aTP- Arab tourism portal
By Alain St.Ange of SAINT ANGE CONSULTANCY
The Editorial this week highlights:- a. Routes Africa 2018. b. Visibility to maintain relevance. c. Operating cost and the slide of the Seychelles Rupee against the US Dollar. d. African Tourism Board – Where Africa becomes one tourism destination. e. Vertical Integration Policy?.
Stand alone articles this week starts with:-
1. Ghana Minister for Aviation meets Alain St.Ange from Seychelles.
2. Denis Private Island of Seychelles achieves Tripadvisor Hall of Fame status.
3. Restaurants mark tourism destinations.
4. Eco label awarded to Avani Seychelles Barbarons Resort.
5. Routes Africa 2018 in Ghana.
6. Alain St.Ange at Routes Africa 2018.
7. Mayotte offers its own Vanilla Islands event with the first Lagoon Festival.
8. Ethiopian Airlines & South African Airways take centre stage at Routes Africa 2018.
9. Tenerife & Seychelles discuss tourism and cooperation.
10. Environmental pollution kills tourism.
11. Anaël Bodwell Smart, outstanding young Seychellois leader.
12. Echoes from the Oasis.
13. The Joy of Giving by Jane Stravens (Miss Seychelles 1972).
14. IATA Africa supports call for Tourism & Aviation Ministers meeting in discussions with Seychelles Tourism Consultant .
15. Uganda Airlines order for two A330neo from Airbus at Farnborough.
16. African Airlines Association (AFRAA) & Seychelles meet.
17. Ports and Maritime Stakeholders in Kenya launch Maritime Awards .
18. Tang Soo Do World Championships in North Carolina “Seychelles wins 9 Gold, 5 Silver and 5 Bronze”
19. African Youth Games 2018 17 athletes from Seychelles.
20. “Voyages Afriq” Magazine consolidates working partnership,
21. Aviation & Allied Business Journal meets Seychelles’ Alain St.Ange.
22. Uganda Tourism and Seychelles Tourism Consultant discuss Brand Africa and cooperation.
23. The Seychelles Tourism Board welcomes year round operations by Edelweiss Air.
24. International Newswires continue to republish our Report.
I was last week honoured to have been chosen to be a panellist for the Routes Africa 2018. It was a great event and a golden opportunity to renew contacts and make new friends. Tourism is very much a people’s industry which is why people of the industry have to meet or just simply must meet. Two important Tourism and Aviation Magazines of Africa (Voyages Afriq and Aviation & Allied Business Journal) were present and the chance to meet with them in Ghana was so appreciated.
Visibility to maintain relevance
Often tourism businesses or hotel establishments raise their occupancy level or discuss how busy or not busy they have been. Tourism Boards have the responsibility to market the destination and to keep the visibility of their destination to ensure it is relevant, but it remains the responsibility of individual businesses to get ‘ahead of the pack’ to get their fair share of arriving visitors. No one can expect to eat a mango when the tree is being given a good shake unless they move to collect them as they fall or to spend to buy them from traders.
The same analysis can be made using the picking up of mackerel fish from the beach after the fishermen have brought it a catch from a net. Be on the beach and get your mackerel or buy one from the market, but sitting at home and waiting will not, and just cannot bring the fish to your table.
Operating Cost and the slide of the Seychelles Rupee against the US Dollar
Rising operational cost still remains a troubling challenge for the tourism industry in Seychelles. Today the cost is being further exasperated by the value of the US Dollar that is gaining its way against the Seychelles Rupee. Cost of electricity is today considered to be too expensive and this will continue to hurt the islands and their businesses. Understanding the trade will strengthen the economy and increase the needed buoyancy to enable the private sector trade to keep the Seychelles Flag flying. The businesses are key to economic survival, and bleeding them only spells trouble, curtails employment and stifles growth of the commercial sector.
African Tourism Board – Where Africa becomes one tourism destination
Last week, I published that I was happy to have been appointed on the Steering Committee of the “African Tourism Board” Association. Today we can announce the appointment of Carol Weaving, the Managing Director of Reed Exhibition as a new Board Member of the African Tourism Board.
Reed Exhibition is one of the biggest Tourism Trade Show Organisers and her presence on the Board of the African Tourism Board one further positive Africa news. What a breakthrough for Brand Africa to see the revival of more African Airlines. After Tanzanian Airlines just weeks ago it was the turn of Uganda Airline to confirm they were back in business as Ethiopian Airlines confirmed to the world they were 100% Ethionian Staffed.
Vertical Integration policy ?
The proposal by the Seychelles Government to box in the private sector trade has brought about a number of queries on where will it stop. Seychelles must legislate against any form of monopoly in any sector. Monopoly is detrimental to cost reduction, and competition needs to be encouraged and banks enticed to assist to help competition to be established.
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
