The Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture has rallied the largest block ever of Mauritian media houses in Mauritius for a press conference at the Le Mauricia hotel conference room in Grand Baie.

The press conference grouping of the Mauritian Broadcasting Cooperation television station, MBC, Grand Baie.mu, L’eco austral, Independent Daily, Le Mauricien, Week–end, Le Matinale, Le defi quotidian, and Radio Plus was an opportunity for the Seychelles Minister Alain St.Ange to brief the press on the outcome of his five-day official visit in Mauritius and the strengthening of bilateral relationships with his Mauritian counterparts.

Minister St.Ange said that “his meetings with the Mauritian Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Micheal Yeung Sik Yuen, and the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mookhesswur Choone, have opened up new grounds of cooperation between Seychelles and Mauritius.”

He said that “Seychelles is committed to push forward this mutual tie.”

The Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture has also shed light on the journalists’ question in regards to Seychelles’ position on the UNIVISA implementation process within the SADC region.

In the SADC meeting of Minister’s responsible for Tourism, the ministers were invited to note that there are ongoing preparations on the implementation of the UNIVISA among the participating states, namely: Angola, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe under the auspices of the UNIVISA pilot group of Member States.

On this issue, Minister St.Ange has made it clear to the Mauritian media that “Seychelles is so far the only world tourism destination where visitors do not require a visa to enter.”

Minister St.Ange said that “Seychelles will continue to maintain this policy.”

He has sent out a clear message to the SADC ministers responsible for tourism that “Seychelles is not against their UNIVISA policy within the SADC region, but while implementing this policy, Seychelles should feature as the bonus country where visitors do not need a visa to enter.”

Minister St.Ange said that over the years, the Seychelles Tourism Board has created a good friendship with the Mauritian press and as the Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, he will continue to cultivate this mutual friendship.

Throughout his five-day visit in Mauritius, Minister St.Ange has made consecutive interviews with the Mauritian media.

He was interviewed by some of Mauritius’ reputed reporters and journalists, namely Daniel Chan from Le defi quotidien newspaper, Shirley Chumroo from the Mauritian Broadcasting Cooperation radio station, Jean Marc Poche from le Mauricien, and Indradev Curpen from the News on Sunday.

Minister St.Ange has extended an invitation to the Mauritian press to come to Seychelles for the coverage in July of both Routes Africa conference and that of the RETOSA board meeting.

The press conference at the Le Mauricia conference room was chaired by Minister St.Ange. Also present was the Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Elsia Grandcourt; Mr. Calixte D’offay, the Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission and the Director of Le Mauricia Hotel; and Marsha Parcou, the Seychelles Tourism Board’s Regional Manager based in Pretoria South Africa.