Seychelles Tourism stakeholders meet to finalize review of Tourism Master Plan

6 years ago
by Alain St.Ange

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Minister Didier Dogley addressing Tourism Stakeholders

Tourism stakeholders involved in the consultative process to review and update the Tourism Master Plan 2012-2020 met in a validation workshop at Eden Bleu last week. The aim of the workshop was to discuss, validate findings and recommendations, as well as to receive feedbacks, before the finalization of the draft document. This follows a number of meetings that have been conducted with both private and the public sector stakeholders, including but not limited to tour operators, hoteliers, restaurant owners, as well as boat and yacht charter operators.

The workshop was also attended by the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Didier Dogley, and the Principal Secretary for Tourism, Anne Lafortune.

In his opening remarks, Minister Dogley said: “This updated Tourism Master Plan provides a comprehensive situation analysis of the tourism sector and it will serve as a blueprint for the development of a sustainable and responsible tourism in Seychelles for the next few years and beyond.” Minister Dogley stressed on four important points, which he said should be carefully considered: investment opportunities for local businesses to expand as well as equal opportunities for those with limited capacity to have a fair and equal opportunity for investment, sustainability which is crucial for today’s travellers, collection of timely and accurate data for the development of better informed policy and access to trained & reliable human resources.

The consultative process to review and update the Tourism Master Plan started last year, and is being led by Daniella Larue of Valsen Consulting. The process to review and finalise the draft document is expected to be completed by the end of June. The updated Tourism Master Plan will act as a guiding tool for strategic and sustainable development as well as future growth of the sector. It was pointed out during discussions that an appropriate action-oriented strategy needs to be developed, to ensure its proper implementation.

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Alain St Ange has been working in the tourism business since 2009. He was appointed as the Director of Marketing for Seychelles by President and Minister of Tourism James Michel. He was appointed as the Director of Marketing for Seychelles by President and Minister of Tourism James Michel. After one year of After one year of service, he was promoted to the position of CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board. In 2012 the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands regional Organization was formed and St Ange was appointed as the first president of the organization. In a 2012 cabinet re-shuffle, St Ange was appointed as Minister of Tourism and Culture which he resigned on 28 December 2016 in order to pursue a candidacy as Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation. At the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu in China, a person who was being sought after for the “Speakers Circuit” for tourism and sustainable development was Alain St.Ange. St.Ange is the former Seychelles Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine who left office in December last year to run for the position of Secretary General of the UNWTO. When his candidature or document of endorsement was withdrawn by his country just a day before the elections in Madrid, Alain St.Ange showed his greatness as a speaker when he addressed the UNWTO gathering with grace, passion, and style. His moving speech was recorded as the one on the best marking speeches at this UN international body. African countries often remember his Uganda address for the East Africa Tourism Platform when he was a guest of honor. As former Tourism Minister, St.Ange was a regular and popular speaker and was often seen addressing forums and conferences on behalf of his country. His ability to speak ‘off the cuff’ was always seen as a rare ability. He often said he speaks from the heart. In Seychelles he is remembered for a marking address at the official opening of the island’s Carnaval International de Victoria when he reiterated the words of John Lennon famous song… ” you may say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one. One day you will all join us and the world will be better as one”. The world press contingent gathered in Seychelles on the day ran with the words by St.Ange which made headlines everywhere. St.Ange delivered the keynote address for the “Tourism & Business Conference in Canada” Seychelles is a good example for sustainable tourism. This is therefore not surprising to see Alain St.Ange being sought after as a speaker on the international circuit. Member of Travelmarketingnetwork.

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