St. Ange’s Indian Ocean tourism report
_1214261072.jpg "St. Ange’s Indian Ocean tourism report")
SEYCHELLES
LAND SALES BECOMES A MAJOR DIVIDING ISSUE IN SEYCHELLES The selling of land to foreigners and, recently, to nationalized entrepreneurs has become a touching and divisive issue that has seen the independent newspapers dedicate the whole front page to the problem. Africa has often seen land issue turn ugly and, in Seychelles itself, the government of the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF) in its days of a “One-Party State” implemented the policy of “Compulsory Acquisition” of large estates. Government estates and island have been sold on long leases to private individuals without a transparent and credible tender process.
The latest grip has been about a newly naturalized Indian billionaire entrepreneur named Chinakannan Sivasankaran, who has been able to buy land at an incredible speed to become one of the Country’s largest land owner in the spate of only two years. Records at the land registry shows 33 titles of property in Mr. Sivasankaran’s name amounting to over 2 million square-meters. This begs the question: Should anyone have so much land in a small country where land remains a rare commodity?
AIR SEYCHELLES REORGANIZES
The flag carrier for Seychelles, Air Seychelles, has announced that Mauritian national Dr. Rajiv Bissessur has been appointed chief executive officer for the airline. He replaces David Savy, who is now only the chairman of the national airline’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Bissessur is the first foreign national to occupy the position since the creation of the company some twenty years ago. This appointment has seen the announcement for the reintroduction of the Seychelles/Singapore weekly service, a much sought after connection for business to and from Australia and also the runs to Maldives and Bombay. The run to Singapore was discontinued when the service to Bangkok was introduced only a few months ago because it was “a key to the future of the airline.” The new services will commence on June 30, the same day when the Bangkok run will be suspended. The Bombay and Maldives run had been discontinued over a year ago.
SEYCHELLES RECEIVE ROYAL VISITOR
Last month, the Seychelles welcomed the Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, who was on a private holiday visit. The Emir deployed an armada of yachts and a super jet for his visit to Seychelles. At least two of the royal yachts had been in Seychelles for several days prior to the arrival of the Emir and several other yachts have been chartered for various trips to the outer islands for the Emir and the large group accompanying him. Besides fishing, the Emir stopped at some of the outer islands, reports say.
MAURITIUS
WORLD INVESTMENT FORUM RECOGNIZES MAURITIUS
The Board of Investment in Mauritius has received the top prize for outstanding performance in advocating policies that have helped its government to stimulate foreign development and local development. The award was presented to Mauritius at the World Investment Forum in Accra, the capital of Ghana by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies. The Mauritius Board of Investment has been recognized to have championed reforms that have created a reputation for Mauritius as being a highly effective investment environment.
IT’S THE BUS AND NOT THE METRO FOR MAURITIUS
The Mauritian government has finally decided that the bus service will remain the main public transport to link the cities Port Louis to Curepipe, and that all plans for the introduction of a light metro have been dropped. The bus lanes have been found to be more flexible and less costly and Mauritius Public Infrastructure Minister Rashid Beebeejaun has announced that work will now commence in September. The project will see a dedicated corridor for buses linking Port Louis to Curepipe. Other urban areas will then also be linked to this bus corridor, which is meant to ease traffic congestion on the roads leading to the capital.
A SECOND CRUISE SHIP COMPANY TO USE MAURITIUS AS ITS BASE
After Costa Cruises, it is the British cruise liner called Foresight that has decided to base its Ship MS Ocean Odyssey in Port Louis, Mauritius. Initially, the ship will be used as a hotel and gastronomic restaurant but will then undertake cruise itineraries around the islands surrounding Mauritius. Mauritian Tourism Minister Xavier-Luc Duval has said that the decision by Foresight will allow Mauritius to reinforce its image as a destination fro cruise ships.
LA REUNION
SIX GIANT LAND TORTOISES GIVEN TO LA REUNION
The Seychelles government of President James Michel has handed over to Paul Verges of La Reunion six giant land tortoises coming from Aldabra Atoll, a United Nations World Heritage Site. According to published reports, these giant Seychelles Land Tortoises will be displayed at a new tortoise park in the coming months.
MADAGASCAR
MADAGASCAR SUSPENDING THE EXPORTATION OF RICE
Madagascar’s government has confirmed that it has decided to suspend the exportation of rice because of the ongoing food crisis. “Les Nouvelles” newspaper reported that Madagascar Armand Panja Ramanoelina, the minister of Agriculture, made the declaration following an agricultural seminar.
US TO ASSIST MADAGASCAR WITH MILITARY SUPPORT
The United States of America has met with Madagascar in Antananarivo to discuss military and civil relationships in an effort to reinforce political stability and democratic institutions in Madagascar. The meeting was organized by the Center for Civil – Military Relations of Monterrey in California and was attended by the Madagascar representatives from both government and non-governmental groups.
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