Alain St.Ange: I’m Working to Ensure ATCAF 2024 in Nigeria Succeeds 

Charles Ajunwa

Former Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine of the Seychelles, Alain St.Ange, has said that he is working to ensure everything goes well at this year’s Africa Tourism Day and Africa Tourism Climate Action Forum (ATCAF) taking place in Nigeria later this month.

St. Ange, who disclosed this when he addressed Africa Celebrates 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said Africa’s tourism industry must succeed if all worked towards a welcoming approach with no ambiguities or complications.

The tourism personality of the continent who is widely regarded as an expert took the visa protocol in Africa to task, saying that if it is only the revenue that was behind the concept, then it was maybe time to look at the fee being embodied in the air ticket instead of the unhealthy queuing for the formality at airports. 

St.Ange said the time to look at the big picture was now. “Grow tourism and let the country and its people benefit,” he said. 

“Today, we sit at this preliminary sessions of the Africa Tourism Day and Africa Tourism Climate Action Forum (ATCAF) 2024 that will be held later this month in Nigeria. I am a proud board member working alongside the organisation’s President, Dr. Abigail Olagbaye of Nigeria, and committed to see the event succeeds,” he said.

He added, “We are here celebrating our continent’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, while addressing the pressing issue of climate change. As we explore the intersection of tourism, inclusion and climate action, we recognise the immense potential of sustainable tourism to drive economic growth, create jobs, and promote cultural exchange. 

“Our focus is on empowering women and youths with green jobs and skills in waste recycling, renewable energy, sustainable transport, sustainable agriculture, creative industries, tourism, and digital skills.

“During this pre-session, we engaged in meaningful discussions, solutions mapping and networking and I am confident that our collective expertise and passion will yield actionable pathway for Africa’s tourism development and Climate action.”

St.Ange, who was also his country’s candidate for the post of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation in 2017 and one of the three candidates vying to be the President of the Seychelles in the 2020 elections, also used the Addis Ababa meeting to meet the Traditional Leaders of Africa as he participated in a conference session ‘African Traditional Leaders Forum’. 

He met His Majesty, Dr. Tanyi Robinson, the King of Tinto-Mbu in Cameroon who’s is also the President of African Indigenous Governance Council (AIGC), Dr. Ambassador His Emperor Majesty King Bongwe 2nd Ndebele Nation of South Africa and also  Queen Boresah Fantevie, Nkilgiwurche of the Yagbon(Gonja) Kingdom in Savannah Region, Ghana.