Alain St. Ange Receives 2026 Africa Tourism Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Honour

At the Africa Tourism Awards in the UK on Sunday 1 November 2026, St. Ange was recognised for a career spanning global diplomacy, regional cooperation, and a belief that African destinations should tell their own stories with confidence.

At the Africa Tourism Awards 2026 ceremony held in the UK on November 1, 2026, global tourism leader and Seychelles Ambassador-at-Large Alain St. Ange received a Lifetime Achievement honour. The award recognised a career dedicated to raising Seychelles’ profile, bringing neighbouring destinations together, and championing tourism that benefits local people.

The ceremony was attended by Seychelles High Commission Officials, including H.E. Patsy Moustache and Wendy Isnard. The honour marks a proud moment not only for St. Ange, but for Seychelles and the African continent as a whole.

From Marketing Director to Ambassador-at-Large

St. Ange’s journey in public service began in 2009 when he was appointed Seychelles’ Director of Marketing. He became Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board in 2010, later serving as Minister of Tourism and Culture, and subsequently as Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine.

Fluent in English, French, Creole, and German, St. Ange has spent his career building bridges across cultures. He has carried the Seychelles story to audiences around the world, helping to position the Indian Ocean archipelago as a premier destination while advocating for the broader African tourism narrative.

A Legacy of Regional Cooperation

Beyond Seychelles, St. Ange has been a tireless advocate for regional unity. In 2014, he was honoured with the Mahatma Gandhi Honour Award for his work strengthening relations between India and Seychelles, among other accolades 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 its neighbours together around a shared tourism identity. The initiative reflected his conviction that countries can achieve more by working together while remaining proud of what makes them distinct.

Beyond Tourism: Preserving Culture and History

St. Ange’s contribution extends beyond diplomacy and industry. Through books he has written and published, he has contributed to the recorded accounts of Seychelles’ culture and political history, drawing on the experiences and influences that have shaped island life. His work ensures that the lessons of the past inform the opportunities of the future.

‘This Recognition Belongs to Them’

Accepting the honour, St. Ange paid tribute to those who had shared the journey 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,” he said. “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.”

A Bold Vision for Africa’s Future

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 — one that St. Ange helped bring to the world. He demonstrated how a small island nation could make its voice heard in global tourism and why African destinations should tell their stories with confidence.

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 work across borders and ensure local people share in tourism’s success.

“The best recognition we can give tourism,” St. Ange said, “is to make sure that, when visitors leave, the people and places that welcomed them are stronger for it.”

The path St. Ange has helped pave is clear: African destinations shaping their own future, and communities growing stronger from the welcome they extend to the world.