A recent private meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma was a time for Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) chief executive Alain St Ange to explore ways of developing the industry in Africa.

 

Mr St Ange was accompanied to Mr Zuma’s residence in Pretoria by TV eNews Africa anchor Masechaba Lekalake.

His working visit also involved him taking part in the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa) annual conference in Durban from September 3-5.

Satsa is the leading body representing private-sector tourism services in South Africa, which include transport providers, tour operators, accommodation suppliers and tourism brokers.

Mr St Ange said both his meeting with Mr Zuma and attendance at the forum have created great opportunities for the Seychelles tourism industry.

It was a golden opportunity for Seychelles as a tourism destination to have such direct contact with decision-making bodies in the tourism sector there, he added.

Mr St Ange said the forum involved many tourism associations and companies – “and we were the only foreign group that was invited to this vital meeting”.

He said the STB’s regional manager in Cape Town, David Germain, is doing a follow-up to ensure Seychelles becomes a fully fledged member of Satsa to set up more networking.

“Tourism is a people’s industry, and the more people you meet the better,” he said.

Mr St Ange said Seychelles has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Cape Town and will now move on to forging links with other cities.

The highlight of his visit to South Africa was his meeting with Mr Zuma, where he got the chance to further promote Seychelles.

“We spent time looking at the 2011 Carnaval International de Victoria and will aim for South African representatives to take part,” said Mr St Ange.

Mr Zuma was also presented with material about the carnival, the STB’s promotional brochures and a series of books about the Seychelles islands.

Mr St Ange said the president has only transited through Seychelles and wants to know more about it.

“He is very interested in working closely with us and the rest of Africa to develop tourism, and is very much a people person – a trait that is excellent for such a partnership,” he said.

 

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