The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced its official launch ceremony will take place during the 2011 World Travel Market in London. The event will be hosted at the Seychelles stand (AS550) on November 8 at1600 hours at Excel Conference Center in London.

Juergen Steinmetz, Chairman of ICTP said: “We will formally launch the coalition at the Seychelles stand (AS550) at 1600 hours on November 8. Come and enjoy the party and meet our founding members.

“You will discover the unique characteristics of ICTP as a ‘grassroots grouping’ designed to help quality destinations and their stakeholders learn how to share green growth opportunities, as well as access the tools and funds that will be available for our common transformation.

“You will also learn about our grassroots support for the excellent initiatives of UNWTO [UN World Tourism Organization], WTTC [World Travel & Tourism Council], and IATA [International Air Transport Association] to mainstream the sector in policymaking, as well as our own core advocacy, supporting the sustainable growth of aviation, streamlined travel, and fair coherent taxation.

“You will also find out about our low-cost/high-focus support system that can help you better achieve your goals and those of your community, customers, and employees in sustainably developing your travel and tourism heritage.”

Alain St.Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board and himself a founding member of ICTP said he was honored to have the launch of ICTP at the Seychelles Stand at the 2011 WTM in London.

Seychelles, as a country, remains dependent on its tourism industry. Alain St.Ange said to the press in China, where he was on a working visit as part of a delegation headed by the Seychelles President, Mr. James Michel, that he believed from day one of the need for such a body as ICTP to run alongside UNWTO.

“Countries depending on tourism as an industry must be able to meet and plan joint strategies together. We must find a body that is focused on marketing and visibility drives as we consolidate our own individual industry,” Alain St.Ange said.

“Working alongside Juergen Thomas Steinmetz and Professor Geoffrey Lipman, the founding Chairman and President of ICTP, has been so far enriching, and I look forward to the official launch of ICTP so that the many ideas we all have can be developed for a stronger tourism industry for the organization’s registered members,” Alain St.Ange told the Chinese media in Beijing.

The launching event is open to anyone visiting the World Travel Market.

Representatives from the current group of founding members are expected to attend the event. Current founding members include: Johannesburg (South Africa), Zimbabwe, Seychelles, La Reunion, Rwanda, Oman, Grenada, and Saipan, as well as Hawaii and Richmond,Virginia, USA.