REUNION TAKES FIGHT FOR THE ISLAND’S TOURISM SECTOR TO THE PARIS BUREAUCRATS
(Posted 06th March 2014)
Following a recent audit report, produced by bureaucrats in Paris, questioning the validity and purpose of the island’s tourism promotion efforts, its partnership within the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Organization and breaking ranks vis a vis the mainland’s Visa policy by allowing South African visitors into Reunion on a Visa Waiver, has the island’s administration and political leadership now taken the fight to Paris.
Jacqueline Farreyol, President of Ile de la Reunion Tourisme, as did the President of the Regional Council Didier Robert before, earlier this week went to the French capital to meet with government officials to advocate and lobby for greater leeway for the island’s tourism sector when meeting the Minister for Overseas Territories and the Advisor to President Hollande for Overseas Territories.
She highlighted the following crucial points on which future growth and sustainability of Reunion’s tourism success is hinged:
- the issue of accessibility to the island’s territory for tourists from emerging markets (China and India), due to the visa policy of the State;
- the issue of opening of airspace to allow both a diversification of customers and lower air fares;
- the issue of territorial organization and regulatory which follows the structure of the offer. It should be noted that the Strategic Orientation Committee Tourist (COST), which includes the President of the Regional Council, the President of the General Council, the President of the IRT and the Prefect of Reunion takes concerted and consensual decisions for future of tourism in Reunion. These decisions are approved by the prefect.
Reunion, following the vote by the Council of Ministers in February 2013, now enjoys a Visa Waiver arrangement for South African citizens coming to the island on vacation and has strongly lobbied that this is followed up by similar agreements for Chinese and Indian nationals who want to comes to Reunion as tourists.
Alongside did the island’s political leadership and tourism fraternity advocate for more access by air in order to not just bring airfares down but also attract new airlines flying to Roland Garros International Airport in the island’s capital of St. Denis.
Meanwhile is a strong delegation from Reunion promoting and marketing the destination at the ITB 2014, where they have a large stand from where they are showcasing the many attractions the island holds. 12 companies which includes resorts, hotels and DMC’s are exhibiting together with IRT in order to attract more business from new and emerging markets for the island while at the same time also giving greater publicity and visibility to the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands concept. Visit them on Hall 20, stand 132 if in Berlin or otherwise click on to their website www.reunion.fr.
