In a new innovation, the Seychelles Tourism Board has appointed Tourism Ambassadors across the world. According to a press release issued by the STB, this is new not only for Seychelles, but it is also the first time that such appointments are made alongside overseas offices of tourism boards. “It is an initiative that shows that Seychelles is leaving no stones unturned in its move to defend and protect its pillar of its economy, the tourism industry.”
In presenting the move to appoint the first Tourism Ambassadors at the official opening of the 2010 tourism marketing meeting in a packed conference center in Victoria, Alain St. Ange, the Director of Tourism Marketing said that the Seychelles overseas offices will now have added support to more adequately service the tourism markets.
“…today we are bringing in another new approach, that is, the appointing of Tourism Ambassadors right across the world. These will be Seychellois living and working in the four corners of the world who have their country at heart. They will be like consuls, but here only to promote and continuously help develop Seychelles as the tourist destination.
“The saying ‘Once a Seychellois, always a Seychellois’ cannot be more true, and these men and women will do our country proud as they become ‘foot soldiers’ for the pillar of our economy, our tourism industry,” said Alain St. Ange.
He expressed the belief that all Seychellois living abroad are natural ambassadors of their country of birth, the country that they love. It is for this reason he said that he initiated the idea of formally appointing Seychellois Tourism Ambassadors : a cadre of hand-picked individuals, well-known in their countries of residence and whose network of contacts and local knowledge will be invaluable tools in promoting Seychelles as a tourism destination across the globe.
“Working in close collaboration with our overseas offices, and our marketing teams, they will provide a sharp tip to our promotional efforts, with the ability to access individuals and organizations on their home turf in a way that would not be possible through traditional marketing methods.
“With their contacts and easy access with their local travel agents, tour operators and the press, their local knowledge of their new home, and with their personal touch, they will primarily be responsible for developing a personal relationship with these travel agents, tour operators and press fraternity in their respective cities. They live there, they work there and they are part of that community, their opinion will be trusted and their feelings respected. I anticipate that, in time and with the appropriate levels of support, their efforts, both individual and collective, will impact considerably on our arrival figures” Alain St. Ange said.
Mr St. Ange said that the Tourism Board will continue identifying new recruits as the Board moved along, and that they had so far not yet touched the Americas, Canada, Asia and Australia.
“Tourism Ambassadors is new, Seychelles needed to be more innovative in forging ahead for the consolidation of our tourism industry, because this remains the pillar of our economy,” Alain St. Ange concluded.
Source African Press Agency
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