Seychelles to cooperate with Kenya on tourism

The recent announcement by visiting Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St Ange, that his nation is keen to strengthen ties with Kenya in tourism has received support.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (Kahc) Coast Branch Executive Officer, Sam Ikwaye said the tiny Indian ocean island has a superior and well developed travel and hospitality industry.

“For benchmarking, Kenya needs such an associate and must fully embrace the gesture by the Seychelles as we enter the recovery phase,’’ Ikwaye said. St Ange who was in Mombasa last week to attend the inaugural United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO ) East African Tourism Development Forum said the two states continue to embrace closer ties.

“Many of our own nationals have lived and worked in Kenya during the period preceding the independence from Great Britain in 1976,’’ St Ange said. He added that Seychelles has been proactive in the tourism arena and has been championing for solid working partnership with Kenya. He lauded Kenyan government for showing commitment and support to tourism. UNWTO Secretary General Dr Taleb Rifai was aso in Mombasa for the two day forum.