Saint Ange Tourism Report Edition #21 of 2018

By Alain St.Ange of SAINT ANGE CONSULTANCY

The Editorial this week highlights Africa Day 2018 before moving to the recent Successful Tourism Meeting in Mauritius. It touches also on Seychelles and its air-connectivity that must today be in search of guidance before covering Coral planting as part of the Tourism Conference program in Mauritius and one property that is Working to make Mauritius tourism more successful – LUX Grand Gaube and ends with the sad news about theTourism Pioneer Andiana Hoareau née Sandapin who has sadly passed away.

Stand Alone articles in this Issue cover:-

1. H.E. Pravind Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius meets with Alain St.Ange.

2. FetAfrik 2018 again puts African culture in the spotlight.

3. Digitalise & Sustainable Tourism Conference of Mauritius opened by island’s Prime Minister Jugnauth

4. The Ritualistic Travelers of Seychelles.

5. Guillaume Albert and Creole Travel Services secures representation for “JOON” of Air France .

6. Club Liberté Casino and Hippodrome Casino of London Prize Winner visits the Seychelles .

7. Tourism Minister meets board members of the Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Association.

8. Seychellois at VATEL Mauritius doing their Bachelor in Tourism & Hospitality Management studies.

9. Jeffrey Lipman of SUN x delivers Key Note Address at the International Conference on Digitalisation and Sustainable Tourism in Mauritius.

10. Seychelles Tourism Board CEO welcomes news that Air Seychelles will soon fly six times a week to Johannesburg.

11. Tourism Minister of Mauritius invites conference delegates to join him in a coral replanting journey.

12. Air Mauritius with new uniform as Country celebrates 50 years of Independence from UK.

13. Eden Hills Residence of Anse Boileau on Mahe, Seychelles .

14. International Newswires continue to republish our Report.

Africa Day 2018

It is important to start this edition of the Saint Ange Tourism Report by saying Happy Africa Day to each and everyone who feels an affinity to Africa and to its diverse people. FetAfrik 2018 was again a moment of reflection for Africa and also a time for analysing the question of safeguarding the Continent’s diverse culture.

Diversity is a blessing when it is respected and today this responsibility in Seychelles lies with each and every sincere Seychellois. Nothing will happen by itself and it is only through commitment and dedication that Seychelles can protect what makes the islands they are today, where the peace and safety we enjoy can be echoed as important Unique Selling Points for our tourism industry.

Successful Tourism Meeting in Mauritius

Last week, the world of tourism gathered in the Vanilla Island of Mauritius for the “International Conference on Digitalisation and Sustainable Tourism”, which was held on the 23rd & 24th May at Le Meridien of Mauritius. I had been invited by Minister Anil Gayan to be part of the conference, alongside Tourism Ministers and tourism professionals from across the world as well as the Leaders of the Mauritius Tourism Industry.

Mauritius must be congratulated for staging this International conference at the right time when the industry as a whole is readjusting its strategies. Mauritius stood tall during these two days, and their Prime Minister, H.E. Pravind Jugnauth, was personally present to show togetherness with their private sector trade. This conference will also put the spot light on the island and on the Vanilla Islands Region as a whole. This burst of added visibility for Mauritius ensures continued relevance for its flourishing tourism industry.

I had the pleasure and honour of having a private meeting with Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth at his Port Louis PM Offices. This was a demonstration of the existing bonds between Mauritius and the Seychelles.

Seychelles and its air-connectivity must be in search of guidance

On 25 May, I joined some 52 passengers en-route to Seychelles from Mauritius and we were flying alongside some 50 passengers transiting for a later flight on to India. In Mauritius, we were informed of an earlier departure of the Seychelles flight because of expected bad weather that was not even in Seychelles but could affect a later flight to the Middle East. Discussions with some of the transit passengers showed the disproportionate fares applicable for a return two hour flight to Mauritius versus what someone pays for their return Mumbai – Seychelles – Mauritius flights. Our National Airline must be focused on Seychelles tourism and point-to-point travel should be the main focus. Reducing cost for point-to-point Seychelles tickets would or should increase traffic over and above showing support for the tourism industry of the islands.

The situation is set to change in July when Air Mauritius will enter the Seychelles route with their own non-stop direct flights. Fares are expected to be more reasonable for the two odd hour flights. Bearing in mind that some Seychelles contractors are known to enjoy fares of US Dollars two hundred and fifty for the four hour flight to Mumbai for their workers, the air Mauritius fares may bring relief to Seychellois and for Tour Operators looking for twin-island holiday destinations for their clients.

At the tourism conference I was attending in Mauritius, it transpired that Turkish Airline had not yet been granted fifth freedom rights by Seychelles to operate their Turkey – Seychelles – Comoros route because Air Seychelles had raised concerns. Comoros cannot be a viable route for Air Seychelles to operate a flight because their traffic will be primarily passengers on to Paris, a route we have now discontinued. Open skies means opening Seychelles Airport and making it more of a regional hub, and this within reason.

The announcement by Turkish Airline is doing exactly that and may help open new cargo possibilities as they use a bigger aircraft on their route here. We are also committed as a Vanilla Island member to help consolidate traffic between the islands of the Indian Ocean and Turkish Airline is one carrier now serving Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar with Comoros as their latest point in just a couple of weeks. Is it not in the Seychelles interest to have this route opened now.

Finally, it has now transpired that following the series of redundancies implemented by the Seychelles National Airline, the post of Chief Commercial Officer, previously occupied by Seychellois, will now be filled effective 1st June by a US Citizen, Charles Johnson from the budget airline, Hong Kong Express. This is reported in aviation tips and yet in Seychelles the news is yet to be made public. News is also everywhere about the Chairman of the National Airline who may now be requesting to move on from that position.

Coral planting as part of the Tourism Conference program in Mauritius

Coral planting is done today in many countries as a means of mitigating effects of coral bleaching. Seychelles does it with some success but the Minister of Tourism of Mauritius went a step further last week as they involved press and delegates attending the island’s Tourism Conference to be part of the exercise that took place from the Beachcomber Trou aux Biches Hotel. The raising of awareness about their continued efforts for the viability of the marine environment was unrivalled.

The ceremony was led by the Tourism Minister Gayan personally and he was followed by Hon Catherine Abelema Afeku, Minister of Ghana followed by a number of Tourism leaders from Mayotte, Benin, Lesotho, Madagascar, Comoros, the Vanilla Islands CEO among many others. I also joined with a number of press personalities and to say congratulations to Mauritius. After everyone had attached a young coral part to a pre-prepared structure, divers affixed them to the base rack in the sea, which was watched on large television screens conveniently positioned on each boat. It was an engaging and innovative experience for the visitors, and something which tourists would undoubtedly enjoy immensely.

Working to make Mauritius tourism more successful – LUX Grand Gaube

Sydney Pierre of LUX Resorts was at the “International Conference on Digitalisation and Sustainable Tourism” of Mauritius and in his networking meetings invited Pascal Viroleau, the CEO of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands, and myself to join him for dinner to discover the LUX Grand Gaube Resort. The resort has now been fully rebuilt / refurbished and it not only presents extremely well, but more importantly, its level of personalised service and the food served was exceptional. It is my duty to congratulate the Management and Staff of LUX Grand Gaube for working hard to ensure the continued success of Mauritius tourism. You are doing Mauritius proud. Congratulations.

Tourism Pioneer Andiana Hoareau née Sandapin sadly passed away

Finally, it is with sadness that I learned of the unfortunate passing of Andiana Hoareau née Sandapin, the 84 year old popular hotelier and restaurateur of Beau Vallon, following a long illness. Madame Hooper, as she was often know, launched Café Royal bar and restaurant in the Michel Building on Revolution Avenue in Victoria, which attracted both Seychellois and tourists. Together with her husband and family they also owned and ran the Manresa Guest House at Anse Etoile.
In the late seventies, after having faced political difficulties in Seychelles, she and her family moved to the United Kingdom where they started a restaurant business. She was an avid activist for the return of democracy to her country of birth and following the re-introduction of multi-party politics in Seychelles. The family eventually came back and settled at Beau Vallon where they managed the Augerine Hotel. Even in her old age, her determination to save Seychelles from calamity was evident when she was in Victoria in demonstrations against the proposed military base on Assumption Island. May her plea be heard.

Mrs Hoareau, who was a widow, leaves behind eight children – four boys and four girls. Her funeral service took place on Tuesday May 22 at 2pm at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The Saint Ange Tourism Report takes this opportunity to express its condolences to the her family and many friends.

It is important to again today acknowledge all who are diligently re-posting the Saint Ange Tourism Report weekly. Our Report ranges far and wide, from Australia to the Americas, from the Indian Ocean Vanilla islands to Africa & Asian and Greater Europe, with your continued support, which is greatly appreciated. You are helping us to grow from strength to strength with each new Edition.

Enjoy the read,

Alain St.Ange

Saint Ange Consultancy

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