Vanilla Alliance in Mauritius: A working partnership

VsanillaIslExec
VsanillaIslExec
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Written by Alain St.Ange

The Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands are made up of the islands of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion and Seychelles, and coming out of this working partnership came the “Vanille Alliance”.

Presidents and CEOs of the four leading airlines of the Indian Ocean met in the concept of the Vanilla Alliance in Mauritius on Friday, June 15, 2018.

Marie Joseph MALE, CEO of Air Austral, Somaskaran Thiagarajan APPAVOU, Air Mauritius CEO, Besoa RAZAFIMAHARO, Chief Executive Officer of Air Madagascar and Remco ALTHUIS, CEO of Air Seychelles, met for the first time since of most of these airline leaders were new in office.
During this meeting, they enthusiastically confirmed their willingness to work together, within the framework of the Alliance, to improve the connectivity of the islands of the Indian Ocean. The Alliance’s work program, set from its inception in May 2015, has been confirmed.

The meeting was reminded of the 4 themes that had been agreed to by all the member companies:

– Search for attractive tariff packages for passengers.
– Program of connectivity of the Indian Ocean Islands.

Optimizing partnerships to increase the number of destinations offered to passengers
Pooling of means: fleet and airport equipment
It was again agreed that coming from these four themes, a real spirit of cooperation for work will be carried out by the 4 airlines, around the same objectives:- to create real synergies for significant improvements for the customer.

Concrete actions have been launched:
– The deployment of a new Travel Pass in the Indian Ocean area is made more attractive
– Significant improvement of inter-island connectivity through joint efforts
– The establishment of chartering facilities

In addition, the leaders wished to work together on a joint program of action for the promotion of the environment and sustainable development for the four islands.

At the end of the meeting, Marie Joseph MALE, CEO of Air Austral, was reappointed to the Presidency of the “Vanilla Alliance”.

It was in 2012, that Alain St.Ange from the Seychelles was elected as the first President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Regional Organisation aimed at forming a new tourism destination brand. That same year, St.Ange was also named by then Seychelles President, James Michel, as the Minister of Tourism and Culture. In 2016, he became the island’s Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports, and Marine. Minister Alain St.Ange was elected as the first President of the Vanilla Islands at the organization’s first meeting held in Seychelles. His mandate was extended for a second term at the Ministerial Meeting of the organization held in Antananarivo in Madagascar. Pascale Viroleau of Reunion was appointed CEO of the Organisation. Alain St.Ange was succeeded by Didier Robert of Reunion

About the author

Avatar of Alain St.Ange

Alain St.Ange

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.

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