Saint Ange Tourism Report Ed #26 of Vol #3 Monday 12th August 2019

Praslin and La Digue Islands will see new challenges soon if landing fee proposals become a reality. So many islanders will feel the repercussions of this added cost set to be a burden on all visitors to these islands. This is being seen as a way for Government to take a greater share of the tourism dollar that could otherwise trickle down to those working and living on tourism on these islands.

Tourism can continue to boost employment and it can continue to help to strengthen the Seychelles economy, but this will happen only when tourism is allowed to grow and for the Seychellois as a people to be able to work to consolidate it. The motive behind any political drive to further tax the tourism industry could be seen as a way to help the struggling State Coffers facing the islands today, but the time to think outside the box is now so important. The time is to restructure the Government Institutions and diminish costs being paid for at the end of the day by the tourism industry. Government and the country will not realise its tourism potential by only pushing cost upwards, this may have an adverse effect when eventually we see that we have priced Seychelles out of the market.

Herve Anthony,  a resident of La Misere was born on 1st February 1966. He studied at La Misere Primary School, Seychelles College, NYS and Seychelles Polytechnic.

After his studies, Herve joined the Land Transport Division and later worked at PUC. He was also a DJ for a number of years. Herve Anthony was the President for the Seychelles  Boxing  Federation and Vice President for African Boxing Federation and Zone 4 of the World of Boxing.

He was also the Vice Presidential candidate for PDM in the 2016 elections.

Herve Anthony is currently  the Vice President for Seychelles Labour Unionas well as an Executive Committee Member of the newly formed political party,  One Seychelles.

On a Friday but a couple of weeks ago I travelled to Praslin Island on the 4.30 Cat Cocos fast ferry and enjoyed for the full hour the company of Allen Ernesta. We both stood outside the Wheelhouse enjoying the fresh air and the surprising calm seas after the rather rough spell on the previous days. We chatted about the arts and Seychelles. Little could have prepared me for the news the following Tuesday morning when I learnt with sadness of his passing. A great and talented Seychellois Islander. An artist who dedicated time and energy to get more young Seychellois to follow their passion. On behalf of the Saint Ange Tourism Report we express our sincere sympathy to his family and to his many friends.

From eTN News:- At the ongoing World Tourism Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa,  African Tourism Board president Alain St. Ange was honored with the IIPT Change Maker in Tourism Award for Africa,  The award was presented by the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT).

St. Ange attended the World Tourism Conference and spoke at a panel entitled “How to Plan for Resiliency” The African Tourism Board had formed a rapid response team for travel and tourism under the leadership of Dr. Peter Tarlow of safertourism.com. African Tourism Board includes access to crisis responses as a benefit for their members. ATB recently assisted Uganda during a crisis and is working with Global Rescue on an African coverage plan for tourists.

Commenting on the award,  IIPT Founder and President Lou D’Amore told eTN:  “IIPT is most proud to announce that Alain St. Ange has been named the recipient of the IIPT Change Maker in Tourism Award for Africa.

As Minister of Tourism and Culture for Seychelles, St. Ange conceived the “Carnaval International de Victoria” bringing nations from around the world together to parade their cultures in a manner that globally promoted values of understanding and multiculturalism and increasing visitor arrivals year-on-year by 12% to Seychelles.”

D’Amore continued to explain: “This award will be awarded to the individual who has made a significant change towards tourism either from within or outside the travel sector. An individual who has gone beyond the call of duty and spear-headed a new idea or product that brings change to the tourism industry in Africa.”

The World Tourism Conference is organized by the  New York-based African Travel Association. African Tourism Board is a partner in the event.

eTurboNews is a media partner with the African Travel Association and the African Tourism Board

It was evident after all the deliberations that African tourism can play a significant role in the economic development of countries on the continent, while also battling to save one of its most precious natural resources, wildlife. There are clear needs for the countries on the continent to embrace crisis preparedness, despite the frequency of events, countries must learn to systemically plan as well as develop long term strategies for destination diversification, ending wildlife crime and addressing the impacts of climate change to ensure sustainable economic growth. The summit also highlighted issues for consideration and action, starting with understanding crisis management and preparedness, the value of tourism as an economic driver, the connection between tourism and conservation and finally addressing the “continental blur”. Not everything that happens on the continent, happens in each of the 54 countries.

Dr. Taleb Rifai, Co-Chair, Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, Chairman, Resilience Council, former Secretary General, UNWTO were together with Gillian Saunders of Gillian Saunders Consultancy in a very informative session. I was on the panel SECURITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT – how to plan for resiliency with Dr Lee Miles,  Simon Hardern, CEO, Kenyon International Emergency Services and Magcino Gule, Sr. Manager, Travel Sure, Old Mutual Limited.

This panel discussion looked at what constitutes a crisis, how to prepare for it and what are the essential things to know when in Africa? One thing everyone agreed upon when talking about preparedness is that planning is essential. Drafting a plan is the result of the exercise but the actual planning and training are the critical ingredients, on the continent it is a bottom up process. With various types of crisis from man-made to natural disasters, what are the key elements to ensuring a country or a business are ready for when they are confronted by crisis? Are governments connecting the dots?

From Official Press Reports:- 

All is set for the third edition of the International Conference on Business Tourism and Exhibition holding this month in Winnipeg, Canada. The conference will hold this month from the 18th to the 20th at Canad Inns Destination Centre, Polo Park, Winnipeg, Canada.

According to the organisers of the conference, plans have reached an advance stage for the three-day event.

This year’s theme is: ‘ Precision and Performance: Key factor in sustaining tourism business’.   The MICE show will host trade buyers and sellers through different meetings.

According to the organisers and Managing Partner, Travellinks Holiday and Education Services, Canada, Mr Gbenga Oluboye, “We are expecting captains of the industries in the allied tourism sector from Nigeria and other African countries to participate in the conference.”

The organisers revealed that one of those experts that will be attending the MICE show include Alain St, Ange; former Seychelles Minister for Tourism; Civil Aviation; Ports and Marine and authority in global tourism outlooks and projections.

Seychelles and its proposed military base – does it go with the Blue Economy?

The recent meeting between President Danny Faure and the NGO Preserve Seychelles has shown different take from the same meeting. The NGO Preserve Seychelles fighting for the islands to remain true to its environment protection engagements and for Seychelles to remain friends of all and enemy of none have posted disagreements with the account published by Official Sources after the meeting.

Preserve Seychelles writes:-

“The ‘Preserve Seychelles’ Executive Committee and its members are extremely disappointed by the press statement dated 07 August 2019 from the Office of the President. This statement followed a meeting with the President on Tuesday 6th August 2019. The Chairman of Preserve Seychelles, Mr Terry Sandapin, presented the President with a copy of the Association’s Constitution and an original copy of the report on the fact finding mission to the Islands of Astove and Assomption on 21st July 2019.

The report contains the reality on the ground on both Astove and Assomption and other observation by the three men delegation from ‘Preserve Seychelles’. ‘Preserve Seychelles’ had also included several recommendations in the said report.

However, it is now clear that the President has not taken any of our recommendations into consideration and he has decided to press on with the construction of military facilities on Assomption Island, which is stated in his press release dated 07 August 2019 (copy enclosed). ‘Preserve Seychelles’ is totally against the construction of military facilities of any nature on Assomption Island. We had recommended a coast guard observation post on Astove Island to be manned by a small team of Seychelles coast guard officers.

It is now clear that the President will go to any length to have military facilities on Assomption Island, and this should also be made clear to the President and everyone concerned, that ‘Preserve Seychelles’ will exhaust all possible avenues to ensure that this does not and will never happen!

In the spirit of transparency and clarity, ‘Preserve Seychelles’, will be holding a Press Conference in the coming days to present the report officially to the media and the public at large, as well as answer any questions that might arise!”

We have been able to get series of photos of a Whale Shark accidentally killed by a visiting warship. This shows the vulnerability of our flora and fauna. As a country saying it is spearheading the Blue Economy Concept is it serious when Seychelles is looking at a military base on the door step of Aldabra, the UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Preserve Seychelles is made up of patriotic Seychellois and friends of the cause who stood protesting in Victoria week after week when Seychelles was hell bent of giving its Assumption Island away. Today the same protest call is heard in every household across the islands and the Seychellois Islanders want to be remembered as good custodians of what we have been blessed with.

Nothing should be committed by Seychelles until the next Presidential elections are held. The People of Seychelles must have a say, and they will speak through the ballot box. I can confirm that “One Seychelles” as a Politically Party totally rejects the construction of any Military Base on Assumption Island, and that we will be working alongside Seychellois Islanders to withdraw from any agreement made for a military base, and will dismantle any military facility that will hurt our island’s ecofriendly stand and push us to take sides in Super Powers superiority agenda.

Culture will be taking centre stage at La Digue for 15th August Celebrations