St.Ange was part of a panel of speakers that included Shruti Shibulal, the CEO and Director of Tamara Leisure Experiences, Winnie Muchanyuka, the CEO of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, H.E. Ilin Dimitrov, Minister of Tourism in Bulgaria and H.E. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism in Jamaica.

After opening remarks by Yatan Ahluwalia, the SG of PATWA in front of a packed conference room, Alain St.Ange spoke about the need for Tourism Destinations and everyone involved in tourism to take stock of what existed before as key USBs (unique selling points) and to analyse why they did not bring the needed returns or if they had worked how to increase their potential further using the most sustainable approach possible.

St.Ange addressed at length the different niche markets and the potential each of them continues to carry and used Cruise Ship Business as one saying that more could be achieved if the merits of this vital industry was understood. He said it remained the Tourism destinations to work with cruise ship companies to get the maximum number of passengers to disembark at a port call and secondly to work to maximise followup potential from all passengers who do not disembark and to look at them as a tourism trade fair on a public day. “Each passenger on board has friends and family members who are potential visitors for the destination if the passengers were properly sold the destination. We should never miss such opportunities” said St.Ange before talking on future strategies and initiatives.

The Seychelles former Minister spoke about consolidation of the workforce and for destinations to ‘claim back’ their tourism industry as it had the potential to put money into the pockets of each and every citizen of their respective countries. “The time to walk alone is gone, join forces as regional blocks, create new tourism destinations as was done in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands. Make the USPs of one beclme the USPs of every member in the region. Be innovative and always bear in mind that together one is always stronger than being alone and isolated”.

Alain St.Ange ended his address on the essential need of increased visibility for each tourism destination. “Out of sight is out of mind and not relevant anymore as a possible holiday destination” he said in ending.