ST. ANGE ATTENDS CAMPAIGN LAUNCH OF RIVAL FOR UNWTO’S TOP JOB
(Posted 21st January 2017)
(Brazilian Minister of Tourism and two of the Candidates for the UNWTO – Alain St Ange from Seychelles and Marcio Favilla from Brazil)
In an unprecedented move, setting himself apart from the emerging bitterness of the campaign among some candidates, has the immediate former Seychelles Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine attended the launch event of Brazilian candidate Marcio Favilla. Notably was also present the Tourism Minister of the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) who had defied pressure to stay away from the launch party.
Wrote Alain St. Ange in a short message to this correspondent:
UNWTO Elections Respect and ethics still present in some quarters at least
A wonderful demonstration of ethics and values was evident at the launch of the campaign hosted by the Brazilian Ambassador in Spain for the coming elections for the post of Secretary General for the UNWTO by Marcio Favilla at the Brazil House in Madrid in the presence of the Brazilian Minister of Tourism.
Last night at the Brazilian Embassy in Madrid, Marcio Favilla, Executive Director of the UNWTO, launched his candidacy to become UNWTO´s Secretary General and Alain St Ange from the Seychelles was the only other candidate who accepted the Brazilian candidate´s invitation to attend. There are now 6 candidates vying to succeed Taleb Rifai.
When asked to comment his presence, Alain St Ange simply stated that “We are one Tourism family. I have competitors in this election and they are and will remain my friends and I will continue to work with all of them afterwards. I will therefore attend all the launches to which I am invited.”
Other attendees included the Tourism Minister of Congo Brazzaville, who thus demonstrated her open mindedness about what promises to be a hard fought election.
Again, this correspondent’s hope is for a clean and fair election campaign and may the best man, or woman win.
