Maurice Loustau-Lalanne has been appointed as the new chairman and chief executive officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), effective January 23, 2006.Lalanne comes into STB with a range of experience in most aspects of the international travel trade, most notably during his tenure as the country’s Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism and Transport from 1988 to 1998.

In addition he has had prior postings as the Director General of Civil Aviation (1981-1986) and the Executive Chairman of Air Seychelles (1985-1988).

Having also served as the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Environment (1998-2003), as well as through his chairmanship of the Seychelles Islands Foundation - which oversees Seychelles’ two UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Aldabra and the Vallee de Mai - Mr Lalanne has a unique understanding of the important role of Seychelles’ natural environment in the context of tourism.

The Seychelles Tourism Board was initially created in April 2005 as an umbrella organization to oversee most aspects of the tourism industry, from the marketing of the destination to products and standards in establishments. It is guided by an 11-strong board of directors made up of individuals from both the public and private sector.

According to Mr Lalanne, STB will continue in its attempts to facilitate stronger private-public partnership in Seychelles, while promoting the entire range of Seychelles’ accommodation products - from the quaint guesthouses to the luxurious five-star resorts - in a way that reflects the true identity of the islands and the Seychellois culture.
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