Seychelles sets the record straight on Mauritius’ claim of carnival fees

The Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange has reacted to the article that appeared on Today Newspaper with regard to the payment requested from Mauritius to participate in the Ind

The Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange has reacted to the article that appeared on Today Newspaper with regard to the payment requested from Mauritius to participate in the Indian Ocean Annual Vanilla Island’s Carnival. “It is important to set the record straight to avoid any misunderstanding resulting from the article published or republished by the Today Newspaper on Tuesday, January 8, 2013,” Minister Alain St.Ange said.

The article entitled “Mauritius undecided on participation at Seychelles Carnival” made reference to a sum of 100,000 euro requested by Seychelles for their participation, and that this remains their concern and was so far stopping them to participate. This article has resulted with local Seychelles media and international correspondents seeking clarifications on the “100,000 euros sponsorship fee” that the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) said it is “being requested” by the Seychelles Tourism Board for their participation into the third edition of the carnival.

Minister St.Ange explained that he personally wrote to the Mauritius authorities on their participation. “To participate in the annual Carnaval International de Victoria is free. There is no fee whatsoever to send a delegation to parade alongside the best and most-known carnivals of the world and together with cultural troupes from the Community of Nations. This was made clear to Mauritius and to every other country sending delegations to Seychelles for the carnival. I need to clarify that it is only countries offered to co-host the Carnival International de Victoria with Seychelles who are requested to make a financial contribution. This fee ensures that they have their logo on every marketing campaign and that their name appears on all carnival documentation. The countries who co-host the carnival also participate in the press conference and have the opportunity to sell their respective country to the gathered press attending the carnival. All the other participating countries, and there are many who make the trip annually, only have to pay board and lodging whilst in Seychelles and their own air travel costs,” Minister Alain St.Ange said

The Mauritian authorities had requested that Seychelles consider granting them board and lodging under the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, however, this carnival is not covered under this bilateral cooperation. “It is important to note that the carnival organizing committee does not make provision under its budget to cover the cost for participating countries. Each country’s delegation comes to this carnival of carnivals in Seychelles to showcase their culture, their people, and the unique selling points of their respective country. For tourism destinations, it is a way to be seen; it is a way to be more visible in front of press who do not know the destination and who would not just write about the destination otherwise. Seychelles promises maximum coverage to all participating countries. The co-hosts of the 2013 carnival are working together to ensure that the press delegations covering their carnival is more impressive year on year, and that the expected coverage will ensure visibility of participating countries,” Minister St.Ange of the Seychelles said to questions from the press.

On the question of whether the Seychelles really wants Mauritius to be present at the carnival, the Seychelles Minister St.Ange said: “Yes, of course we do. This is why we have for three years consecutively been inviting them to be with us. They have always had the option to either only be a participant or be a co-host with Seychelles. We are saddened by this latest confusion arising about whether Mauritius will participate or not. The choice is theirs and theirs alone, but we should keep to facts and avoid printing untrue statements on the matter. We have always had the one story and proposal on the matter, and this the Mauritius authorities know well,” Minister St.Ange said.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP).

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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