His Majesty King Felipe VI, King of Spain joined Tourism Ministers, Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) and David Scowsill, the President and CEO of the WTTC (World Travel&Tourism Council) for the 15th. WTTC Global Summit in Spain.
The Ministerial Session on Investment in Infrastructure and Development for Travel and Tourism is where the leaders in travel and tourism sat side by side with Government Ministers and together exchanged ideas and respective successes in what was termed the platform for public/private sector partnership. Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture said at this meeting that this is a great initiative because public/private sector partnership is clearly the way forward. Minister St.Ange of the Seychelles said that the call by UNWTO and WTTC to have such a joint meeting is commendable. “In Seychelles we work hard to do exactly that with public/private sector approach overseeing our Tourism Board and in a larger concept the Cross Sectorial Ministerial Meeting under the Chairmanship of the island's Vice President. Here Government Ministers who have a direct or indirect impact on the tourism industry with the private sector players to look in all transparency the way forward by raising points seen an challenges," said Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture.
The Seychelles Minister congratulated the recognition of Tourism from the highest level in Spain. “Tourism is such a volatile industry and one that is affected whenever and where ever a negative news breaks. This is why we need to keep moving ahead in a united approach in our respective countries, in our region, on our continent and in the Community of Nations. The presence of the King of Spain at a Tourism event spells the commitment of that country for its tourism industry. In Seychelles the President of the Republic personally held the portfolio of tourism when he wanted to refocus the island's tourism industry," the Seychelles Minister said.