The Editorial this week highlights:- a. Leaving for WTTC Summit where US former President Barack Obama will be delivering the Key Note Address. b. President Danny Faure on Official visit to Saudi Arabia. c. Influential Press Delegation lands in Seychelles. d. Coco de Mer seedling should be grown everywhere. e. Patrick Victor launches latest music CD. f. This is the time when Seychelles staged its “Carnaval International de Victoria” . g. Big Tuna caught by Michael Mason – just short of a National Record. h. Adieu Bernadette Saint Ange. Stand alone articles this week:- 1. Indian Ocean Lodge of Praslin. 2. Domaine de L’Orangeraie of La Digue. 3. Village du Pecheur of Praslin scores on all three Ps . 4. Reunion Island reports a new visitor record for 2018. 5.”A look back at Seychelles’ 6 most recent carnivals. 6. VoyagesAfriq’s Kojo Bentum-Williams joins UNWTO. 7. Seychelles recognised as the world’s most beautiful island at GQ Travel Award Russia. 8.Wine Tasting evening at Hilton Northolme – a success. 9. Seychelles participates to 23rd Edition of Borsa Mediterranea del Turismo, in Naples, Italy . 10. Ethiopian Airlines named ‘African Champion’ . 11. Mid year delivery for Air Seychelles’ first Airbus A320NEO. 12. ‘Seychelles Discovered Roadshow’ marches north in the UK. 13. Sex and Scum Banknotes: Seychelles Rupees . 14. A must attend event during World Travel Market Africa. 15. Closing Notes.
Alain St.Ange
This issue of our Weekly Tourism Report is being issued as I leave Seychelles for Seville in Spain to participate in this year’s WTTC Summit where US former President Barack Obama will be delivering the Key Note Address. WTTC remains the biggest grouping of the tourism industry’s private sector trade and they continue to guide the way forward for a healthier tourism industry. I am this year a delegate in my private capacity as Saint Ange Tourism consultancy and look to working closely with WTTC’s President CEO Gloria Guevara Manzo.
USA’s former President Barack Obama &
WTTC President CEO Gloria Guevara Manzo & Alain St.Ange
President Danny Faure on Official visit to Saudi Arabia
Official message from State House
Seychelles has seen a lot during this last week starting with President Danny Faure making an Official visit to Saudi Arabia accompanied by a top ranking delegation. This visit was announced by State House as well as by all Media Houses in Seychelles.
Influential Press Delegation lands in Seychelles
Kojo Bentum-Williams, Wolfgang Thome and Abeiku Santana Aggrey being greeted by Tourism Board Marketing Representatives
Meeting the visiting Press Delegation this morning at Coral Strand Hotel
The drive for increased visibility by Seychelles has seen a positive move in collaboration with Air Seychelles, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways. The six person group coming from Uganda, Ghana, South Africa and Kenya arrived in Seychelles on Sunday for a few days of discovery of the island’s latest tourism developments. This initiative is a good one because Seychelles, like any other tourism dependant country needs visibility if it is to remain relevant in the world of tourism. This team coming from Africa can only help Seychelles because it is common knowledge that for African destinations the biggest growth potential is from the African Continent itself and the more Africa knows of the Seychelles, the more the islands can benefit from tourism potential from this continent. Three airlines of the region:- Air Seychelles, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways keeps the islands .
Most of the six members of this visiting press group are friends of Seychelles, and they have been known for years to many of us. Let us ensure they all appreciate what we have as key USPs, and what we are doing to consolidate our tourism industry.
We wish this visiting press delegation a fruitful and enjoyable visit.
Coco de Mer seedling should be grown everywhere
Coco de Mer Seedling planted
at the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) in 2015
The Coco de Mer seedling planted in 2015
A unique and endemic plant of the Seychelles is the Coco de Mer. The world’s heaviest nut and known for the erotic shape of the female nut. A natural wonder some may say that remains an attraction for the Island of Praslin where it grows.
Botanical Gardens in Mont Fleuri has a number of these endemic trees and many private properties have also managed to grow some Coco de Mer trees. Is it enough or should we be propagating these endemic trees in Seychelles?
In 2015 on the occasion of the Official Opening of the Pioneer’s Park at the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) at La Misere I was lucky to be one of the those who planted a Coco de Mer seedling on the campus where our students learn about tourism and this includes the Unique Selling Points (USPs) of the country. Four years later some of the planted seedlings are doing well and can already be appreciated by the hundreds of students on site. The Coco de Mer remains a key USP of the Seychelles and often the question is raised as to why it is not more seen growing around the islands. Victoria, the Capital of the Seychelles does not have even a Coco de Mer tree (apart from the grounds of State House where some trees do exist).
Should Seychellois be encouraged to grow the Coco de Mer tree and should key State Buildings and other such establishments have such trees in their gardens?
Patrick Victor launches latest music CD
Patrick Victor as he offers me a copy of his latest music CD
Patrick Victor is a Seychelles musical icon and he is respected right across the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands. Patrick Victor has just issued a new Music CD “Mon Patri” with many of his long time favourites and also the “Karnaval de Karnaval” song of 2011 which Patrick Victor credits me as having Commissioned it. As he sent me the photo when he gave me his latest Music CD, Patrick writes:- “The Man Who Inspired The CARNAVAL SONG And The Artist Who Wrote It – A chance “Meet” In VICTORIA. ,WHERE IT WAS PERFORMED FOR THE FIRST TIME”
Today I can vouch that this latest Music CD by Patrick Victor is indeed a great addition to our Creole Music Collection.
Well done Patrick Victor – proud of you.
This is the time when Seychelles staged its
“Carnaval International de Victoria”
Uniden Digital Camera
“At the forefront of Seychelles’ push to increase awareness is the Seychelles Tourism Board, headed by the indefatigable yet easygoing Alain St Ange”
ETB Travel News
Carnaval in Seychelles
Seychelles Carnaval Book issued after the first edition of 2011
For six consecutive years Seychelles staged the “Carnaval International de Victoria”, a carnival for the world of carnivals aptly called the Carnival of Carnavals. This event stated in 2011 and managed in the short space of time to be listed amongst the best carnivals because it was different as it attracted all the best and most popular carnivals of the world to parade together in Victoria, the World’s Smallest Capital. Friends like Dr Claire Holder, the Chief Executive of the Notting Hill Carnival of the UK was always on our side and introduced initially to our carnival project by the British High Commission. Dr Rolf Herpens of the Dusseldorf Carnival of Germany as well as Danniel Okamoto the head of the Brazilian Carnival Team were also supportive as well as Nico Barito who managed year after year to get the Indonesian Carnival on board and MTPA of Mauritius who came out to show the ability of islanders in carnival mode. Support for this unique event was received from everywhere and President Didier Robert of Reunion was the sincere partner we could always count on. A co-host they showcased their island to an audience and press as if they were at a tourism trade fair. Africa, the Vanilla Islands, Europe, Asia, Australasia, the USA all flew their flags in a event that is still making positive news today in the four corners of the world.
Big Tuna caught by Michael Mason – just short of a National Record
95 kg Yellow Fin Tuna caught by Michael Mason
Michael Mason Junior is a great fisherman and last week he was overjoyed when he caught a big yellow fin tuna on one of his fishing trips. The yellow fin tuna Michael caught weighed in at 95 Kgs, just 5 Kgs short of the Seychelles National record.
Seychelles continues to be a fisherman’s paradise. Great catches on a day out fishing is the norm. Well done Michael – great catch.
Adieu Bernadette Saint Ange
Bernadette Saint Ange
Cousins:- Alain, Rita, Amy & Donald catching up after the funeral
Last week, Bernadette Saint Ange left us, after what proved to be a very short period of illness. Bernadette leaves behind Philip Hoareau, her husband of 40 years and seven children:- Selma, Aubrey, Maxime, Bernard, Nicholas, Frederick and Richard.
She also left behind two brothers and two sisters:- Rita and Charles who live in Seychelles, as well as Donald now residing in Canada and Amy residing in Dubai. They all joined together with all their children and grand children to bid Bernadette farewell at the Anse Aux Pins Church on the 21st. March.
Rosina, mother of Bernadette and my own grandfather Kersley, are brother and sister coming from a family of ten. Their parents, Charles Samuel Saint Ange and Marie Antoinette Saint Ange (nee Simeon) are the forebearers of the Seychelles Saint Ange family, and are the blood ties that bind our family.
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.
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