The Editorial this week highlights:- a. my presence at WTM 2018. b. African Tourism Board enhances tourism through Public-Private Partnerships. c.Travel Weekly announces the “Eight African & Middle Eastern Tourism Hotspots Not To Be Missed” (Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Comoros & Mayotte misses out). d. Meeting the South Africa representatives during Festival Kreol 2018 . e. Port Authority takes a hit from Praslin. f. Innovative Financing for Healthy Oceans – Seychelles must walk the talk. Stand alone articles this week:- 1. Alain St.Ange lends expertise to African Tourism Board as reported on World News / Travel News Wire. 2. Juergen Steinmetz, the ICTP Chair and eTN Publisher on African Tourism Board. 3. “Oscars” of the travel industry brings excellence to African Tourism Board. 4. Key Tourism personalities join African Tourism Board. 5. The future of boutique hotels is making news – Seychelles leads in this category on the world stage with exceptional properties. 6. Sega Dance Competition in Seychelles puts culture in middle of tourism entertainment. 7. Dar & Douce Self Catering Apartments Au Cap. 8. Air France – Would Benjamin Smith want the end of the last born of the band?. 9. Reunion Island’s new “Didier Robert Highway” cannot come too soon. 10. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2018: Night of Glamour and Fast Cars. 11. Seychelles launches Levasseur Rum – already hitting European market with Dugas Collection. 12. Seychelles biggest Acoustics concert at Eden Plaza on the 1st December 2018 featuring 5 of the top names of the Seychelles Music. 13. Seychelles, Ikaria, Greece. 14. Glorieuse Island – The Untold story. 15. Seychelles Ambassador Nominated to the Board of the World’s Largest Climate Fund. 16. Mombasa’s Moi International Airport to go solar. 17. Vatel opens its doors in Rodrigues. 18. Iconic historical landmark reopens its doors to visitors in Victoria. 19. Seychelles Tourism Board Chief Executive with key stakeholders in Reunion to reinforce existing mutual agreements. 20. Minister Annick Girardin of France in Reunion. 21. Announcing the World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council Finalists. 22. Tanzania Chumbe Island Coral Reef Sanctuary wins Global Ocean Refuge Award. 23. Palau Island plans sunscreen ban to save coral. 24. International Newswires continue to republish our Report.
Welcome to this latest edition of the Saint Ange Tourism Report (Edition 44 of the 5 November 2018 )which is coming to you from London where I am attending World Travel Market (WTM) 2018 alongside the African Tourism Board and also this year’s International Travel Crisis Management Summit at The Royal Institution. I will also be attending the 7th Aligned Advocacy Dinner of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) right at the Great George Street at Westminster.
Tourism remains the people’s industry it has always been and my continued invitation to such tourism and travel trade events confirms the spirit of togetherness and the bond of friendship that exists in the industry.
African Tourism Board enhances tourism through Public-Private Partnerships
In partnership with public and private sector members, the African Tourism Board (ATB) enhances the sustainable growth, value, and quality of travel and tourism in Africa. It provides leadership and counsel on an individual and collective basis to its member organizations.
Today during WTM 2018, the Association is expanding on opportunities for marketing, public relations, investments, branding, promoting, and establishing niche markets, and new board members who have been joining the organization will all meet. At this afternoon’s meeting 200 top tourism leaders, including ministers from many African countries, as well as Dr. Taleb Rifai, former UNWTO Secretary General, are scheduled to attend the event at WTM.
Travel Weekly announces the “Eight African & Middle Eastern Tourism Hotspots Not To Be Missed” (Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Comoros & Mayotte misses out)
Africa is a destination you could holiday in every year and still only scrape the surface of what this incredible continent has to offer. From mountains to rainforests, sand dunes and ancient wonders, there really is something for every traveller. But don’t let that get you overwhelmed. To keep any of your anxieties at bay about missing a must-see destination in Africa, Travel Weekly has done the hard work to find the Top 10 Travel Hotspots in Africa. That’s right, we’ve done the Googling, now all you need to do is book.
Where are the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands of Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Comoros & Mayotte?. Their visibility strategy may need revisiting.
Check out the top picks here.
1. Petra, Jordan
Often referred to as the “Rose City”, Petra is a 2,000-year-old network of handmade caves, temples, and tombs that interwoven into the side of a blushing pink sandstone cliff face.
This historic site cannot be missed.
2. Giraffe Manor, Kenya
Have you ever been to a zoo and felt the giraffes were a little too enclosed for your liking? We have found a solution. Introducing Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya; a redbrick mansion with roaming giraffes guests are able to feed from the comfort of their own room. There is no other hotel in the world like it.
3. The Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls is located at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi River. A truly breathtaking natural wonder, getting up close and personal with The Falls is an experience that will stay with you long after your clothes dry off.
4. Fez, Morocco
Ok, we admit, we’re cheating a little with this one, as it’s less of a hotspot than an entire city that travellers cannot get enough of. Situated in the northeast of the country, Fez is the spiritual mecca of Morocco, brimming with temples, markets, and steeped in history; oh, and did we mention it boasts the largest car-free urban area?
5. The Nile
Ok, we’re cheating a little here again, but it is simply impossible to write an African hotspots article without including the lifeblood of northern Africa. Stretching more than 6,680kms from Uganda to Egypt, The Nile is the longest river in the world, winding through cosmopolitan cities, arid desserts and balmy rainforests. You might not be able to see the whole thing in one go, but you can always travel back again.
6. Abu Dhabi
Ok, probably our biggest cheat of all, another entire city. But as a city bustling with life, history, culture and food, it really was hard for us to pick one particular part of Abu Dhabi. As the wealthiest city in the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi does not shy away from excess. From skyscrapers to palaces, stunning mangroves and a Meditteranean-like climate, this city is not only a hotspot travel spot; it’s a bucket list destination.
7. Fish river canyon, Namibia
The Fish River Canyon, located in the south of Namibia, is the largest canyon in Africa. Whether you’re a sucker for hiking, lookouts, extreme mars-like environments or simply want to immerse yourself in nature, Fish River Canyon is not to be missed.
8. Simien Mountains National Park
Walk through Unesco World Heritage-listed Simien Mountains National Park and find yourself feeling otherworldly. As one of the most beautiful ranges in Africa, the Simien Mountains National Park is home to plateaus, gullies, pinnacles ample trekking options and gelada monkeys. Whether you come for a wander or a two-week trek, the Simiens make a great companion to the historical circuit’s monument-viewing. Are you just about ready to jump on a flight to Africa to check out these incredible sites? There’s one tour company that offers trips to every single destination on this list.
Source: travelweekly.com.au
Meeting the South Africa representatives during Festival Kreol 2018
Minister Nathi Mthethwa, Minister of Arts and Culture & Ruma Matibe, Director International Relations, Department of Arts and Culture.
Seychelles and South Africa have had long lasting relationships and it was a pleasure to meet the Head responsible for Culture as he was in Seychelles for the last Festival Kreol. Such interactions helps to exchange ideas and to continue to learn from one another. South Africa was well represented this year with Minister Nathi Mthethwa, the Minister of Arts and Culture accompanied by Ruma Matibe, the Director International Relations at the Department of Arts and Culture leading the delegation.
I worked closely in the past with Minister Derek Hanekom, South Africa’s Minister for Tourism and know that the two countries can move mountains when Government Officials meet to find common points of interest that will benefit their country and people.
Port Authority takes a hit from Praslin
The Praslin Business Association took their issue of a Cruise Ship that arrived at Praslin and after inspecting landing facilities pulled up their anchor and left. An extract of the communication by the association says:- “Last month the Ports Authority called on PBA to present its members with their vision of the new Ferry Terminal. This month the Cruise ship season opened and Cruise Ship BOUDICCA chose Praslin as a designated stop. The Captain of the luxury cruise liner sent a tender to the Seychelles Port Authority jetty at Baie St. Anne to confirm the condition of the berthing. They determined that the facilities for landing were wholly inadequate and they reported this to the Captain. They Captain decided to leave and guests aboard the luxury liner did not step foot on Praslin”.
This incident is of course serious and a let down for the island of Praslin as a whole. The itinerary of the Cruise Ship was known and the landing pontoon should have been put in good order. Loss of earnings by so many on Praslin when they had dropped so many other jobs to make themselves available for the arrival of this cruise ship.
Innovative Financing for Healthy Oceans – Seychelles must walk the talk
The World Bank rightly issued notices on this innovative process and the new Blue Bonds made news a bit everywhere. They said “Healthy oceans provide jobs and food, sustain economic growth, regulate the climate, and support the well-being of coastal communities.The Seychelles government announced the launch of the world’s first sovereign blue bond which will be used to help finance the island nation’s transition to sustainable fisheries and the protection of marine areas. The blue bond, as well as the program of marine and ocean-related activities it will support, was prepared with assistance from the World Bank Group (and the Global Environment Facility (GEF)”.
Today a feel good factor has surfaced and Seychelles needs to live up to the declarations it makes. Seychelles must walk the talk. Questions arising is Sustainable Oceans and the protection of marine areas and a Military Base with a foreign power able to go hand in hand. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aldabra or example is but some twenty miles from the proposed military base of Assumption Island. Recent reports showed baby dungeons (sea cows) are now back in that lagoon. Now nuclear submarines may be parading alongside them as warships pass overhead.
The success of the blue bonds is to see the commitment for Seychelles to remain serious to its environment image of a country wanting to see a sustainability approach of its territory today and tomorrow. This is not by having a military base on the doorstep of it UNESCO World Heritage Site and on an island that prides itself as having the best in underwater world scenes.
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.
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