Campaigns for the next United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General (SG) are in full swing. Seven candidates are competing to lead the UNWTO: from Armenia – Mr. Vahan Martirosyan, from Brazil – Mr. Márcio Favilla, from Colombia – Mr. Jaime Alberto Cabal Sanclemente, from Georgia – Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, from the Republic of Korea – Mrs. Young-shim Dho, from Seychelles – Mr. Alain St. Ange, and from Zimbabwe – Mr. Walter Mzembi.
La Secretaría recibió otras siete solicitudes que no iban acompañadas de los documentos requeridos. En consecuencia, las solicitudes no se presentarán a la 105ª reunión del Consejo Ejecutivo.
A nominee will be elected by the UNWTO Executive Council at its 105th session to be held on May 11-12, 2017 in Madrid, Spain, and will be recommended to the UNWTO General Assembly, which will take the final decision on the candidature for appointment to the post of Secretary General at its twenty-second session, to be held from September 4-9, 2017 in Chengdu, China. Thirty-four countries are members of the UNWTO Executive Council: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bulgaria, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Flanders, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia, and Zambia.
Si bien la mayoría de los candidatos se centran en presionar y llegar a los miembros del Comité Ejecutivo, Alain St. Ange, exministro de Turismo de las Seychelles, tiene un enfoque diferente. Siente que obtener el respaldo del sector privado influiría en que los países del Consejo Ejecutivo voten por él. Alain siempre fue un ministro agradable y popular, de fácil acercamiento y comunicación.
The candidates for the post of Secretary General of the UNWTO have all followed different paths in their campaign for the top job in tourism, but all seven candidates have been appealing to the 34 voting countries for a vote. Courtesy visits to countries are being made to woo them for a vote followed by breakfast, lunch, or dinner meetings and endorsement cocktails at tourism trade fairs. This all involves money and lots of it, and this is where the country’s support of their candidates is very apparent.
St.Ange is the mid-ocean islands of Seychelles’ candidate for SG of the UNWTO. He has opened his doors to the press and was on Quest Means Business with Richard Quest on CNN and also with Adam Boulton on Sky TV and BBC Radio Africa over and above a number of full-color magazines such as FIRST of the UK and many in Africa and the Middle East. As St.Ange appealed to ministers of tourism for their votes, he also appealed to the tourism trade to help his bid.
“Whoever is elected as the new SG of the UNWTO will impact your industry. You need someone who will hears you, one who will be a facilitator to your country and their tourism minister; you need someone who will be a leader and yet a friend, so help me out,” St.Ange said to the tourism trade right across the world.
Esta convocatoria resultó en cartas de respaldo y muchas de ellas. La convocatoria también resultó en el apoyo de grupos de presión como los discapacitados, LGBT, organizaciones de mujeres, grupos étnicos, cámaras de comercio e incluso el Club de Leones, para pedir apoyo a San Ángel de las Seychelles como su candidato preferido. También ha salido la prensa de viajes y turismo, así como políticos de muchos estados insulares.
Alain St.Ange, who reacts to each and every Letter of Endorsement, says it is always better to let those who have worked with him speak up for him. “Saying you are good is one thing, this is you blowing your own trumpet, but when those who know you speak up, it shows your belief in democracy and the decentralization of the UN body for tourism,” says St.Ange, who argues that it is not enough to depend on the few who sit in the electoral college of the UNWTO. “The world of tourism needs to be a ward of this coming election, because the new SG will impact tourism and its development for the next four years,” Alain St.Ange said.
El candidato de Seychelles recibió muchas cartas de respaldo del sector privado del turismo y de la prensa internacional. El candidato de Seychelles también recibió cartas de respaldo del presidente Danny Faure de Seychelles, y de Sir James Mancham, el presidente fundador de Seychelles de las islas, quien escribió una carta abierta sobre su apoyo a la candidatura de Seychelles a las Naciones Unidas por San Ángel. una semana antes de su fallecimiento.
Other letters came in from the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Organization (Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, and Seychelles); the Africa Ports Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA); the Tanzania Society of Travel Agents (TASOTA); the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA); Fred W. Finn, the World’s Most Travelled Person Guinness World Records; the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam Association, India’s important N.R.I. Welfare Society; the Creole Travel Services of Seychelles; and the Association of Tourism Professionals of Mauritius (ATP); and Eden Island Seychelles.
Bea Broda, the known Producer/Writer/Host/Speaker from the Americas, wrote: “One candidate that stands out to me is Alain St.Ange, the former Minister of Tourism of Seychelles. In the seven years that I have been familiar with his work, I have witnessed the extraordinary dedication, enthusiasm, and visionary brilliance that resulted in his enormous success in this role. St.Ange took a relatively small island nation in the middle of the Indian Ocean and created a way to bring Seychelles to the forefront of global attention with the enactment of the Carnaval International de Victoria. This international event experienced six years of success, not only bringing interest and tourism to the nation, but proudly unifying all of the people who live there towards a common goal. In addition, St.Ange was a founder of the Vanilla Islands of the Indian Ocean, a consortium designed to combine the strengths of the islands located in the Indian Ocean to present a strong front in a competitive market. He has worked ceaselessly in the direction of the absolute success of those issues to which he cheerfully commits his time, and I would personally like to see someone with his considerable vision, dedication, and creativity take the helm of an organization as influential to tourism as UNWTO.”
Theresa St. John, una reputada escritora de viajes, dijo: "No es frecuente que tenga la oportunidad de interactuar con alguien que habla con tanta pasión sobre los viajes, el turismo y las personas que están detrás del negocio". También respaldan a San Ángel el Excmo. Xavier-Luc Duval, ex viceprimer ministro de Mauricio, responsable del turismo y también ex presidente de las Islas Vanilla del Océano Índico, ahora líder de la oposición en Mauricio; la Cámara de Comercio e Industria de Seychelles; Gilbert Lamory, vicepresidente responsable de Desarrollo de GIHP (Groupement pour l'insertion des personnes Handicapees Physiques) de Francia; Johnny Rohregger, el rey de los viajes; y Hardy Lucas, ex colega político del candidato de Seychelles.
Germany’s Thomas Cook Group Airlines Condor Flugdienst GmbH, a leading European Leisure Airlines Group said, “Alain St.Ange is in the top league by global comparison, and we wish him all the best for his candidacy for the UNWTO,” and Wolfgang H. Thome of the Aviation, Tourism & Conservation News from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, wrote, “St.Ange is My Man for the UNWTO Top Job.” Maxime Behar, the President of the ICCO, the largest public relations community in the world, being in 48 countries, said, “I know Alain St.Ange as a perfect professional who understands every single small detail in the tourism business, but also has a wide vision on the whole world and knows how to make this business much more efficient and result oriented.” On his part, Peter Sinon, former Seychelles Ambassador & Minister and former Executive Director of the African Development Bank for Africa’s Eastern Constituency said, “I wholeheartedly endorse Alain St.Ange for the post of Secretary General of the UNWTO,” and the AIOM, the Association of Inbound Operators (Mauritius) has also now endorsed him.
One journalist who writes daily on tourism and aviation in East Africa is Wolfgang H. Thome, and he also came out to say the St.Ange was his man for the UNWTO. Wolfgang Thome wrote: “Alain St.Ange and I knew of each other way before we met for the first time, notably in Kampala, where he had come to attend a tourism and trade conference for Eastern Africa and COMESA.
“A partir de entonces, cuando fue nombrado Director de Marketing de Turismo en la Junta de Turismo de Seychelles (STB), propuesto por un particular harto de 'lo mismo de siempre' en esos días y cuando rápidamente ascendió hasta convertirse en CEO de STB: estábamos en contacto constante.
"Alain valoraba los consejos y la experiencia y demostró ser un hombre que no disparaba desde la cadera antes de que todos los hechos estuvieran sobre la mesa y se conocieran, e incluso entonces, optó por la persuasión y convencer a otros del camino correcto a seguir en lugar de apresurarse a hacer declaraciones y acciones precipitadas". . La fortuna del turismo de Seychelles subió y subió mientras él estaba en STB, el Carnaval de Carnivals, también conocido como Carnival International de Victoria, se lanzó en 2011, y este golpe maestro impulsó al archipiélago a los medios de comunicación globales como nunca antes y resultó un año después. en Alain siendo nombrado ministro de Turismo y Cultura.
“Nuestra relación prosperó, no en términos materiales, me apresuro a señalar, sino al permitir intercambios e interacciones aún más profesionales, ya que el gigante del marketing de Seychelles había encontrado un nuevo campeón. St.Ange se involucró rápidamente con la industria de la aviación mundial, llevó Routes Africa a Victoria y se convirtió en un orador principal muy solicitado para eventos turísticos en todo el mundo, que quería conocer el secreto de su éxito y cómo Seychelles se posicionó constantemente por encima de su de peso, dado que las islas solo cuentan con 90,000 habitantes. St.Ange también se convirtió en un campeón de los inversores y partes interesadas del turismo de Seychelles, profesando su creencia de que Seychelles necesita recuperar su industria y comenzar a ofrecer un producto único que refleje las tradiciones y la cultura criolla, y verter esos ingredientes en el crisol de la hospitalidad. industria.
“Un firme partidario de la formación industrial, apoyó a la Academia de Turismo de Seychelles (STA), que hoy es un estudio de caso para otros países, cómo la cooperación y la innovación llevaron a STA a convertirse en la institución líder en el Océano Índico para la formación en turismo y hostelería. Actualmente, pasando los toques finales de la fase dos de una expansión en tres fases, St.Ange puede enorgullecerse de lograr que el sector privado participe y de apoyar la formación profesional y terciaria de los jóvenes de Seychelles deseosos de hacer una carrera en la industria.
“Arrivals grew and grew some more with some phenomenal results in recent years, when visitor arrivals set new records from 2009 onwards, now in excess of 300,000 tourists per annum. January this year saw a rise of 34 percent more tourists streaming into the islands, to a large part attributed to a liberalized aviation regime which St.Ange influenced, adding frequencies, larger aircraft, and new airlines calling on Mahe’s international airport, while at the same time Air Seychelles prospered too with new passenger records year after year. When St.Ange a few weeks ago threw his hat in the ring as a candidate for the post of Secretary General of UNWTO, he first resigned so as not to use the resources of his government for his campaign, even though from the President of Seychelles.”
“From HE Danny Rollen Faure to the grassroot stakeholders in the industry and everyone in between, they have all endorsed him in glowing terms. Alain a few days ago came on invitation of the East Africa Tourism Platform (EATP) and of Uganda’s Minister for Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities. the Hon. Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, to attend the annual Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo in Kampala. As a keynote speaker and guest of honor at the EATP launch of their ‘Destination East Africa’ web portal, he used the opportunity, as he did in the following panel discussions, the Ministerial Round Table and a series of one-on-one meetings with the East African movers and shakers in the tourism and aviation industry, to present his vision. His manifesto, submitted with his candidacy documents during FITUR at the UNWTO head offices in Madrid, speaks for itself, as it foresees a transformation of UNWTO into an organization for the entire tourism industry as it presents itself in the 21st century, democratizes it, and brings services to the member countries in the field rather than relying only on the functions of the UNWTO office in Spain. I was able to conduct an interview with Alain as the world was still in awe over his interviews at Sky News with Adam Boulton, with CNN’s Richard Quest, and then on the BBC Focus on Africa program, where he made a perfect case why he should be THE candidate for UNWTO’s top job.
“At that stage, something writers and journalists rarely do but which in my case was prompted by various developments, attributed to other candidates and a minute minority section of other travel media who broke protocol to start with by their partiality in reporting when they ditched journalistic principles of fairness and equality, I decided it is time that I too take a stand. Therefore, I now stand side by side with Alain St.Ange as I declare my support for his campaign and without inducements or promised favors, endorse him as my candidate for the upcoming UNWTO elections in May. And that is more than I can say about others who professed friendship when Alain held office and moved to greener pastures when, principled as he is, he resigned to run his own campaign without using his government’s hard-earned tourism revenues or neglecting his duty as a minister by being on the campaign trail for several months.”
El Sr. Ramu Pillay de la Asociación India de Seychelles dijo por su parte: “Hemos trabajado en estrecha colaboración con Alain St. Ange y juntos creamos un evento, las Celebraciones del Día de Seychelles-India, para marcar el papel de los indios de Seychelles en el desarrollo de Seychelles. El ministro St.Ange fue un hombre de palabra y nunca tuvo reparos en hacerse eco de que Seychelles es un país donde el respeto por todos era el principio rector. A lo largo de su mandato, el ministro dijo una y otra vez que en Seychelles, sin importar el color de su piel, su creencia religiosa, su afiliación política, con cualquier forma de discapacidad que pueda tener y de su preferencia sexual, sigue siendo un persona y que necesita el respeto de la sociedad. Como comunidad, siempre fuimos muy bien recibidos por el Ministro Alain St. Ange en sus Oficinas Ministeriales, y siempre valoramos el respeto con el que escuchó nuestras solicitudes y propuestas. Se ha erigido un muro histórico de los primeros colonos indios que llegaron a Seychelles en el Centro Cultural Nacional debido a la determinación del ministro de que cada rama haga de Seychelles el 'crisol de culturas' no solo reconocida, sino también dada la importancia que merecían. Vimos su Carnival International de Victoria anual traer naciones de la Comunidad de Naciones para compartir este evento Melting Pot of Cultures bajo el lema de 'Amigos de Todos y Enemigos de Ninguno'. El ministro Alain St. Ange es una personalidad del turismo que tiene pasión y profesionalismo, y nosotros, la comunidad india de Seychelles, no tenemos ninguna reserva en respaldarlo como candidato para el puesto de secretario general de la Organización Mundial del Turismo de las Naciones Unidas, y apelamos a todos los patriotas de Seychelles para que se unan a nosotros para desearle éxito al Ministro San Ángel el 11 de mayo de 2017 ”.
El Sr. Narasimhan Ramani del Consejo Hindú de Seychelles por su parte dijo: “El Consejo Hindú de Seychelles considera, como una cuestión de orgullo y honor, apoyar al Sr. Alain St. Ange en el cargo de Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas Naciones Organización Mundial del Turismo. El señor Alain St. Ange tiene el tema del turismo en el torrente de su sangre, y habiendo nacido en la isla de La Digue que tiene el orgullo de poseer las playas más hermosas del mundo avalado por muchas organizaciones relacionadas con los viajes en el mundo. Habiendo servido a las Seychelles en diversas capacidades en la industria del turismo, posee un conocimiento profundo del orgullo, los hechos y las dificultades del sector turístico. Su invención del concepto de las Islas Vanilla para promover el turismo en la región del Océano Índico, el Carnaval de Victoria, el Día de la India de Seychelles y el Día de China de Seychelles, para popularizar las Seychelles en todo el mundo, son los hitos de su carrera como Ministro de Turismo. Además, el Sr. St. Ange es un hombre que está por encima de la política de color, credo, idioma, religión y etnia y es apreciado por sus esfuerzos para reunir bajo una plataforma a personas de diversas culturas y nacionalidades por el bien de la gente. país. Su participación como ponente principal y magistral en diversas plataformas en todo el mundo sobre el tema del turismo avala que es el candidato más idóneo para el puesto al que se postula. Su elección para el cargo enorgullecerá no solo a Seychelles, sino también a nuestra región del Océano Índico, el continente africano y todos los países del tercer mundo. Nosotros, los miembros del Consejo Hindú de Seychelles, respaldamos de todo corazón la candidatura del Sr. Alain St. Ange ”.
El Dr. K. Viveganandan, presidente del Melvin Jones Club y Lion's Club of Seychelles, dijo: “El Lion's Club of Seychelles felicita a un hijo de nuestras islas por haber tenido el coraje de ser un candidato creíble para el United de mayo de 2017 Elecciones de la Organización Mundial del Turismo de Naciones. Seychelles se enorgullece de ver nuestro nombre en la lista junto con los países que compiten por el puesto de Secretario General de la Organización Mundial del Turismo de las Naciones Unidas. Hemos conocido a Alain St. Ange, nuestro exministro de Turismo, Aviación Civil, Puertos y Marina, y miembro del Club de Leones de Seychelles. Su dedicación por triunfar en el país siempre fue tan evidente. Su pasión por el turismo se vio en todos los lugares donde se movió y en cada discurso que pronunció, y el éxito de nuestra industria turística fue el resultado de su pasión. Lion's Club Seychelles respalda hoy a Alain St. Ange, el candidato de Seychelles a Secretario General de la Organización Mundial del Turismo de las Naciones Unidas, y al mismo tiempo hacemos un llamamiento al Lion's Club International para que también se una a nosotros para respaldar a este competente profesional del turismo ".
The Lions Club of Kiev in the Ukraine has followed the example of the Seychelles Lion’s Club and is calling on their members to push the Seychelles candidacy for the post of Secretary General of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization). The Lion Club members of these two clubs are also calling on members of the Executive Council of the UNWTO they know to express their support for Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles candidate.
Este movimiento del Club de Leones de Kiev en Ucrania es interesante para San Ángel de las Seychelles, quien ha visto a más instituciones europeas de turismo avanzar para apoyarlo. Ya respaldado por Fred W.Finn, la persona más viajada del mundo según los récords mundiales Guinness y el embajador honorable representante de la Administración Nacional de Turismo de Georgia, St. Ange recibió durante la Feria de Turismo ITB en Berlín, Alemania, el apoyo de Lela Krstevska de la Agencia de Turismo del Gobierno de Macedonia.
Macedonia said that one of the main reasons for their endorsement of the Seychelles candidate was his immense experience and positive attitude, which they believe is really important in maintaining the high profile and respect that UNWTO has achieved in recent years, not only in the tourism industry but across a broader spectrum that will pitch UNWTO to a new position that will help to unify the industry. The Macedonia representative also said that the tourism industry provides rewarding and important employment opportunities for women in developed and developing countries and that this helps to provide women with economic independence and empowerment and strengths their position in society. “As a woman myself, I am convinced that Mr. St.Ange will help the gentler sex and will drive initiatives that improve the position of women even further. I would be more than happy to assist him with this,” Lela Krstevska of Macedonia said.
On his part, Fred Finn, the World’s Most Travelled Person as per the Guinness World Records and the Ambassador Honorable Representative of Georgian National Tourism Administration, said in his endorsement that he had known Alain for 20 years or more from when he was in the hospitality industry in Seychelles, and that he had worked alongside this passionate man with vision. “I have been a follower of Alain’s career; his success is a tribute to his hard work. I have been delighted to write about him in OK Magazine, talked on TV shows, and in leading newspapers around the world to talk about Seychelles. Alain has inspired this love of Seychelles not only in me but so many around the world. I now list Seychelles, because of Alain’s interest in me all those years ago, as one on my favorite destinations in everything I write and talk about. I can think of no better person to become Secretary General of the UNWTO than this hardworking, dedicated, talented professional so that he may continue to succeed in his tourism visions on your much bigger stage,” said Fred Finn.
From Europe, CONDOR, the German Airline of Germany, has also echoed support for St.Ange of the Seychelles. Dr. Jens Boyd, the Commercial Director Long Haul for Thomas Cook Group Airlines Condor Flugdienst GmbH, came out with his support for the Seychelles candidate Alain St.Ange for the post of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Dr. Jens Boyd of Thomas Cook Group Airlines Condor wrote: “As a leading European Leisure Airlines Group, we are happy to share our experience in working with former Minister Alain St.Ange of the Seychelles, with whom we were able to successfully grow tourism flows from Central Europe to his home country, and to the Indian Ocean Islands in general. Alain has built an efficient national tourism board organization, established several events to draw global attention, and rallied all local agencies and interest groups behind the objective of bringing more tourists to Seychellois shores. The best tourist leaders are working along the same lines, and this certainly puts him in the top league by global comparison. What has set him apart from even that crowd in our eyes is an all-encompassing view to tourism development that does not stop at his own shores. Alain was actively promoting trips across multiple Indian Ocean Island nations or combinations with mainland Africa, seeing the benefits that a bigger Indian Ocean tourism can bring to all islands. The Vanilla Islands initiative is a pinnacle achievement in that respect, and with the help of Alain and that initiative, we were also able to increase our capacity to Mauritius. Furthermore, as direct air access is and remains a critical part to developing tourism, Alain was an attentive listener and driver of a new national air services regime that allowed not only us, but also other carriers, to build new air connections to the Seychelles. His willingness and ability to identify the critical issues, to discuss them with the various private and political parties, and to find mutually agreeable solutions in a broader context have set him apart from most other tourism leaders we work with. Not least his personality and energy were a key building stone in this success.”
From Bulgaria, the ICCO President, Maxim Behar, on his part said that Alain St.Ange is the perfect candidate for Secretary General of UNWTO. ICCO, the largest public relations community in the world, having 48 countries from all continents with more than 3,000 firms, said: “I know Alain St.Ange as perfect professional who understands every single small detail in the tourism business, but also has a wide vision on the whole world and knows how to make this business much more efficient and result oriented. I fully agree with Alain that the tourism business must be much more united and to work for a better environment, and to emphasize on cultural heritage and specialized travels. But also, Alain is a great personality – he united not only businesses and countries, he united people and ideas, and this is one of his greatest advantages.”
Johnny Rohregger, the “King of Travel from Germany” as he is known in the tourism and travel world has also come out to endorse Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles candidate for the position of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). In a letter, the King of Travel writes: “With pleasure I think on the Seychelles which are stuck on your name. You have been and still are the best representative of your country. Charming and positive, you invite the world to visit the islands of Seychelles. I will never forget the hearty welcome on Denis Island with the red flower carpet – no wind allowed to blow it away, and the friendly laughing faces off your staff who gave a real feeling of welcoming. You continue many more surprises, and I don’t get tired to recommend your Denis Island in my traveling to friends and ex-clients. King Johnny goes further to add, success and luck, we recommend you on our side.”
“Tourism for all” without discrimination was the message being pushed as GIHP, the important lobby group for the involvement of the physically handicapped of France who also threw their support behind Alain St.Ange for SG of the UNWTO. In the French city of Paris, Gilbert Lamory took time to address the press about discrimination in the world of tourism. Gilbert Lamory, the Vice President responsible for Development for GIHP (Groupement pour l’insertion des personnes Handicapees Physiques) of France said that a lot could still be done to respect those who are physically handicapped. Gilbert Lamory on behalf of the GIHP presented Alain St.Ange with a letter of endorsement, and also copies of the GIHP’s worldwide coordinated call for support for St.Ange. Mr. Lamory, who has been a for a number of years the advisor and instructor at the Federation National des Offices du Tourisme et Syndicats d’Initiative to push forward the plight of the handicapped, spoke with emotion to the press present at the presentation of the GIHP letter of endorsement to St.Ange. “There is still a lot to do in many countries for the handicapped persons to travel freely,” he said, before adding that in 2017 the handicapped population of the world had the opportunity to help get someone elected to the post of Secretary General of the UNWTO who was particularly concerned of the concept of tourism for all. “In effect, the election of the new Secretary General of the UNWTO that will be taking place in May will have amongst the candidates Alain St.Ange, who is clearly concerned by the facilities available for those falling in the grouping of handicapped travelers,” Gilbert Lamory said.
“Memo Planet” the French company promoting international tourism, also wrote to say that they were standing behind Seychelles candidate St.Ange for Secretary General of the UNWTO. “We have known Alain St.Ange as Minister responsible for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, and even before that when he only had the Tourism and Culture portfolios, and admired his passion for tourism. This is why, as a known tourism professional video company, we are writing to publicly endorse him as the candidate for Secretary General for the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Mr. St.Ange could never understand NO, and always wanted to find solutions. He believed in working beyond borders and coined many tag lines to attach the lndian Ocean Islands together and also these lovely islands with mainland Africa. We know, and many of my professional photographers share our views, that Alain St.Ange is so well suited for the United Nations position, which is why we are today endorsing him from the ‘tourism at large’ community,” said Remi Voluer of My Lovely Planet.
The Lion’s Club of Kiev of Ukraine also came out. “On behalf of Kyiv Lions Club, it is my pleasure to endorse Alain St.Ange, former Minister of Tourism, Ports, Airports and Culture of Seychelles, for the position of Secretary General of UNWTO. Kyiv Lions Club is indebted to Alain St.Ange for his friendship to Ukraine, and to Kyiv Lions Club in particular, as with his involvement, Seychelles tourism has provided an invaluable contribution to our fundraising activities. His involvement has helped us raise money for many worthy causes, while at the same time bringing Seychelles to the notice of many in Ukraine. Those who have traveled to Seychelles have all come back full of praise for the tourism wonder that Alain St.Ange has built in Seychelles.
“His proven track record of uniting tourism, cultural understanding, and business with worthy causes shows a man of repute and sincerity, a person fit and proper to serve as Secretary General of UNWTO. On behalf of Kyiv Lions Club, I wish Alain St.Ange luck and look forward to welcoming him in Kyiv in his new role,” said Karen-Marie Kragelund, Kyiv Lions Club President in the Ukraine.
The Seychelles candidate has amassed a long list of endorsements from Africa, Asia, Europe, and from the rest of the world. “I prefer to let the world of tourism say what they think of me instead of me telling the world what I have done. The world at large knows that I have been a hands-on minister of tourism and delivered for this industry. It was not talk but action by a leader who remained a friend of the industry pushing for tourism for all without discrimination,” said Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles candidate for SG of the UNWTO.
