Re-launch of Lospitalite Tourism clubs in schools |19 February 2022
PS Francis speaking at the launch ceremony (Photo: Joena Meme)
The Lospitalite Tourism clubs in school was officially re-launched on Thursday by the principal secretary for Tourism, Sherin Francis, in the presence of the Minister for Education Dr Justin Valentin.
The ceremony, held at the Seychelles Tourism Academy at La Misère, included video collections of what hospitality means by students from various schools, messages from tourism club coordinators/headteachers, support from tourism businesses and the burial of a time capsule made up of memories of our last Tourism Festival.
Right at the onset, the director general for Destination Planning and Development, Paul Lebon, noted that he hopes the new initiative ‘Lospitalite: Lafyerte Sesel’ will become a worthy successor of the former U-First Campaign.
“It is an important undertaking because its future success will have a significant impact on the quality of service that our tourism industry offers – something that, as we all know, or should know, is the very pillar of that industry. Tourism differs very much from what it was only a decade ago. A newer generation of travellers with very different expectations than before, coupled with an intensely competitive global tourism market in which social media platforms allow for the fastest dissemination of information, both good and bad, ensure that Seychelles, and the standards we set, are never out of the public eye,” Mr Lebon said.
Mr Lebon also shared that their work to approach tourism businesses in this regard dates back to November 2021 and they have contacted 43 schools, both public and private, from primary to secondary level.
“As of today, 31 tourism businesses have adopted a tourism club, including large and medium sized establishments, DMCs, restaurants, airlines, as well as providers of supplies for hotels. The tourism businesses are already active and some have already approached their schools and have even started working on a calendar of activities for the year. While this is an encouraging start to the programme, we will need more businesses to step forward in future to assist in making the Lospitalite Tourism Club programme a success,” added Mr Lebon.
The principal secretary for Educational Services, Merna Eulentin, recapped how the Ministry of Education decided to re-introduce the tourism clubs both in primary and secondary schools. “It was in 2018 that the MoE joined the then Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine in a memorandum of understanding for the creation of tourism clubs in schools. After its launch many activities were organised but all came to a halt due to Covid-19. This year again, the MOE joins the department of Tourism on this auspicious occasion to mark the re-affirmation of its commitment towards the development of our youth into skilful workers of tomorrow notably in the tourism industry,” PS Eulentin said.
She noted that this is directly in line with the purpose of the project that is to develop the students’ knowledge and interest for the tourism industry with the hope that it will create a deep-rooted sense of appreciation for the jobs on offer in the industry, the work being done by the professionals and to entice them to consider a career in the said industry.
She made an appeal to the students and parents to embrace this new club and give it their full support.
PS Eulentin also thanked the numerous tourism related businesses that have answered the call of the Tourism department to adopt one of our many schools. “Without a doubt, this is an opportunity to groom our students into the future workers of the tourism industry. We are thankful and appreciate the time that you will spend with our students at school or at your establishment to develop the bond. We appreciate your contribution in joining us on our journey to educate our youth in your areas of expertise.”
While launching the clubs, PS Francis shared that “The launch of Lospitalite Tourism clubs is a key moment in the evolution of our tourism industry because it demonstrates the need for us to adjust the national mind-set to reflect the fact that our nation relies heavily on tourism and that there is no better way to achieve that than through a network of tourism clubs where children from a young age are taught the appropriate values to carry us forward”.
One shining example of how effective such clubs can be in forming young minds and fostering the right attitudes can be seen in the various eco-clubs dotted throughout the country that have played such a vital part in sensitising the youngest members of our society as to the fragility of our unique environment and ecosystems, and the ways to safeguard them, she said.
PS Francis thanked the tourism businesses who already joined hands with the department of Tourism in this endeavour by parenting these clubs and the SHTA in setting the foundations for the creation of the Lospitalite Tourism clubs.
Vidya Gappy
