PRESS RELEASE
Date: 11th March, 2010
Seychelles News Bureau:-
Seychelles appoints ‘Tourism Ambassador’ in Kenosha, Wisconsin USA
Rosemary Pothin Ludwig – Company President UniqueOffersSeychelles!LLC
The Seychelles Tourism Board has made new appointments in its 'Tourism Ambassador' programme, bringing the total to 60 Seychellois in 25 countries worldwide now representing Seychelles.
This new initiative saw Seychellois born, Mrs. Rosemarie Pothin, appointed as the Seychelles Tourism Ambassador for Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA.
The announcement of the second group of Tourism Ambassadors was made by Vice President Joseph Belmont at a trade lunch on Thursday March 11 at the ITB trade fair in Berlin, Germany.
“We shall continue to identify more Seychellois living and working overseas and propose to them to become part of the Seychelles Tourism Ambassadors programme,” said the Vice President.
It is to be noted that the first group of Seychellois appointed as Tourism Ambassadors were announced in January during the Seychelles’ Tourism Marketing Meeting in Victoria, Mahé.
Vice President Belmont said that the empowering of Seychellois in the four corners of the world to defend and promote Seychelles remains a novel idea and one that the tourism board will continue to develop.
Alain St Ange, the Seychelles’ Director of Tourism Marketing, on his part said that the country’s overseas offices will now have added support to more adequately service our tourism markets.
“The Tourism Ambassadors will be like consuls, but here only to promote and continuously help develop Seychelles as the tourist destination,” he said.
“The saying ‘Once a Seychellois, always a Seychellois’ cannot be more true, and these men and women will do our country proud as they become ‘foot soldiers’ for the pillar of our economy, our tourism industry.
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Mr St Ange added that it is encouraging to see so many Seychellois nationals themselves making the approach to become a Tourism Ambassador, after the concept was launched in January, and in doing so, express their wish to work for Seychelles.
“I firmly believe that all Seychellois living abroad are natural ambassadors of their country of birth, the country that they love. They are well-known in their countries of residence and their network of contacts and local knowledge will be invaluable tools in promoting Seychelles as a tourism destination across the globe,” he explained.
The Tourism Ambassadors will work closely with the country’s overseas offices and marketing teams and will provide a sharp tip to promotional efforts, with the ability to access individuals and organizations on their home turf in a way that would not be possible through traditional marketing methods.
The Seychelles Tourism Board is presently finalising a dedicated newsletter for the Tourism Ambassadors to keep them updated on Seychelles tourism news and what the different members are doing in their respective cities.
Sharen Venus, the tourism board’s Marketing Executive overseeing the Tourism Ambassadors programme, said that the enthusiasm of the newly-appointed members was so evident and she was convinced that their personal contacts will help make Seychelles better known around the world.
The appointed Seychelles Tourism Ambassadors so far are:
Australia
Ms Christine St Ange from Brisbane
Mrs Anne Kautsky (born Ahlock) from Perth
Mrs Monica Chetty (born Rassool) from Perth
Mrs Marie Luce George (born Savy) from Sydney
Ms Debra Michaud Payet from Victoria
Austria
Mrs Archangel Kopar (born Léon) from Salzburg
Canada
Mr Robert Underwood from British Columbia
China
Ms June Camille from Shenzhen and Hong Kong
Croatia
Mrs Chantal Karlic (born Robert) from Dubrovnik
Czech Republic
Mrs Barbora Ponovská in Czechoslovakia
Mr Gwilym Sicobo from Zlin
France
Mr Bernard Delafontaine from Bordeaux
Mr Nicolas Van Beveren from Montevrain
Mrs May-Cecile Frezou (born Lajoie) from Montpellier
Ms Brigitte Hermitte from Nantes
Ms Pauline Ferrari from Paris
Mrs Rita Richez (born Romain) from Paris
Mrs Mary-Lyn Camus (born Faure) from Saumur
Germany
Mrs Annette Wagner Esparon from Freudenstadt
Mrs Lindy Scheele (born Samy) from Munich
India
Mr Hermant Jivan from Bangalore
Jamaica
Mr Melton Ernesta from Kingston
Kenya
Mrs Popsy D’souza- Getonga (born Mothée) from Nairobi
Mauritius
Mr Bertrand Rassool from Mauritius
Mozambique
Mr Gerard Moustache from Maputo
Réunion
Mrs Jaqueline Soopramanian from St Denis
Dr Tony Wong from St Denis
Russia
Mrs Kristina Autefault (born Adrienne) from Moscow
Serbia
Mrs Sinha Levkovic (born Chetty) from Belgrade
Singapore
Dr Claude Renaud from Singapore
Mrs Susanne Lundeby (born Rose) from Singapore
South Africa
Mrs Mary Marsac (born Faure) from Cape Town
Sweden
Mrs Beryl Laporte from Malmö
Switzerland
Mrs Dona Wallin (born Appoo) from Geneva
Mrs Audrey Bonvin (born Beaudoin) from Montreux
Tanzania
Mrs Maryvonne Pool from Dar es Salaam
Uganda
Mrs Pearl Hoareau from Kampala
United Arab Emirates
Ms Daniella Narty from Dubai
Mr Emmanuel Marie from Dubai
United Kingdom
Mrs Betty Michel from Birmingham
Mrs Rita Hinder (born Mondon) from Eastbourn and Brighton
Mr Gafoor Yakub from Greater Manchester
Dr Jose Souyave from London
Ms Brigitte Monchougy from London
Mr Derick Ally from London
Mr Roch Evenor from London
Mrs Georgia Dunlop (born Fernandes) from Oxford
Mr Robert Delpeche from Wales
Mr Nick Baldwin from Winchester
United States of America
Mrs Karen Johnson (born Pilling) from Colorado
Mrs Doreen Brown from Florida
Mr Joss De Lestange from Florida
Mr Jules Rault from Florida
Mrs Rosemarie Pothin from Kenosha, Wisconsin
Mrs Leonie Naylor from Michigan
Mrs Jaqueline Elias (born Young) from New York
Mrs Patricia Fifer (born Sinon) Rhode Island
Ms Helene Frichot from Seattle
Mr Mike Valentin from Texas
Mrs Rosemary Wood (born Rault) from California
