Reunion and Seychelles: Tourism cooperation

December 5, 2019
by Alain St.Ange
2 min read
Reunion and Seychelles: Tourism cooperation
Seychelles and Reunion leaders Alain St.Ange and Azzedine Bouali
Avatar of Alain St.Ange
Written by Alain St.Ange

Azzedine Bouali, President of the Réunion Tourism Federation, was leading a delegation for a 2-day working visit to Seychelles last weekend accompanied by Pascal Viroleau, the CEO of the Vanilla Islands, to meet with Minister Didier Dogley, the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine.

Alongside Mr. Bouali were Gerard Argien, the Director of the Reunion Tourism Federation, and Emmanuelle Lorion, who is the one responsible for Cooperation at the Federation.

In Seychelles, they took time to meet Alain St.Ange, Head of Saint Ange Consultancy, to discuss possible cooperation for the future as and when the Vanilla Islands and the Reunion Tourism Federation will embark on sensitization strategies for the 6 member islands of the regional organization.

Indian Ocean tourism

The Vanilla Islands have been successfully developing the cruise tourism sector in the Indian Ocean seeing growth from 14,000 passengers in 2014 to almost 50,000 cruise visitors in 2018.

The Indian Ocean body realizes that for this success story to become sustainable over time, the cruise ship passenger increase must be accompanied by an optimal quality of service at each port, whatever the island, and working with Tourism Ministers of the region to see more involvement of the islanders and in so doing increase spending by the disembarking passengers.

The Réunion Tourism Federation is responsible for welcoming cruise ships to Réunion. Working with the Vanilla Islands they have decided to sign a partnership agreement enabling Reunion Tourism Federation cruise ship protocol developed at Réunion to be applied to ports at the Seychelles, then to Madagascar.

Island tourism

Other islands are also involved in this initiative which aim to get the Indian Ocean recognized for the quality of its ports as well as the beauty of its landscapes.

Didier Dogley, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine, and President of the Vanilla Islands, stated when signing the protocol: “This partnership ensures that all the islands offer the same level of service quality for cruise liners and their passengers. Cruise operators expect high-level services and we’re demonstrating that we have taken the future into our own hands.”

“We work in collaboration with tourism institutions from each island to support them in implementing a process that reassures companies. Réunion has been working on the operational management of docking cruise ships in collaboration with all concerned parties,” stated Azzedine Bouali, President of the Réunion Tourism Federation.

WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:

  • The Indian Ocean body realizes that for this success story to become sustainable over time, the cruise ship passenger increase must be accompanied by an optimal quality of service at each port, whatever the island, and working with Tourism Ministers of the region to see more involvement of the islanders and in so doing increase spending by the disembarking passengers.
  • Working with the Vanilla Islands they have decided to sign a partnership agreement enabling Reunion Tourism Federation cruise ship protocol developed at Réunion to be applied to ports at the Seychelles, then to Madagascar.
  • Azzedine Bouali, President of the Réunion Tourism Federation, was leading a delegation for a 2-day working visit to Seychelles last weekend accompanied by Pascal Viroleau, the CEO of the Vanilla Islands, to meet with Minister Didier Dogley, the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports &.
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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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