(Posted 14th May 2024)
The Seychelles and Mauritius stands at the ATM 2024 was the
opportunity for not only catching up and exchanging ideas but
also the opportunity to re-connect as was the case at the
Mauritius Island stand when Donald Payen, the President of
the Mauritius Tourism Promotional Authority (MTPA) and Alain
St.Ange, the Tourism Consultant met.
Donald Payen of Mauritius and Alain St.Ange of Seychelles
have been friends for many years during the time when Payen
was at Air Mauritius and St.Ange, on his part, coming from the
tourism private sector trade to become the Seychelles Minister
responsible for Tourism. Donald Payen was at Air Mauritius for
well over 40 years.
Donald Payen who was at ATM with Arvind Bundhun, the CEO
of the MTPA of Mauritius and many of their private sector trade
members. Oomar Ramtoola, the Emirates’ head for
Mauritius and Seychelles was also present on the stand and
also discussed the tourism and passenger load.
Donald Payen was awarded the British Empire Medal at a
special ceremony at Westminster House on August 12, 2022.
In the past this seasoned aviation and tourism professional was
made a Knight of the National Order of Merit of the French
Republic.
On the Seychelles stand it was Minister Sylvestre Radegonde,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs & Tourism, Sherin Francis, his
PS, and Bernadette Willemin, the island’s Director of Marketing
who sat with Alain St.Ange when he stopped at their stand.
During the discussions at both the Mauritius and Seychelles
stands at ATM 2024, time was taken to look at tourism as the
industry that remains so important for the whole Indian Ocean
Region and the Vanilla Islands Group. Minister Radegonde and
Alain St.Ange also took the opportunity to walk together to the
Egypt Stand to meet the Governor of South Sinai, H. E. Khaled
Fouda and H.E. Mrs Ghada Shalaby, the Deputy Minister
responsible for Tourism & Antiquities.
