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The Editorial this week highlights:- a. World Tourism Day 2019. b. UK travel giant Thomas Cook collapses is today a worry to many – and stranding thousands of tourists. c. This week the eyes of the Tourism World is on the Tourism Conference in Nigeria & on the Africa Travel 100 Tourism Personalities. d. Save La Digue as the youth of the World are screaming “Save our Planet”. Stand alone articles this week:- 1. 10 of the world’s most beautiful islands by CNN Travel – Seychelles makes the list by Jen Rose Smith, CNN • Published 23rd September 2019. 2. Denis Island becoming Seychelles’ most green and sustainable island. 3. Le Domaine de La Réserve of Praslin, Seychelles by The Telegraph of London. 4. Seychelles art from a fairly newcomer – Made in Seychelles by Sandra de Comarmond . 5. Creole Breeze a new ‘home grown tourism establishment’ opens its doors. 6. Oasis Resort & Spa of Praslin under Seychellois management. 7. The Seychelles Islands celebrate the annual “Endless Summer” roadshow in CIS region. 8. Regatta 2019 – The Beach Party Time in Seychelles. 9. Seychelles bags the next UNWTO CAF meeting. 10. Save this traditional Seychellois home. 11. Thomas Cook – what is happening? Should Seychelles, Mauritius and the Coast of Africa be worried? . 12. Thomas Cook seeks last-ditch fire-sale in bid to avert collapse. 13. Paris-Seychelles direct: Air France opening new route in November . 14. Air Seychelles adjusts Mauritius / Mumbai flights to optimize aircraft use 15. Accor brings MGallery’ brand to Nairobi 16. Air Tanzania to add two more Airbus A223 aircraft to fleet. 17.Closing Notes.

Alain St.Ange

Welcome to this 29th edition of Vol 3 of the Saint Ange Tourism Report of 2019.

World Tourism Day 2019

This week Seychelles will join the Community of Nations to celebrate Tourism Day 2019. As a country where tourism is, and one where tourism will remain for years to come the pillar of its economy, it is not only important for Seychelles to recognise Tourism Week, but that we do all we can as a people to appreciate its importance. This year a Tourism Festival will be held, a Tourism Ball and as has been the case for the last couple of years past players in the tourism trade will have their names positioned at the Seychelles Tourism Pioneers Park at the Tourism Academy.

Among the names chosen to mark this year’s ceremony was my dear father Karl St.Ange who had joined the tourism industry at the very start with his Cabanes Des Anges Hotel on La Digue. He was a pioneer indeed who moved into the industry just after the opening of the Seychelles International Airport.

The park was launched in 2015 when I was Minister of Tourism to honour the contributions of those individuals who through inspired effort and innovation have laid the corner stone of Seychelles’ tourism industry

British travel group Thomas Cook on Monday declared bankruptcy after failing to reach a last-ditch rescue deal, triggering the UK’s biggest repatriation since World War II to bring back stranded passengers.

The 178-year-old operator had been desperately seeking £200m ($250m) from private investors to save it from collapse.

“Despite considerable efforts, those discussions have not resulted in agreement between the company’s stakeholders and proposed new money providers,” Thomas Cook said in a statement.

“The company’s board has therefore concluded that it had no choice but to take steps to enter into compulsory liquidation with immediate effect.”

This week the eyes of the Tourism World is on the Tourism Conference in Nigeria & on the Africa Travel 100 Tourism Personalities

with Chief Amachree at the opening of the Tourism Conference in Nigeria

This week the world of tourism will have its eyes on Nigeria as tourism professionals and experts meet to discuss different faacets of this important industry. With the African Union as a standing body participants from as far as the Caribbean will join counterparts in Africa and the islands of the continent. The official opening ceremony of the 15th Akwaaba, African Travel Market 2019 took place on Sunday the 22 September by Nigeria’s Father of Tourism, Chief Mike Amachree. Today Monday the 23rd and on Tuesday the 24th September delegates will take to the floor for this 1st Africa Diaspora Tourism Conference before the attention is turned to meet the selected “Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities”.

It is indeed a great honour to be invited to be a guest speaker at this 1st Africa Diaspora Tourism Conference and to have been listed among the finalists for the Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities for the World of Tourism.

Save La Digue as the youth of the World are screaming “Save our Planet”

The Climate Change Students are fighting for their world.
We’re just living it

The world was mobilised to say “Together we are changing the world”. Estimated figures say 400’000 across Australia, 100’000 in Berlin, 100’000 in London’ 50’000 in Hamburg and Hugh numbers everywhere in the USA among many other countries where the call was heard. The Climate Change Students are fighting for their world, and they want to save their planet. We’re just living it As the youth of the world were marching to save their planet, in Seychelles the eco-friendly island of La Digue has seen the arrival of two big diesel generators that have been plunked right in the centre of the commercial side of the island and just next door to tourism establishments and just a stone through to the beach.

La Digue has for many years been seen or pushed as the eco-friendly island of Seychelles. Policies and new regulations implemented are said to be guiding the island towards sustainable tourism though with major areas of concern for the Diguois islanders and in achievable outcome.

A test case on the island and for the island is the arrival on La Digue of two big electricity generators plucked right in the commercial heart of the island after the electricity underwater cable from Praslin was damaged right in the middle of the 15th August festivities. For obvious reasons the easiest temporary area for placing the generators were at ‘Dan Goulo’ because of the feeder cable from Praslin. Today, a month later the temporary location is still the electricity power station for the island and this at a cost for every Diguois.

Guests from hotels and restaurants next door are walking with their feet to show that this is not the La Digue they booked. But sadly the easiest course of action is to let everyone get used to the electricity power station instead of moving the generators where they would not be seen and heard and the obvious place on La Digue is close to the dump site at L’Union Estate. Should it have taken so long?

PUC Staff at La Digue

The staff at the power station are doing their job with total satisfaction and are devoted to providing power to the island. Generators are operated based on the load factor required before the second machine is put in service. Today an estimated 6000 litters of diesel old is being burned daily by the new La Digue generators.

Power surges

Consumers on La Digue are facing surges in the power supply and many electrical equipment are just unable to cope and the consequences of these regular power surges and are breaking down. A walk around La Digue will alert everyone that the situation on the island needs attention and the Diguois islanders need to be heard and assisted today and not tomorrow. Breaking down of electrical equipment is an added cost burden for households and for local businesses.

Seychelles should not allow itself to get used to the ‘status quo’ on La Digue because this is dangerous for the long term survival of the island’s economy.

It is important to again 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.