The Vanilla Islands vote for president as Seychelles Tourism Minister steps down
Tourism |Author: Hajira Amla | May 14, 2014, Wednesday @ 12:52| 4406 views
The Vanilla Islands organization, brings together Seychelles, Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, Comoros, Mayotte and the Maldives (Vanessa Lucas, Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and Culture)
(Seychelles News Agency) - Representatives from the member states of the ‘Vanilla Islands’ will cast their votes today to elect the next president of the Indian Ocean islands tourism affiliation, as Seychelles Minister of Tourism and Culture, Alain St. Ange, steps down as the head of the organization.
According to a press release issued yesterday by the Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the three candidates running for the presidency are Mauritian Tourism and Leisure Minister Michael Sik Yuen, President of the Regional council of Reunion Didier Robert and the Malagasy Minister of Tourism Ramarcel Benjamina Ramanantsoa.
Ramanantsoa appears favourite to be named for the post.
Delegates from the Vanilla Islands organization, which is comprised of Seychelles, Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, Comoros, Mayotte and the Maldives, arrived yesterday at the Colbert Hotel in Antananarivo for the vote, taking place in the margins of the International Tourism Fair of Madagascar, an annual event featured on the Vanilla Islands calendar.
The newly elected president is expected to be named during the ITM Fair which begins tomorrow until Saturday May 17.
The presidency of the group is chosen by election each year, and St. Ange served two consecutive terms in 2012 and 2013.
The organization’s objective is to revitalize tourism marketing for the islands in the Indian Ocean by working together under a common brand.
Each island’s unique attractions and events are promoted by the group, and annual celebrations and events such as the Madagascar Tourism Fair, the Seychelles ‘Carnaval International de Victoria’, the Comoros Cultural and Gastronomic Fiesta and the La Reunion Festival Liberté Metisse are marketed jointly and enjoy support and patronage from all member states.