King Simeon II, the former Prime Minister of Bulgaria, met Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, and Benjamine Rose, his PS for Culture, on the sidelines of the UNWTO/UNESCO (UN World Tourism Organization/UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Conference on Tourism and Culture that took place a week ago in Cambodia.
The historical importance surrounding the life of this former ruler of Bulgaria who later returned to become the Prime Minister of his country pushed Minister St.Ange and PS Benjamine Rose to urge King Simeon II over discussions at a breakfast meeting to consider a visit to Seychelles where he would address the students of the island’s Tourism Academy about world history.
King Simeon II of Bulgaria said as he accepted the invitation to visit Seychelles that he always wanted to visit these islands and that he had already met Sir James Mancham, the founding President of the Seychelles, during one of his visits to Bulgaria.
King Simeon II was in Cambodia to deliver a keynote address at the UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture whereas Minister Alain St.Ange and Benjamin Rose, his PS for Culture, were representing Seychelles at the Ministerial roundtable discussions. They showcased the Seychelles experience, as these mid-ocean islands were already pushing their culture as the base of their tourism marketing. Minister Alain St.Ange holds the portfolio of both tourism and of culture in the Seychelles government.