Dr. Taleb Rifai, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) visited Seychelles very briefly last week.
The much loved and respected former Secretary-General of the UNWTO met with caught up with Alain St. Ange. He said: Together we discussed many of the achievements enjoyed by Seychelles when I was the islands’ Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, and the efforts in creating the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands, which he personally supported when he organised the UNWTO meeting in Reunion Island.”
It was during a working lunch at the Eden Blue Hotel that Dr Rifai and former Seychelles Minister of Tourism Alain St.Ange discussed future endeavors of mutual interest.
A year ago, Seychelles was fighting to take the position of Secretary-General of the UNWTO and move for a “tourism for all” as the driving principle.
It is to be recalled that Seychelles was in with a winning chance to assume this prestigious post, which would have been a first for Africa, before the Seychelles Government abruptly pulled the plug on my campaign 48 hours before the elections, which was held in Madrid, Spain.
This was a great recognition for the man who let World Tourism for over ten years. His achievements was recognised by countries right across the world and the recognition by the UK Tourism demonstrate the affection the world had for him. UK is not a member of the UNWTO and yet recognises his work and tenacity with which he steered tourism in the troubled world we are living in today.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- It is to be recalled that Seychelles was in with a winning chance to assume this prestigious post, which would have been a first for Africa, before the Seychelles Government abruptly pulled the plug on my campaign 48 hours before the elections, which was held in Madrid, Spain.
- Together we discussed many of the achievements enjoyed by Seychelles when I was the islands' Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, and the efforts in creating the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands, which he personally supported when he organised the UNWTO meeting in Reunion Island.
- It was Anita Mendiratta of CNN TASK who presented the achievements of Taleb Rifai to the packed banquet room with of tourism professionals at the Dorchester in London a week ago.
