Seychelles and India’s tourism ministers address seminar on new initiatives in travel |09 August 2014

Seychelles and India’s ministers responsible for tourism have addressed the PATWA (Pacific Area Travel Writers Association) international seminar on new initiatives in travel.

India’s Tourism and Culture Minister Shri Shripad Yesso Naik and his Seychellois counterpart Alain St Ange joined Sagar Ahluwalia, the secretary general of PATWA, as the main speakers at the international seminar. Minister Naik and Minister St Ange presented to a full house of tour operators and hospitality operators their respective countries’ approach to tourism.

This international seminar was the first official function for the Indian minister since assuming office following Prime Minister Modi's electoral victory at the last general elections in India.

Last Saturday's international seminar was also the first opportunity for Minister Naik to meet his Seychellois counterpart.  
Minister St Ange of Seychelles told the press that he had been eager to meet Minister Naik as he was hoping to join forces with India to promote south-south cooperation.

Minister Naik used his address in front of an important gathering of Indian  tourism players to spell out his government's new approach to tourism as he emphasised his personal drive to get the region moving and the tourism industry of India revitalised.

On his part Minister St Ange delivered an off-the-cuff address retracing the new tourism approach of Seychelles, the country where tourism remains the pillar of its economy.  

The Seychelles minister spoke about the island's drive to get the Seychellois population more involved in their tourism industry and to use culture as the base for the island's marketing.

"The Prime Minister of India spoke about his 5-T approach for tourism. Today I am happy to reassure you all that India and Seychelles share a joint vision because the Trade, Tourism, Tradition and Talent points of the 5-T approach correspond to the letter to the Seychelles approach where culture and the people of the islands are placed at the centre of the Seychelles tourism agenda. We are in India today to develop trade and this through the consolidation of our tourism industry. But to develop tourism we get our culture showcased, which is what Prime Minister Modi is referring to as Tradition, and for this to work we need to involve our people because they are those who remain the custodians of the island's culture. This step is what India is referring to as the T for Talent,” Minister St Ange said.

Minister St Ange, who was screening a promotional DVD of the Seychelles on large screen behind the top table and speaker's podium, used his address to emphasise the importance of tourism destinations to join the call by India and Seychelles to embrace culture in tourism marketing.

The screening of this DVD enabled the beauty of Seychelles to be clearly appreciated by members of the tourism fraternity who were present in large numbers for this international seminar.

Accompanying Minister St Ange on his official visit to India and to the PATWA international seminar were Sherin Naiken, the chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board; Benjamine Rose, the principal secretary for culture; Marco Francis, the chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce & Industry and a strong delegation of the Seychelles Indian Association.

Pascal Viroleau, the chief executive of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands regional organisation, as well as Waven William, the Seychelles high commissioner accredited to India were also present at the PATWA international seminar in Delhi.