Seychelles Champions Island and African Voices at UN Tourism Executive Council in Toledo
Seychelles has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening global tourism cooperation and advancing the interests of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) during the 126th Session of the UN Tourism Executive Council, recently held in Toledo, Spain. The gathering was a notable moment for both the Organisation and the Indian Ocean nation, marking the first Executive Council convened under the mandate of the newly elected Secretary-General, who used the platform to unveil her Management Vision for 2026–2029. The vision rests on four guiding pillars: Foundations, Collaboration, Capacity Building, and Sustainability.
For Seychelles, the meeting carried particular significance, as it was the country's first appearance on the Executive Council since regaining its seat following elections held during the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) meeting in Nigeria last year. The country was represented by the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mrs Amanda Bernstein, accompanied by Principal Secretary for Tourism, Mrs Sherin Francis.
Addressing the Council, Minister Bernstein voiced strong backing for the Secretary-General's strategic direction, underlining the importance of UN Tourism for nations whose economies are deeply tied to the visitor economy. She noted that for a Small Island Developing State where tourism anchors GDP and sustains community livelihoods, Seychelles has a direct stake in ensuring the Organisation operates effectively and remains responsive to the realities faced by smaller members.
The Minister stressed that strengthening institutional foundations is especially important for smaller Member States, which depend heavily on UN Tourism as a platform for international cooperation, policy guidance, and capacity development. She also welcomed the renewed emphasis on collaboration among Member States, the private sector, and international partners, viewing it as a route to building more resilient and competitive destinations.
A central thread of Seychelles' intervention focused on connectivity, a challenge widely shared across Africa and island destinations. Bernstein highlighted the urgent need to address visa facilitation, airlift availability, and affordability, citing their direct influence on destination resilience and tourism growth. While acknowledging that these are largely commercial issues, she emphasised the convening role UN Tourism can play in fostering meaningful dialogue among stakeholders, particularly when connectivity disruptions threaten destinations. Every visitor, she reminded the Council, supports an entire value chain. When one link breaks, the impact ripples across the entire tourism ecosystem, making coordinated approaches indispensable for sustainable growth.
Workforce development emerged as another priority. The Minister described capacity building as one of the most pressing concerns for Seychelles and for many tourism-dependent economies across the continent. In this regard, she drew attention to Seychelles' upcoming hosting of the UN Tourism Thematic Conference on Human Capital Development from 2–4 July 2026, which will run alongside the 69th Meeting of the Regional Commission for Africa. The dual gathering is expected to position Seychelles as a hub for advancing the global conversation on tourism workforce readiness and represents a meaningful opportunity for African industry professionals to deepen knowledge exchange.
The Minister also reaffirmed Seychelles' commitment to sustainable tourism development, noting that for island nations, sustainability is far more than an aspirational ideal. It is, in her words, an existential reality. Protecting natural and cultural heritage while securing economic viability is the defining challenge for island tourism models, and Seychelles strongly endorses sustainability's central place in the Secretary-General's vision.
For Africa's broader travel trade, Seychelles' renewed presence on the global stage signals an encouraging development. The voices of island nations and African destinations have often struggled to gain traction in international tourism governance, yet decisions made at this level shape the policies, partnerships, and frameworks that influence everyday operations across the continent. With Seychelles preparing to host a major regional and thematic gathering in July 2026, African industry professionals should view the months ahead as a strategic window to engage, contribute, and align with the priorities being shaped at the global level. The road forward calls for stronger collaboration across borders, smarter investment in human capital, and a shared determination to ensure that African and island perspectives remain firmly anchored in the future of world tourism.
