Reunion and Seychelles: Spirit of commitment

A press conference last week on Reunion Island at the Offices of the President of the Regional Council brought together President Didier Robert himself; Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture; Ambassador Lionnel Majeste Larrouy, the French Ambassador accredited to Seychelles; as well as Patrick Serveaux and Arian Loupy of Reunion Island Tourism (Ile Reunion Tourisme – IRT); Sherin Naiken of the Seychelles Tourism Board; Pascal Viroleau of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands; elected representatives of Reunion Island; and Jean Claude Peche, the Honorary Consul of Seychelles based on Reunion Island, among others.

The press conference was set for Reunion Island and Seychelles tourism to be tabled and analyzed as well as the benefits of the Vanilla Islands Organization for Reunion Island, Seychelles, and the other member islands. It was President Didier Robert who opened the press conference making a strong statement on where Reunion Island positions itself in the Vanilla islands and as a partner of the Seychelles in the consolidation of regional tourism. President Didier Robert who succeeded the Seychelles Minister St.Ange as President of the Vanilla Islands said that St.Ange is respected and will be remembered for his drive in spearheading the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands and for being the face of this regional body when it was created.

President Didier Robert spoke about the need to revitalize Reunion Island tourism and to go further than just relying on mainland France as its source market. He said he wanted to continue to work with Seychelles, because it is today proven that they have a successful tourism industry.

Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister, was next to address the press conference, and he spoke passionately about the need for islands of the Indian Ocean to work together. “Seychelles is okay. Our tourism industry is working, but together we can grow this tourism cake and make it bigger for all of us to get more for our islands and for our people,” Minister St.Ange said.

The Minister was followed by the French Ambassador accredited to Seychelles who supported the cooperation drive set in motion by President Didier Robert and Minister St.Ange.

When the floor was opened for journalists to table their questions, the session was extended by another forty minutes with President Didier Robert and Minister St.Ange responding to queries raised from the floor.