Alain St.Ange honoured in the UK for a lifetime shaping Seychelles tourism and championing African destinations

At their UK event of the 1st of November 2026 Africa Tourism Awards recognised a career spanning global tourism, regional cooperation and the cultural story of Seychelles

Global tourism leader and Seychelles Ambassador-at-Large Alain St.Ange received a Lifetime Achievement honour at the Africa Tourism Awards 2026 ceremony today in the presence of the island's High Commission Officials H.E. Patsy Moustache and Wendy Isnard. The award recognises his work to raise Seychelles’ profile, bring neighbouring destinations together and champion tourism that benefits local people. It is a proud honour for Seychelles and for Africa.

St.Ange began as Seychelles’ Director of Marketing in 2009 and became Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board the following year. He later served as Minister of Tourism and Culture, and as Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine. Fluent in English, French, Creole and German, he has spent his career building connections across cultures and carrying the Seychelles story to audiences around the world.

In 2014, he received the Mahatma Gandhi Honour Award for his work strengthening relations between India and Seychelles amongs many others including the Change Maker of the Year Award in South Africa. He also became the first President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Regional Organisation, bringing Seychelles and neighbouring destinations together around a shared tourism identity. The initiative reflected his belief that countries can achieve more by working together while remaining proud of what makes them distinct.

St.Ange’s contribution extends beyond tourism. In books he has written and published, he has contributed to accounts of Seychelles’ culture and political history, drawing on the experiences and influences that have shaped island life.

Accepting the honour, he paid tribute to the people who had shared the work with him.

“I think of the years at the Seychelles Tourism Board, my time in government, and the work we did to bring Seychelles to the attention of the world. But most of all, I think of the people who did that work with me: colleagues, tourism businesses, and Seychellois who welcomed visitors and shared their home with them. I could not have done it without them. This recognition belongs to them as well” he told the press.

That humility sits alongside a bold vision: Seychelles should never think small. Its people, Creole culture and natural heritage give the islands a story worth sharing. St.Ange helped bring that story to the world and showed how a small island nation could make its voice heard in global tourism.

He believes the industry must also be judged by what it leaves behind: stronger local businesses, opportunities for young people, communities proud of their culture and nature protected for the future. His challenge to African destinations is to tell their stories with confidence, work across borders and ensure local people share in tourism’s success.

The path St.Ange has helped pave is clear: African destinations shaping their own future in tourism, and communities growing stronger from the welcome they extend to the world. As he said, “The best recognition we can give tourism is to make sure that, when visitors leave, the people and places that welcomed them are stronger for it.”

Category:

Press release 

Writer:

Tolu Osindero