“We are being affected by a phenomenon that we are not responsible for… we’ve done our bit and our share to protect the environment not only for Seychelles but also for the world.”
Such was the opening statement of Sylvestre Radegonde, Seychelles’ Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism in a panel discussion at the 22nd World Tourism and Travel Council Global Summit (WTTC) held from November 28-30 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where the importance of the tourism sector for the global economy and communities worldwide was the main topic of discussion.
During one of the strategic sessions with sub-theme ‘Enhancing our Resilience’, the Seychelles Tourism minister seized the opportunity to highlight the lessons learned from past natural disasters and the different steps taken by the government of Seychelles to prepare for the long-term impact of climate change. During the session, Minister Radegonde also shared the commitment of the government of Seychelles to mitigate the effects of climate change to ensure the survival of the islands.
Minister Radegonde also joined 51 other tourism ministers, various high-ranking officials and close to 4000 other delegates from some 140 countries in a Global Leaders forum held on November 28, 2022. The aim of the forum was to discuss and align efforts to support the sector’s recovery as well as address the challenges the future poses to ensure a safer, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Tourism sector.
Minister Radegonde was accompanied on this mission by Sherin Francis, the principal secretary for Tourism and Ahmed Fathallah, the Seychelles Tourism representative in the Middle East.
The World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit is the most influential Travel and Tourism event on the global tourism calendar, and this year it was attended by prominent figures such as the secretary general of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, Lady Theresa May, Ban Ki-Moon, tourism ministers, CEOs of global tourism brands and other high-ranking delegates.
Under the theme ‘Travel for a Better Future’, other vital issues discussed during the summit included the sustainability of the sector, reducing footprints of Travel and Tourism, and the use of technology and innovation in travel.
Source: Seychelles Nation