Alain St. Ange has stepped down from his post of Seychelles minister of tourism.

He will be replaced by Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, who will be sworn in today by president Danny Faure as the new minister of tourism, civil aviation, ports and marine for the Republic of the Seychelles.

In his resignation letter, St. Ange wrote: “I was able to serve my country and the people of Seychelles in a way that made a positive difference in the lives of so many people.

“I know that I have worked tirelessly for the tourism industry and the results speak for themselves.”

He is now expected to apply for the post of secretary general of the World Tourism Organisation, with elections for the post due next year.

St. Ange has been instrumental in opening up the tourism industry of Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean.

A former chairman of Air Seychelles, Loustau-Lalanne was chief executive of the Seychelles Tourist Board in 2008.

In 2015 he held the position of principle secretary for foreign affairs, while he was also appointed secretary of state in June last year.