Madagascar rallies behind Seychelles for seat on UNWTO Executive Council

The Madagascar Minister responsible for Tourism, Mr.

The Madagascar Minister responsible for Tourism, Mr. Jean-Max Rakotomamonjy, has publicly announced that Madagascar is supporting the Seychelles bid for a seat on the UN World Tourism Organizationโ€™s (UNWTO) Executive Council. The election for this seat will be taking place at the bodyโ€™s General Assembly that will be held in August in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Minister Jean-Max Rakotomamonjy made the declaration for his support for the Seychelles bid during his opening address at the 2013 International Tourism Fair Madagascar in the presence of Mr. Didier Robert, President de la region La Reunion; diplomats; press; tour operators; and tourism professionals.

โ€œTonight I have the pleasure, on behalf of Madagascar, to publicly state that we are standing behind the Seychelles for their bid for a seat on the Executive Committee of the UN World Tourism Organization, the UNWTO. We believe that Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, and President of the Vanilla Islands, would be an asset for the region and for the UNWTO organization. His dynamism, his leadership, and his professionalism in the field of tourism has today been recognized, not only in our region, but right across the world. We will give Seychelles our full support for a seat on the Executive Council of the UNWTO,โ€ said the Madagascar Minister responsible for Tourism, Mr. Jean-Max Rakotomamonjy.

Minister Alain St.Ange of the Seychelles told the press after the announcement was made that he valued the support echoed by the Madagascar Minister.

โ€œWe are an archipelago that depends of tourism; the pillar of our economy for our islands is tourism. For our industry to continue to grow and to be consolidated, we need our region, as we need Africa to be more seen and to be more recognized as the new destination offering unrivaled potential for discerning travelers. This is why we have put our countryโ€™s name forward, and today we say thank you to Madagascar for confirming their support. It is important to also state that Zambia has also already confirmed their support during the last INDABA tourism trade fair in Durban South Africa,โ€ said Minister St.Ange of the Seychelles.

The elections for the Executive Committee will be taking place during the General Assembly of the UNWTO which will be held in Zambia and Zimbabwe in August of this year.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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