AFRICA AT THE CENTRE OF SEYCHELLES’ TOURISM ‘FOREIGN RELATIONS’
(Posted 22nd April 2014)
The moment this year’s edition of the Carnival International de Victoria is over will the country’s Minister of Tourism and Culture jet away to join his African colleagues at a crucial UNWTO meeting in Luanda / Angola which will take place between 28th of April until 30th of April. Having been elected last year to the UNWTO Executive Council as African representative of the region under which the Seychelles fall, has Minister St. Ange worked tirelessly to bring Africa’s tourism developments to the forefront on the global agenda, but also worked to have African countries cooperate among themselves.
One of the drivers behind the Indian Ocean Vanilla Island Organization he leaves no opportunity to pass without uptalking the benefits of working hand in hand with neighbouring islands, to promote inter island tourist visits and to bring the global cruise lines back to resume Indian Ocean itineraries, sailing between not just the islands but also including African mainland destinations.
Several MoU’s have been signed in the past between the Seychelles and African mainland safari destinations to promote twin centre holidays, combining big game viewing with spending leisure time at some of the world’s greatest beaches.
The upcoming 56th Commission Meeting and Regional Seminar on Tourism will focus on air connectivity this year but also has wildlife crimes (poaching) on its agenda, as the continent struggles with both of these issues.
The Regional Seminar on Tourism and Air Connectivity in Africa will address critical issues related to bridging air transport and tourism policies, including the current regulatory framework, taxation and the way forward in facilitating travel processes. UNWTO is committed to improving air connectivity through a closer coordination of tourism and aviation policies to ensure the sustained growth of the tourism sector and that of air transport.
This Seminar is organized under the framework of the 20th session of the General Assembly which was jointly held last year in Livingstone (Zambia) and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) in August. Minister St. Ange will be promoting among his colleagues attendance of the first ever edition of the joint UNWTO & International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Tourism and Transport Ministerial Conference to be held in October 2014 in Seychelles.
Minister Alain St. Ange, in a communication just received from him, said that it was important to be present in Angola to work with mainland Africa for the consolidation of the continent’s tourism industry and secondly to invite African countries to attend the UNWTO & International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Tourism and Transport Ministerial October meeting in Victoria. ‘We all often talk about how dependent Tourism as an industry is on Civil Aviation. This is why this historic first meeting of Tourism & Transport Ministers is so important as the UNWTO & the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) jointly coordinate this meeting. We need to now be selling this coming meeting to ensure it is the success we all expect it to be, and my work promoting the Seychelles meeting will start in Angola itself’.
Meanwhile though is a busy week unfolding for Seychelles’ Tourism as delegation after delegation of participating and co-hosting countries are arriving now on literally every flight landing at the Seychelles International Airport, and ahead of the ministerial meeting of the Vanilla Island Organization on tomorrow, 23rd of April, when a new president will be elected after Minister St. Ange served for two consecutive one year terms.
Co-hosts Reunion are already here and Madagascar, Mayotte and South Africa’s Kwa Zulu Natal Province are expected later today alongside with over 30 participating countries’ Carnival troupes from around the world, including some of the biggest names in Carnival like Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany’s Duesseldorf and the UK’s Notting Hill. The city of Victoria, which is the world’s smallest capital city with less than 25.000 inhabitants, has meanwhile been decked out in Carnival posters and banners ahead of the official launch of this year’s edition at the Stade Popilar by President James Alix Michel on the evening of Friday 25th March, followed on the 26th by the parade which will make its way through the heart of Victoria. Seychelles, truly Another World.
