UNWTO has expressed its full support to the
newly created Vanilla Islands Tourism Organization as a means to reinforce
tourism competitiveness in the islands of the Indian Ocean.
The concept of 'Vanilla Islands',
defined at the beginning of August 2010 under the aegis of the Indian Ocean
Commission, aims to unify the islands of Comoros,
Mauritius, Madagascar, La Reunion, Seychelles Maldives and
Mayotte,
under one tourism brand through the valorization of each of the islands unique
selling propositions. The Organization aims to increase connectivity to and
intra islands, create new multi-destination products and attract more visitors
to the
Indian Ocean.
Attending the meeting of the
Vanilla Islands, in La Reunion
at the eve of the UNWTO/Government of France “Conference on Sustainable Tourism
in Islands”, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said “It is exciting to see
the political will behind this project: The regional cooperation emerging in
the Vanilla Islands is an example of how destination islands can, by working
together, address some of the key challenges facing islands such as
connectivity while creating a stronger and more attractive brand.”
“The La Reunion Minister's
meeting of the Vanilla
Islands has been seen as
a success because it has finally moved this concept into a real grouping that
is today a tourism organization of a big region. Our achievements can also be
seen as having been a success because of the presence of UNWTO Secretary
General, Taleb Rifai, who has brought to this meeting the recognition and the
respect of the community of nations through UNWTO. The world will now hear of
the Vanilla Islands as the new tourism destination and for this I join my
colleague Ministers of the region to say thank you to UNWTO and to the
community of nations”, said Alain St Ange, President of the “Vanilla Islands”
and Minister of Tourism and Culture of Seychelles.
UNWTO will work together with
the Vanilla Islands
to promote the new Organization within the international tourism community and
encourage the relationship between the Vanilla Islands
and other regions of the world.
