Johnson Johnrose of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) from Bridgetown Barbados has confirmed that the Hon. Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, will lead a delegation to the Caribbean’s leading tourism gathering, the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Industry Conference, in St. Kitts this October.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization made this announcement saying that “Mr. St.Ange, who was appointed Minister of Tourism and Culture in March of this year, will be accompanied by Elsia Grandcourt, the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board.”

The Seychelles Minister, a former CEO of the Tourism Board, is expected to play an active role in the Caribbean Tourism Organization conference as a presenter in a session entitled, “Redefining the Role of National Tourist Offices.”

“Minister St.Ange is well-known among tourism circles as a creative thinker and practitioner who is particularly skilled in helping to develop various countries’ tourism potential. We are happy to have him come and share his winning strategies with us,” said Hugh Riley, Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Secretary General.

Mr. St.Ange’s tourism initiatives, introduced during his tenure as CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, have been intensely studied by tourism officials around the African continent. He is also a sought-after presenter at global tourism conferences. He is a founding member of the ICTP (International Council of Tourism Partners) along with Juergen Steinmetz and Geoffrey Lipman, and is the current President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Organization.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization‘s State of the Industry Conference, which has as its theme, “Developing a Winning Tourism Strategy,” will be held in St. Kitts from October 10-12. It is billed as three days of provocative discussions and spirited debates about the biggest issues affecting the region’s primary revenue earner. Organized in collaboration with the St. Kitts Ministry of Tourism and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, this conference brings together some of the industry’s most creative thinkers and doers and is especially suited for ministers, commissioners, and directors of tourism, as well as hoteliers, tourism attractions, public officials, and anyone with an interest in tourism.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization, with its headquarters in Barbados and offices in New York and London, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of over 30 governments and a myriad of private sector entities.

Commenting on this invitation to the press, Minister Alain St.Ange of the Seychelles said that it was an honor to be invited to address the Caribbean Tourism Organization for the CTO State of the Industry Conference in St. Kitts and to participate with them at their tourism industry’s conference. “President James Michel, the President of the Republic of Seychelles, who held the portfolio for tourism before creating a fully-fledged Ministry of Tourism, wanted Seychelles to make its mark as a leader in the world of tourism. He had launched for the islands our very own brand of tourism aptly named the Seychelles Brand. He sought to get Seychellois involvement in the industry in a bid to consolidate the industry that remains the pillar of the island’s economy, and he personally directed the move to push Seychelles to enter the world of events that saw the launch of the Carnaval International de Victoria, the carnival of carnivals in the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands, which is held annually under the theme of the melting pot of cultures.

“President Michel also opened new doors to make Seychelles visible as never before. Today, I have been mandated to see through his declared policies and to ensure the Seychelles visibility in not only maintained, but intensified as this remains crucial for all Small Island States whose existence is so dependent on the world being reminded that these dots in the world are, and will remain, important as full stops are in any phrase, line, or sentence. My address at the Caribbean Tourism Organization will showcase the Seychelles experience and in so doing establish once again the name Seychelles in the tourism arena on the other side of the world from where we are,” Minister Alain St.Ange of the Seychelles said.