Seychelles at ITM tourism trade fair and Vanilla Islands ministers' meeting |10 June 2016

Senior Seychelles tourism consultant, Glynn Burridge, travelled to Madagascar on June 1, 2016 to represent Seychelles' Minister for Tourism & Culture, Alain St Ange, at a special ministers' meeting of the Vanilla Islands.

The island grouping comprises Madagascar, Mauritius, La Reunion, Mayotte, Comoros and Seychelles.

He was accompanied on his mission by the deputy chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), Natalie Didon and the tourism board's representative in La Reunion, Bernadette Honore, who were both attending the ITM tourism trade fair at the Carlton Hotel in the capital Antananarivo.

On the evening of his arrival, Mr Burridge attended a working dinner of the Vanilla Island heads including Madagascar's Minister for Tourism, Roland Ratsiraka; La Reunion Island's Vice-President, Daniele Le Norman; the chief executive of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands, Pascal Viroleau; Mauritius island tourism's Devendra Babooa; Mayotte's Vice-President of tourism and the executive  director of Comoros tourism.

At the dinner, the future of the cruise ship industry linking the Vanilla Islands was discussed as well as measures intended to strengthen the union of member states and their connectivity.

At the meeting, it was agreed that the cruise ship industry was the most efficient vehicle for making the Vanilla Islands brand resonate but that all efforts should be made to bring regional airlines on board and to boost the eventual possibility of broad inter-island travel via a special Vanilla Islands travel card. 

Other matters discussed included the future security of the western Indian Ocean and increased collaboration between partner states. 

The following morning, Mr Burridge attended the official opening of the ITM attended by the President of Madagascar, local dignitaries and members of the diplomatic corps before joining the rest of the Seychelles delegation at the ITM stand for a full and successful day of business selling the destination in conjunction with the Air Seychelles delegation consisting of Brigitte Esparon and Jenilee Alvis.

On Friday June 3, the Vanilla Island principals were flown to the historical and touristic site of Isle Ste Marie in north eastern Madagascar prior to their return to their respective countries over the weekend.