aTP- Arab tourism portal News- Wilson M. Nancy, the Chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the SCCI has come out to formally endorse Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles former Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine for the position of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
Mr St.Ange is the Seychelles candidate for the coming elections in early May against candidates coming from Brazil, Mexico, Georgia, Korea and Zimbabwe.
Mr Wilson Nancy, the Chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the SCCI writes:-
“As the Former Minister of Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and Culture, then the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation Ports and Marine, Alain St.Ange has, in the past years proved himself to be the best candidate for such a position.
Mr. Alain St.Ange was not just a Minister for the Republic of Seychelles, but for the Indian Ocean Region, the Africa Eastern and Southern Region, Europe, Asia, Middle East, South America, and connecting the rest of the world by reaching out during his many travels, which classified him as a World Tourism Ambassador.
As the Minister for Tourism, an Industry which has been called the bread and butter of our Nation, Alain St.Ange made it a point to meet and stay connected with the Private Sector via the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry who is the representation of over 70% of the Seychelles Business Community, which is the money generator and the driving force of the Economy.
Mr St.Ange had the wisdom to know that the Seychelles, being a Country bent on Tourism, had to remain connected with the Private Sector.
Following several quarterly meetings in the Spirit of Public and Private Partnership, problems being encountered by SCCI Members within the Tourism Field, were discussed directly with the Minister and solutions found for the benefit of our Nation.
Sometimes Tourism policies had to be curbed to accommodate our Members and the reduction of cost on transportation of goods and cargo via maritime route to inner Islands of Praslin and La Digue was approved through discussions at the Multi Sectorial quarterly meetings where Minister St.Ange gave his full support to SCCI for this Motion.
The Seychelles Chamber also collaborated with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for the Launching of its Tourism Committee “Mon Sesel Sa”, an initiative that would bring Tourism closer to the Local Community in the Districts instead of centering all tourism activities through Travel Agencies and Hotels.
During the past four Years, the Former Minster worked in close collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and several Memorandum of Understanding were signed by SCCI. One clear example is the MOU signed between SCCI and Durban, SCCI and Kwa Zulu Natal. This was done in the Presence of Minister St.Ange at the East3Route Economic Forum which took place in Seychelles two years ago.
Minister St. Ange is a dedicated hard working, open-minded Seychellois who has connected Seychelles to many Countries via tourism and culture never making mention of colour or creed, but forging the way forward to bring Seychelles tourism to the peak.
The Chamber believes that with his vast experience, his jovial, friendly and hard working attitude Mr St.Ange can deliver the job he is aspiring to, and we gladly endorse his Candidature”.
Alain St.Ange has welcomed the endorsement of the island’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry body saying that when the private sector stands behind you it is because they have appreciated your work. “I want to say a big thank you to Mr Wilson Nancy, the Chairman of the Chamber and to his Councillors and Members for this endorsement. It means a lot to see Seychelles rallying behind their island’s candidate for the position of Secretary General of the UNWTO. Thank you very much” Alain St.Ange said.
The Seychelles Candidate has already received Letters of Endorsement from President Danny Faure of the Seychelles, from Sir James Mancham, Seychelles founding President who wrote an open letter about his support for the Seychelles St.Ange bid for the United Nations just a week before he passed away, the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Organisation (Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles), the Africa Ports Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA), Tanzania Society of Travel Agents (TASOTA), the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA), Fred W.
Finn, the World’s Most Travelled Person Guinness World Records, the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam Association, India’s important N.R.I. Welfare Society, the Creole Travel Services of Seychelles and the Association of Tourism Professionals of Mauritius (ATP), Eden Island Seychelles, Bea Broda the known Producer/Writer/Host/Speaker from the Americas who wrote: One candidate that stands out to me is Alain St.Ange, the former Minister of Tourism of Seychelles.
In the seven years that I have been familiar with his work, I have witnessed the extraordinary dedication, enthusiasm and visionary brilliance that resulted in his enormous success in this role.
St.Ange took a relatively small island nation in the middle of the Indian Ocean and created a way to bring Seychelles to the forefront of global attention with the enactment of the Carnaval International de Victoria.
This international event experienced six years of success, not only bringing interest and tourism to the nation, but proudly unifying all of the people who live there towards a common goal.
In addition, St.Ange was a founder of the Vanilla Islands of the Indian Ocean, a consortium designed to combine the strengths of the islands located in the Indian Ocean to present a strong front in a competitive market.
He has worked ceaselessly in the direction of the absolute success of those issues to which he cheerfully commits his time, and I would personally like to see someone with his considerable vision, dedication and creativity take the helm of an organization as influential to tourism as UNWTO, and Theresa St.John, the reputed Travel Writer who said “It’s not often that I have the chance to interact with someone who speaks so passionately about travel, tourism, and the people behind the ‘business of it’.
Only this week Xavier-Luc Duval, the former deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius and now leader of the Opposition also threw his weight behind Alain St.Ange.
Mr St.Ange continues to say that he is thankful for this democratic approach of endorsements for the coming election for the seat of Secretary General for the UNWTO by the frontline team of tourism.
“They have worked with me for tourism and they know me well.
They all remain the motor behind tourism and what makes tourism tick” said Alain St.Ange
