The Mauritius Minister of Tourism Anil Gayan was on a working visit in Seychelles last week and held discussions with Minister Didier Dogley, the island’s Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine.
This was the opportunity for the two Ministers holding the portfolio of tourism to exchange ideas on matters affecting the region and its tourism industry. Minister Dogley of the Seychelles will be taking over the Presidency of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands at the end of the year. This grouping that has Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Comoros and Mayotte has been successful in pushing forward the Indian Ocean as a tourism region. The Presidency is on a rotational basis and Alain St.Ange of the Seychelles was the first President of the organisation, but every island of the Organisation has now held the Presidency and it is the turn of Seychelles to once again lead the Region.
Minister Anil Gayan of Mauritius also made time to meet with the two previous Seychellois Ministers of Tourism. He sat in as a delegate at a conference where Minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne was in the chair and he made time to meet with former Minister Alain St.Ange. Tourism is all about relationships and friendships and Minister Anil Gayan continues to work tourism in Mauritius with the spirit of keep close to all his friends.
Both islands followed the spirit of recognising culture as the base for its tourism industry. Culture and everything cultural brings press to the islands and ensures visibility. Seychelles has amalgamated its annual April Carnival with their October Festival Kreol and hosts a number of other cultural based events. Mauritius also has it Festival Creole and is now set to also have an annual Carnival in November. They also have a suit of other cultural activities that touches on all the historical lines of the island.