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Seychelles hosts two-day conference on sustainable tourism in Sids |27 November 2017

 

 

 

 

Tourism professionals, academics and practitioners from Seychelles and other small island developing states (Sids) discussed an integrated practical approach to sustainable tourism in Sids.

The two-day conference which took place at the University of Seychelles (UniSey) in the framework of the 2017 UN International Year for Sustainable Tourism for Development, was organised by the Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Foundation (SSTF) in cooperation with the tourism and cultural heritage department of UniSey, the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas’ Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPAS group), the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Paris Tourism Sorbonne Institute of Research and Higher Education in Tourism (IREST).

Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne officially opened the conference on Thursday in the presence of the Vice-President Vincent Meriton, local and international tourism professionals from the public and private sector, non-governmental organisations involved in tourism, academics and students.

The programme focused on four main areas of two major topics being sustainable tourism in protected areas and tourism’s social responsibility and cultural protection in Sids.

Following the two days of deliberations, those who took part indulged in visits to Cousin island special reserve, Cerf Island, Sainte Anne marine national park and Constance Ephelia Resort.

The delegates were from Germany, Tanzania, South Africa, Sao Tomé and Principe, Micronesia, Guam, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Egypt, Antigua, Kenya, Botswana, Aruba, France, India, Seychelles and a few others.

He stated that 15 tourism establishments are already operating with our Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Label (SSTL) model.

“The SSTL is a sustainable tourism management and certification programme designed specifically for use in Seychelles. It is voluntary, user-friendly, and designed to inspire more efficient and sustainable ways of doing business. The SSTL is presently applicable to hotels of all sizes and encourages all tourism-related businesses to mainstream sustainable practices into their business models,” he said.

He also made reference to the establishment of solar powered centres and nodes that  would become a valuable focal point for subsequent research and action to link issues like coastal protection, greenhouse gas reduction and impact-travel, with access to world class experts in encouraging long-term green growth and travelism as well as tourism and natural capital assessment.

“This will work alongside our own SSTL to provide Seychelles with instant access to a worldwide network of such centres and the extraordinary opportunities for learning and intervention they provide, making our islands part of a worldwide partnership against climate change and advocating responsible travel and sustainable tourism,” he said.

Minister Loustau-Lalanne said Seychelles will be far better off when our economy, people and environment embrace further our tourism industry. 

“Together we want to create a world-leading example of a truly sustainable tourism industry that will make a positive long term contribution to Seychelles,” he said.

In his keynote address, the chief executive of GSTC Randy Durband spoke about the global trends in the sustainable tourism development and the role of standards and certification.

Mr Durband said as GSTC is the keeper of global baseline standards for sustainability and travel in tourism, they wanted to give the global view of sustainable tourism.

“A year or two ago Seychelles got what we call GSTC recognition where our technical people look at the standards they use certify that the Seychelles standards are adhered to the global standards, so the ministry is very much in tuned with what we are doing,” he said.

He also presented some very new developments; now that they accredit certification bodies they have the ability to help industry players globally in sustainable procurement to select suppliers that are certified sustainable to their frame work.

 

 

 

 

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