Alain St.Ange, President of the Vanilla Islands & Minister of Tourism and Culture from the Seychelles says "unity in purpose" clearly displayed
Almasalla Arab Travel Portal News – The sitting President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands, Mr Alain St.Ange who is also the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture has described the unity displayed by Member States at the Festival Liberte Metisse in La Reunion was encouraging. "Representatives from five member states were present. Everyone took to the podium at the official opening ceremony, and everyone spoke about the need to have a strong tourism region and every defended the concept behind the Vanilla Islands. Unity in purpose was evident" Alain St.Ange said to the press.
Both the President of the Regional Council of La Reunion, Mr Didier Robert and his Vice President, Mr Jean Francois Sita congratulated the achievements of theIndian Ocean Vanilla Islands and both spoke about the importance of the Organisation for the benefit of a strong tourism region. Dr Karl Mootoosamy, the CEO of the MTPA of Mauritius on his part defended publicly the need for the islands of the Indian Ocean to be united in this Regional Organisation. Dr Karl Mootoosamy also said that being present at the Festival Liberte Metisse was a sign of solidarity. The same messages were echoed by the Heads of the Madagascar and Mayotte Islands.
The La Reunion Festival Liberte Metisse has from this year been listed as a Vanilla Islands event and now joins the Carnaval International de Victoria that is staged annually in the Seychelles during the last weekend of April and the ITM, the International Tourism Fair of Madagascar that is staged on its part in mid May annually.
Comoros has now had its Culinary & Cultural Fiesta at the end of August also listed on the Calendar of Events of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Organisation.
Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture has been President of the Organisation for two mandates and the election for the 2014 / 2015 President will be held in Seychelles on the 24th. of April, the day before the the Official Opening of the next event of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands.
The Minister from the Seychelles has been the first President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla islands and he used the La Reunion event to thank his colleagues from the other islands for their support. "The time has come for us all not only to say that we are all together, but for us to be sen to be together" Alain St.Ange said.
