Minister calls for unity among tourism fraternity |03 January 2015

The Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange has appealed for togetherness to surmount the challenges facing the tourism industry.
"As I appeal for togetherness among tourism operators in Seychelles, I also tell my colleagues working through the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) that it is more important today than it was last year for us to work together to review challenges we face as an industry,” says Minister St Ange in his new year message.

Minister St Ange issued a Facebook Message wishing the tourism operators in Seychelles a Happy New Year and he then used International Online Press to wish the World of Tourism in the Community of Nations a Happy New Year.

The Seychelles minister has thanked the team Members of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Seychelles Tourism Board, the Seychelles Tourism Academy, the National Arts Council, the Seychelles Heritage Foundation and the International Creole Institute for their support and for the dedication in their work.

In his message to the World of Tourism, Minister St Ange appealed for togetherness if we are to surmount the challenges facing the tourism industry. "As I appeal for togetherness among tourism operators in Seychelles, I also tell my colleagues working through the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) that it is more important today than it was last year for us to work together to review challenges we face as an industry. Let us look at security issues, let us look at the ongoing challenges of air access, let us look at encouraging the concept of sustainable tourism," said Minister St Ange.
His message spells the need for regional cooperation as much as he impresses the need for international cooperation.

"We need to be promoting our industry and we need to be ironing out the challenges we face. This is as much domestically for us in Seychelles as it is for the World of Tourism in the Community of Nations," Minister St Ange said.

He welcomed the ‘I Love Seychelles’ 2015 national theme that has been declared by the island's President James Michel.
"We need ourselves to love our country first, then together we can join forces to convince tour operators, travel agents and the potential holiday makers to love Seychelles as the tourism destination of choice," St Ange said.

"Tourism remains a people's industry and this implies that the people need to unite for the cause first. Yes we have launched the first cross sectorial ministerial meeting to re-look at the challenges the Seychelles tourism industry was facing, but that is just a start. We also need to work together for the industry," the minister said.

President Michel has dedicated the year 2015 to the theme ‘I Love Seychelles’, which on his part he said is a highly inspirational theme that appeals to the patriotism of all Seychellois and their love for the motherland.