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The Editorial this week highlights:- a. Costa Cruises announcement. b. collapse of Thomas Cook. c. South Africa  as a gentleman from South Africa is set to marry a lady from Kenya. d. Honoured to be listed in ‘Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities’ for the World of Tourism alongside Minister Najib Balala of Kenya,  Minister Edmund Bartlett of Jamaica & others at Akwaaba in Lagos. e. Tourism: Seychelles should be concerned after Costa Cruise’s withdrawal from the Indian Ocean . f. Congratulations to Jacinta Nzioko who will be appointed Director of Kenya Convention Bureau. g. IFTM in Paris 2019. h. New Seychelles Beer has been launched for Seychelles by Seychelles. i. Change is by example and not by opinion. Stand alone articles this week:- 1. Addressing the Tourism Conference in Nigeria .2. Tourism Operators – Mason’s Travel conscious of its role as good custodians of the environment. 3. Praslin – Minister Loustau-Lalanne visited Le Domaine de La Reserve and met with Mr Joe Albert. 4. A five star holiday to Seychelles for US $100 only . 5. Club Med transformation of Beachcomber Seychelles St. Anne Resort nearing completion. 6. Business Traveller Henley Index: Japan and Singapore top 2019 list of world’s most powerful passports Rankings:- Seychelles 24th. Mauritius 28th. 7. A MUST TO ATTEND Conference a day before World Travel Market (WTM) in London, 8.  Seychelles Tourism Board France rolls out its autumn-winter outdoor advertising campaign. 9. Africa: Akwaaba Travel Market, Linking Aviation To Tourism. 10. ‘Kokosye’ a Solo Exhibition by Seychellois Artist – Egbert Marday. 11. Seychellois Optometrist becomes first to gain laser surgery qualification. 12. Africa World Airlines Bags Best Passenger Experience Award. 13. Air Seychelles chooses Sri Lankan firm to maintain new Airbus A320neo. 14. Seychelles’ tropical ambience spreads in Durban’s shopping mall. 15. AKWAABA 2019: Networking: The Major Tool of Tourism Development 16. The Seychelles celebrates the 2nd edition of the Tourism Festival  17.Closing Notes.

Alain St.Ange

Welcome to this 30th edition of Vol 3 of the Saint Ange Tourism Report of 2019.
After the Nigeria Tourism Trade Fair and Conference, all eyes turned to Paris in France for IFTM, the Top Resa Tourism Trade Fair in the first days of October.
The Costa Cruises announcement that they were dropping the Indian Ocean Region which includes the Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Comoros and Mayotte preoccupied tourism operators, especially after all the push and support provided by the Region’s Vanilla Islands. The collapse of Thomas Cook was also a much discussed matter as the void they will create will need to be filled and any financial losses analysed. These challenges are only a sign of the volatility of the tourism industry and the need to always be conscious that it needs to be not just nurtured but also understood.

The recent drive against foreigners in South Africa has shocked many and reactions have come from far and wide. South Africa is nevertheless known for its welcoming approach and friendliness. At the AKWAABA 2019 Festival and Tourism Conference in Lagos Nigeria, a much needed reassurance of the South Africa we all knew and appreciated was displayed when a gentleman from South Africa happily informed everyone that he is set to marry a lady from Kenya before the end of the year. This coming together through tourism opened the doors for two tourism professionals to tie the knot. Both are respected and known tourism professionals in their own country and the Kenyan Tour Operator is making arrangements to move to South Africa where her partner and husband-to-be is a Hotelier and part of one of the largest Hotel Brands of the Country. They met through a tourism event a year ago and did not allow the recent troubles in South Africa distract them from their commitment towards each other. Tourism was the industry that brought them together and Nigeria the country that staged that tourism event. Today we can say Congratulations to the happy couple and from Seychelles we wish you both happiness.

Meeting the future couple at the AKWAABA 2019
“Together they will help bring their respective countries even closer together”
I consider myself lucky to have been seated alongside the South African and Kenyan couple and appreciated their commitment to do all they can to strengthen tourism not only in South Africa and Kenya but also Africa wide.
Honoured to be listed in ‘Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities’ for the World of Tourism alongside Minister Najib Balala of Kenya, Minister Edmund Bartlett of Jamaica & others at Akwaaba in Lagos
Alain St.Ange
makes the “Africa Travel 100 Global Tourism Personalities” list

As the Seychelles former Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine I was honoured to be listed in the “Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities” for the World of Tourism alongside Najib Balala, the Minister of Tourism of Kenya and Edmund Bartlett, the Tourism Minister of Jamaica and others by the African Travel and Tourism Industry at last week’s Akwaaba African Travel Market In Lagos.

The two Tourism Ministers and myself referred to as three top tourism personalities were honoured for our exemplary work and contribution to the growth of the tourism in Africa, in the Diaspora and in the World.

This award was given after the First African Tourism Diaspora Conference 2019.

In his remarks at the award, the publisher of ATQ News, Mr Ikechi Uko said: “The award recognizes personalities of African origin, living in Africa or outside the continent, irrespective of their current citizenship or nationality who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and its Diaspora.”

Mr Uko stated further that: ” We organised Africa Travel 100 Women Award in 2017 and women in Tourism groups in Africa took off and in 2018 we organised the Africa Travel 100 Awards for Tour Operators and organised the first African Tour Operators Summit and this event of Africa Travel 100 global Personalities will finally bring together all the major players in Africa and the Diaspora. This collaboration with Kitty Pope and her organisation will help energise collaborations across the seas.”

Speaking also, the executive director of Africa Diaspora Awards, Kitty Pope of the USA said “I am so excited to be a part of this project and 2019 marks the 400 years of the Trans-Atlantic slave Trade. This event finally reconnect Africa and it’s Diaspora in the right way through Travel and Tourism.”

In my response after receiving the prestigious “Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities” Award , I said that the award was a tremendous honour for the work I have been doing for tourism as an industry.

“I thank wholeheartedly the African Tourism Diaspora for this wonderful recognition” I said as I collected his award.

As the sitting President of African Tourism Board Association I have been working to create avenues for the continued growth of tourism.

The Africa Travel 100 Awards, now in its 18th year, has recognized over the years leaders, industry practitioners and government officials who have promoted tourism and improved travel using unique platforms and new information.

It is also set up to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves as foremost and outstanding drivers in the travel and tourism industry and through their efforts and that of their organizations have impacted positively to the travel and tourism sector, stimulating and helping to achieve the country’s tourism goals and forging interactions among stakeholders.

Akwaaba Travel Market has grown to become the most important African Tourism marketing platform in the West Africa drawing attendance from numerous visitors from over 20 Countries.

The Travel Fair not only boasts a large amount of visitors but also excels in the promotion of the Exhibitors from the region’s leading Hotels, Airlines, Travel Agents, Tour Operators and similar industry Suppliers that participates in the Event.

Tourism: Seychelles should be concerned after Costa Cruise’s withdrawal from the Indian Ocean

The announcement that Costa Cruises is dropping the Seychelles and the Indian Ocean Region is a warning bell and the Ministers of the Vanilla Islands must meet urgently to prepare a joint action plan.

The main stakeholders in the tourism sector are starting to get worried after this announcement by Costa Cruise, which puts an end to its operations in the Indian Ocean. This announcement comes just after the announcement of the liquidation for bankruptcy of Thomas Cook, the big British tour operator.

Hoteliers and Tourism Industry Professionals are meeting and waiting for an official communication from authorities. Costa Cruise local representatives in Mauritius are saying that for now only travel agents have been informed, not suppliers. They argue that this situation causes shock and considerable consequences for the various suppliers and the Mauritian destination as a whole. This withdrawal of Costa Cruise is equivalent to the loss of a three thousand passenger ship every two to three weeks from October to April.

Job risks include independent guides, meeting and greeting officers, loss of income by DMCs, Port Victoria, SEPEC, Taxi Operators, lost of sales by Arts & Craft Dealers among many other shortfall. Discussions are also highlighting a lack of revenue not only for local suppliers such as restaurants, local markets and parks among others, but also for airlines who fly passengers in and out who are leaving or boarding the ship in Port Victoria.

The tourism situation got tougher but a week ago with the world’s oldest tour operator, Thomas Cook, who declared bankruptcy after failing to find the necessary funds for its survival, triggering the unprecedented repatriation of its 600,000 or so customers holidays around the world.

As a former Minister of Tourism, I know that this is now a worry and Seychelles needs to rally its allies before more bad news comes our way.

Seychelles and the region worked hard to get this armada of cruise ships to work in the region. The Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands has always led the way in terms of cruises.

We all know that too many people have invested in tourism. Many many work in the industry today and it is this same industry that remains the pillar of the Seychelles economy. The Tourism Cross Sectorial Ministerial Meetings need to finalise items on its agenda and Seychelles must stand together for its tourism.
Congratulations to Jacinta Nzioko who will be appointed Director of Kenya Convention Bureau

INDUSTRY VETERAN MOVES FROM KTB TO THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED CONVENTION BUREAU

News are emerging at the sidelines of the just opened Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2019, that Mrs. Jacinta Nzioka will be heading the newly created Kenya Convention Bureau. In the pipeline, as reported by ATCNews at the time, for over two years, is the new organization now becoming reality at last.

Kenya has in recent years lost in the African rankings of leading MICE destinations and the lack of a convention bureau was seen as one reason, others being the state of the KICC which is in urgent need of a major overhaul.

Jacinta was for several years Director of Marketing at the Kenya Tourism Board, at one stage Acting CEO while a new substantive CEO was being sourced and has gained the admiration and respect of Kenya’s tourism industry – and of course beyond. It is understood that parliamentary oversight may still have to confirm the appointment but given her track record and reputation and the complete lack of shadows hanging over her will no doubt see her confirmation being fast tracked.

From ATCNews it is a hearty congratulations and the promise of continued close cooperation to promote destination Magical Kenya.

Source:- ATC News

On behalf of the Saint Ange Tourism Consultancy & the Saint Ange Tourism Report we wish to say Congratulations to Jacinta Nzioko. We are indeed proud of you and know that under your leadership the Kenya MICE market will be pushed to new heights.
IFTM in Paris 2019

Seychelles announced its presence at IFTM 2019

IFTM Top Resa continues to provide the opportunity for participating professionals to meet targeted visitors, increase their turnover and their business, develop their brand image, take stock of market developments and trends. Paris Porte de Versailles was once again the stage for tourism operators and professionals from the 1 to the 4 of October.

The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and their trade partners had also geared up to be part of the 41st edition of the IFTM Top Resa 2019 in France.

The four-day event took place in Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, from the October 1, 2019 to October 4, 2019. The delegation was being headed by Minster Didier Dogley, the Seychelles Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marines accompanied by the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Mrs. Sherin Francis. Alongside the Minister and STB Chief Executive, Mrs Bernadette Willemin STB Europe Director, the STB Paris team and representatives from the STB Seychelles Headquarters ensured that the Seychelles did shine once again at the IFTM Top Resa.