain St. Ange as he leaves government service to pursue his unfolding campaign for the top job at UNWTO – without using Seychelles government resources for that matter – is it also a warm welcome to Ambassador Maurice to the tourism and civil aviation ministry.
