VP and minister meet tourism business operators on Praslin |09 February 2017

Vice-President Vincent Meriton chaired a meeting with various tourism business owners on Praslin last Friday.

This meeting was a follow up to the first multi-sectoral meeting held on Mahé where business owners were given the opportunity to address issues affecting the tourism industry.

Present for the meeting were the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Maurice Loustau-LaLanne, the principal secretary (PS) for tourism Anne Lafortune, PS for civil aviation, ports and marine, Garry Albert and PS in the Office of the Vice-President Alain Volcère as well as representatives from the Fair Trading Commission (FTC).

The Praslin business association was represented by owners of boat charters, artists, taxis, tour guides, police, ferry and the seafarers association.

Among the main topics discussed were incidents involving visitors where it was stated that despite the decrease in the number of crimes recorded in 2016, a sudden surge in the month of January 2017 has been reported to which offenders are becoming more sophisticated and aggressive in the manner that they are committing these crimes. The ministry also expressed concerns regarding the operation of illegal boat charters, tour guides and excursions to which the vice-president stated that in order to put a stop to all illegal practices, both the public and private sectors should work together to find an appropriate solution to tackle the issue. It was hence agreed to relook and amend relevant policies and reinforce monitoring strategies.

Other issues highlighted were the need for installation of public toilets on beaches, demarcation of trails to better assist tourists who go on these paths as well as the situation where hotels are unwilling to work with small businesses.

“This meeting is important, the discussion made showed where we can improve our industry and then agreed on what should be done,” said Vice-President Meriton.

It was decided that the group will meet again in one month.

After the meeting the vice-president, accompanied by Minister Loustau-Lalanne and the principal secretaries visited the wife of Norbert Franz Fleischmann, the 58-year-old German national who has gone missing since January 28, 2017.

Vice-President Meriton conveyed his sincere support and that of the President of the Republic of Seychelles Danny Faure in her moment of worry.

Minister Loustau-Lalanne extended the full support and assistance of the ministry in any way possible to the Fleischmann family.