Amb. Dr. ALAIN ST.ANGE, THE SEYCHELLES AMBASSADOR AT LARGE APPEARS ON LIST OF SPEAKERS AT COMING TOURISM EVENT

Amb. Dr. Alain St.Ange, the recently appointed Ambassador At Large for theRepublic of Seychelles, has been seen on programmes being put together for coming tourism and aviation events across the world.

eychelles must have done a good move as the name of Dr. Alain St.Ange istoday more in demand for coming events. We are privileged with yearsof service behind our name to be updated of tourism and aviation eventsand of potential speakers even before programs are even firmed up.

Feedback from Uganda, to Spain, USA to Bulgaria, Nigeria to Indiaamong others see the name Alain St.Ange as a proposed speaker, theman who loves to speak of the cuff “or from the heart” as he prefers tosay has created a name for himself and for his island nation.

I have had the pleasure as tourism press to have known Amb. Dr. Alain St.Ange,and followed his work and successes. In particular is the creation of the Seychelles

Carnevale de Carnivals, the Seychelles International Carnival, still fresh in my

memory after more than 15 years since its launch, which put the paradise islands

on the global tourism map punching well beyond its given weightclass.

Every speech he delivers and any tourism conference he attends destination Seychelles takes center stage and the island’s visibility increases as he remains one of the most sought after speakers at tourism Hospitality and aviation events around the world.

He is of course  very well remembered around the tourism world asthe very successful Tourism Minister of the Seychelles, and one who hasjoined Sir James Mancham, the island’s founding President, as the oneswhose names have marked the tourism industry of Seychelles. Theycome from different era in the island’s tourism industry, but both haveentered the history books as successes for their work in tourism.

Sir James Mancham is the one who launched Seychelles into the worldof tourism and Amb. Dr. Alain St.Ange, now Ambassador At Large for theRepublic of Seychelles is the one credited to have consolidated theisland’s tourism industry when the going got tough

Amb. Dr. Alain St.Ange on his part was brought into the Government at theinsistence of the tourism private sector trade when tourism, as anindustry, was suffering with a downward trend that was expected toreach a drop of 25%. This drop was seen by everyone as a possible‘catastrophe in the waiting’ for the island’s economy, and one thatneeded everyone to rally to help. The much-needed dialogue betweenthe Government of President James Michel and the SHTA (SeychellesHospitality & Tourism Association) with Louis Doffay as its President wascalled after the private sector trade had called for a “Cellule de Crise”conference at the ICCS Conference Centre in Victoria. This was anunprecedented PPP (Public Private Sector Partnership) in the making. Thiswe have reported on as it happened at the time.

The tourism private sector trade requested that the marketing ofSeychelles to be led by someone from the private sector, and after aseries of meetings President James Michel agreed and the SHTAproposed Dr. Alain St.Ange to be appointed Director of Marketing forSeychelles. This was in 2009.

Alain St.Ange was not new to the Civil Service and working within theGovernment. In 1981, when the Seychelles Tourist Board was firstestablished, with John Enright as director, the then 27-year-old Alain StAnge was his assistant. It was in that era that the new Logo ‘Unique by athousand miles’ was launched at the World Travel Market in London andin a publicity campaign across Europe. President Albert Rene was theone holding the tourism portfolio during that period.

In 2009 Alain St.Ange was appointed to head the marketing arm of theSeychelles Tourism Board and fell under the Vice President JosephBelmont who was holding the tourism portfolio.

In 2010 he was appointed CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board andbecame the face for the island’s tourism industry falling directly underPresident James Michel, who was also holding the tourism portfolio.

Dr, Alain St.Ange managed to maintain to receive the cooperation from theisland’s tourism private sector who had succeeded to have someonefrom their ranks now heading and as one they worked to ensure successfor the industry that remained the pillar of the Seychelles economy.

Many things changed immediately. The visibility of the islands tookanother dimension, and Seychelles became the sought-after destination.Seychellois nationals were posted in Tourism Offices everywhere onewas in place. He worked on the concept of ‘Melting Pot of Cultures’ andorganised cultural events to put Africa, India, China and also moved forLa Francophonie and Commonwealth to make the French and Britishlinks. He pushed the idea that these five links must culminated into abigger ‘Festival Kreol’ as what everyone should be defending today asCreoles and ‘Friends of All and Enemy of None’ as pushed by Sir James

Mancham from Independence Day in 1976. He also pushed to enhancethe ‘La Digue’s 15th August Feast’ and launched the ‘Praslin Culinary &Arts Fiesta’ to push the island of Praslin as the centre for good food and culture.

Dr. Alain St.Ange was seen everywhere managing to meet the press atevery opportunity and in so doing keeping Seychelles in view of all possible holiday makers. He worked close with the Management of theTourism Academy to ensure adequate training of young Seychellois andstood behind the further training of many through the cooperation ofShannon College of Ireland. He is known for working with tourism establishments, large and small, to help raise the standard of the accommodation block and push for ‘value for money’ as the needed mindset for the islands.

In 1993, there was the First Tourism Ball. The Miss Seychelles Pageantwas reintroduced to push the local colour and to open doors for theyoung Seychellois ladies. In 2003 also came the Tourism Incentives Act and with so much being done for the tourism industry it became almost inevitable by 2012 to see Alain St Ange appointed Minister of Tourismand Culture. That year Seychelles received over 200,000 visitors.

In 2014 there was the First Congress of IORA (Indian Ocean RimAssociation) held in Seychelles after the ROUTES Airline Convention had also used Seychelles for what was published as their most successful event. Alain St.Ange was instrumental to the formation of the

Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands and became the organisation’s firstPresident. The regional body was an immediate success and St.Angei nvited to remain in office for a second consecutive year.

In the 2015 Seychelles Cabinet reshuffle he was reappointed agovernment minister by President Danny Faure with an enlargedportfolio when he was made Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine.He used that amalgamation of an enlarged Ministry to push for the opening of the airspace saying that Seychelles needed airlines toguarantee a solid tourism industry.

He was conferred a Honorary Doctorate for his work in Tourism and well as an array of other recognitions received from the four corners of theworld all making Seychelles proud. In 2017 he was the island’s candidate for the post of Secretary General

The recent appointment by H.E. Dr Patrick Herminie, the President of theSeychelles of Alain St.Ange as his Ambassador At Large for Seychellesbrings recognition of a son of the islands who has worked tirelessly withhis heart and soul for the industry that remains the pillar of theSeychelles economy. The appointment is seen across the islands asmerited and a plus for Seychelles.

President Dr. Patrick Herminie is being congratulated in many forums as aPresident who went outside his inner political circle to appoint respectedSeychellois to key posts. The world of tourism enjoys working with theisland man who has a flair on how to tweak tourism, the industry thebrings peace and helps many an economy to succeed.