Teamwork key to tourism success says President
28.01.2010
President James Michel yesterday urged the tourism industry to continue its teamwork so as to keep up the momentum gained in last year’s marketing campaigns and strong visitor arrival figures.
He made the call during the 2010 Seychelles Tourism Marketing Meeting at the International Conference Centre, which was also addressed by Vice-President Joseph Belmont – also the minister responsible for tourism – Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association chairman Louis D’Offay, Air Seychelles’ executive chairman and tourism board member Captain David Savy and Alain St Ange, director of tourism marketing.
Among others present were chief justice Frederick Egonda-Ntende, cabinet ministers and members of the diplomatic corps.
“I firmly believe that we can develop even more fruitful partnerships between the public and private sectors to make training in the tourism sector even more effective. This is one of the challenges that I ask we take up today,” said President Michel.
He noted that the marketing meeting was a key event for building partnerships, adding that “it means we believe that Together, we are ready for the future”.
Mr Michel said last year’s Affordable Seychelles campaign ensured the country kept up its visitor arrivals while also increasing the bed occupancy level for the small, Seychellois-owned establishments.
“With the reopening of the Seychelles Tourism Board’s UK office, the strengthening of all other Seychelles overseas offices and the repositioning of Seychellois nationals in our overseas offices, the tourism industry was experiencing a revitalisation,” he said.
He also welcomed the new level of cooperation between Seychelles’ diplomatic missions abroad and tourism offices.
“The heightened cooperation between the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is opening new avenues for our country overseas, maximising our resources and opening doors for our nationals to proudly represent our country. I will continue to champion Seychelles’ tourism credentials as part of our foreign policy,” he said.
Last year the President travelled to China, South Korea and the Middle East, where tourism promotion formed a key component of his discussions and visits.
The President also welcomed new faces in the industry, including 14 Seychellois named as tourism ambassadors and other people who have joined the industry to market Seychelles abroad.
Mr St Ange named the new representatives as he outlined the industry’s way forward.
Five of the “ambassadors” were present and more are to be named, he said, adding that all the representatives are Seychellois who live and work in the countries to which they have been assigned.
The 14 and the places where they will be based are: Mary Marsac nee Faure, Cape Town; Popsy Getonge nee Mothee, Nairobi; Pearl Hoareau, Kampala; Dr Tony Wong, Reunion; Mary-Lyn Camus nee Faure, Paris; Lindy Scheele nee Samy, Munich; Archangel Kopar nee Leon, Salzburg; Dona Wallin nee Appoo, Geneva; Audrey Bonvin nee Beaudoin, Montreux; Rita Hinder nee Mondon, Brighton; Robert Delpeche, Wales; Christina Autefault nee Adrienne, Moscow; Beryl Laporte, Stockholm; and Barbara Ponovska, Prague.
“We are happy to see new faces joining the old hands as we get ready for the future! I wish you all a warm welcome,” said Mr Michel.
He noted that it is just over a year ago since the government decided to change the dynamics of the tourism industry, to ensure we could survive the turbulence of the global economic crisis.