Alain St. Ange Leads High-Level Delegation to Madagascar’s North
From high-level government meetings in Antananarivo to site inspections in the Three Bays, the November mission aims to integrate northern Madagascar into broader Indian Ocean itineraries and attract vital infrastructure investment.
Madagascar is turning to its Indian Ocean neighbors to help unlock the potential of its northern coast. A high-level delegation led by global tourism icon and Seychelles’ Ambassador-at-Large, Alain St. Ange, will be in Madagascar from 15 to 20 November 2026, to explore tourism partnerships and infrastructure development in the Diego Suarez (Antsiranana) region.
The mission follows an initiative by Dr. Herilaza Hugues Randrianjohany, Chairman of the Board of the Madagascar’s Diego Suarez Regional Tourism Office, who formally presented the proposal to Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Herminie on August 16 through the island nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The request received approval from the Seychellois government, coordinated by Mrs. Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary (Tourism Department) of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
St. Ange brings significant weight to the mission. As one of the founding personalities behind the Vanilla Islands Organisation—and its first president—he is widely respected within the Indian Ocean Islands Group for his ability to forge cross-border tourism alliances. He has been invited to help guide the Diego Suarez region toward becoming a more competitive player in the regional tourism landscape.
The delegation’s itinerary begins in Antananarivo, where officials will meet with Malagasy government authorities to present the development strategy and secure institutional backing. The group will then move north to conduct on-the-ground assessments of the region’s key assets.
Scheduled site inspections include the Red Tsingy, a striking laterite formation carved by the Irodo River, and a tour of Diego Suarez city to review its historical sites and hospitality infrastructure. On the second day, the delegation will visit the Montagne des Français and the renowned “Three Bays,” followed by a working lunch in Ramena focused on local gastronomy.
A central objective of the visit is a stakeholder meeting at the Grand Hôtel in Diego Suarez. Bringing together local authorities, private tour operators, and institutional partners, the session will focus on practically integrating northern Madagascar’s tourism products into combined Vanilla Islands travel itineraries.
Beyond immediate product development, the mission aims to achieve three long-term outcomes: the creation of integrated tourism products that showcase the broader Malagasy experience, the establishment of B2B partnerships with international tour operators, and the strengthening of the region’s credibility in a competitive global market.
Madagascar tourism officials are banking on St. Ange’s extensive network to open doors to key source markets and major cruise operators. The mission also seeks to mobilize institutions and investors for upcoming hotel and infrastructure projects, while generating international media exposure that reflects the destination’s untapped potential.
