It was such a pleasure catching up with a very dear friend (over 10 years) at ITB this year. Alain St.Ange, a dynamic, knowledgeable, easily accessible, globally renowned tourism expert and a former Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine of Seychelles has decided to stand for the Presidential Elections for the Republic of Seychelles which are scheduled on September 27, 2025 – coincidently it’s also the UN declared World Tourism Day. To get insights on his vision for his country we had the opportunity to interact with him.

Firstly, congrats on you being a Presidential candidate.

Thanks my friend

You were a very successful tourism minister for several years. Over the years, how has Seychelles come up as a tourism destination?

I think Seychelles is blessed. We have all the unique attributes for a successful tourism industry, but we must always, never forget that tourism is an industry. It’s not an activity. And for it to keep on working, we need to be dedicated and to show the people and also the investors that we are dedicated as a country to make the country work as a tourism destination.

Sustainability has been the buzzword for quite a few years. How is Seychelles looking into that?

I firmly believe our island state can claim to be sustainable. In Seychelles, we’ve done it even before the word was invented, because we always believed that as Seychellois we need to leave behind a country that is better than what it was. So with that in mind, we’ve had strict laws. As good custodians we had that vision of protecting what we have been blessed with. So I can proudly say it is in our DNA and as islanders to protect and safeguard it – to ensure that it’s as it’s for the world to see.

Will you promote Seychelles as a leisure destination or for MICE?

Though it will have a degree of MICE, I don’t think it will ever be an exclusive MICE destination. We are too small and lets be realistic. We don’t have enough rooms or beds to really attract the MICE market. But we can certainly have little groups. I mean, we have already had grand weddings from India which are also in a way MICE. We do have small conferences and leisure groups of companies. But there are limits in numbers, so we are very much a leisure destination.

Hopefully when the election results are out and you become the President. What would be your first steps?

Well, the first step, if I become the President of the Republic of Seychelles on the 27th of September this year, is firstly to relook at the economy, to make sure that we don’t leave anybody behind. It is easy as a government to leave some people behind. You have two classes, the elites and the normal people. I think the first aim would be to take everybody along, also to narrow that gap between the haves and those that don’t have. The second thing is to reset the economy by revamping tourism, to be consolidated and not to grow out of proportion. I really believe that tourism is the pillar of the economy.

Absolutely I agree.

Yes. When tourism is the mainstay of the country it shines that light on everybody. So everybody benefits from it. It’s not good having an industry that brings benefits, but only part of the country benefits from it. We must all benefit.

Would you still continue with the visa free policy that you had?

Seychelles has always believed that we are friends of all, enemies of none. So we will continue with that.

Anything in particular that you would like to highlight?

We must understand that we are part of the Indian Ocean, and as such, we need to work with our neighbours but work in a manner of respect, in a manner of togetherness, so that every country that touches this Indian Ocean benefits.

We must pick the countries that are closest to us and find a way, maybe with the help of India, which is the big brother of the area. We must really sit together and see how we can make that region safe for navigation, safe for shipping, safe for air access etc.

Once you become the president, any particular tie ups with India that we can look forward to?

We have met several times in India and as you are aware I’ve always said in my visits to India that India is the country as well as Africa, are the countries that we need to be attached to. We need to be attached because they are next to us. They’ve known us from day one. When we did not have an airport, the only access to Seychelles was the British ships that came from Bombay (Mumbai), got into Seychelles and then went on to Mombasa in South Africa, and that was the only access we had. We watched them every month when they came in, and it was a big thing for us. I remember as a young man, when the ship was seen, we would run and wait at the post office for letters that would arrive. We knew who was boarding and who had landed. I remember my grandparents went to India and put my eldest brother in a school in India and that was a big thing for us. So our relationship with your country is special for many of us.

As Alain St.Ange sets his sights on the presidency, his unwavering commitment to both tourism and sustainability promises a bright future for Seychelles.

Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, is a paradise known for its pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and lush tropical landscapes. A haven for luxury travelers, nature lovers, and adventure seekers, it boasts world-class diving spots, rich biodiversity, and cultural influences from Africa, Europe, and Asia.