WTM London: Tourism destinations have the edge over others

Tourism trade fairs remain an opportunity for tourism operators and destinations for networking, for preparing new contracts, or simply to meet the world press to show how they have the edge over other destinations.

As television crews and magazine editors or travel writers parade the corridors of the tourism trade fairs, countries with a message to pass are always eager to meet these members of the press fraternity. But the question for tourism destination is to have a credible message and a representative able to deliver the message.

A look at the travel press and WTM (World Travel Market) reports shows countries who came prepared and ready to meet the press are today enjoying the visibility they are generating from their participation at WTM 2015.

One tourism destination who managed to be well covered at this November WTM in London is the Republic of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. The island’s Minister of Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange, is joined by Kelly Craighead of the USA, Phyllis Kandie of Kenya, Minister Haddad of Morocco, Derek Hanekom of South Africa, the Ministers of India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines among others. They have been covered in many of the reviews after this WTM in London.

Minister Alain St.Ange of the Seychelles took time to showcase their sustainable tourism approach to development and this inclusive of placing the island’s culture at the center of their tourism marketing. “When we place our culture at the base of our marketing, we are in fact placing our people at the very center of our tourism development,” said Minister St.Ange, as he explained that to have culture is to have recognition for one’s people.

Seychelles moved since a couple of years ago to have its citizens play a bigger part in the tourism industry of the islands. The Seychelles President appealed to the Seychellois to claim back their industry and this saw many small entrepreneurs join in to play a bigger role in the industry that had become the pillar of the islands’ economy. “When Seychelles placed its people through the island’s unique culture as the foundation for its marketing, Seychelles was in fact putting its people at the core of its development,” says Minister Alain St.Ange.

“This approach was a clear invitation for our people not just to sit back and wait for tourists to come. We wanted our Seychellois not just to watch, but to join in and participate. We knew that for our success, it is the Seychellois that makes the difference for the Seychelles tourism industry,” Minister St.Ange explained.

The island’s minister explained that they respect the five branches that make the Seychellois who they are today. “We have roots from France, from Africa, from the UK, from India and from China. This is why we celebrate each of these roots proudly and not just pick one or two and leave the others behind. These celebrations culminate in the one event marking who we are today as the proud and happy Seychellois Creole people, and this is our annual October Festival Creole,” said Minister St.Ange.

World Travel Market 2015 also showed the need for countries to be more united to echo commitment for security and to stand together to defend their safety label.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) . For more information on Seychelles Minister of Tourism and Culture Alain St.Ange, click here.