Seychelles: Challenges of climate change addressed at the World Travel Market conference

The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) held a conference at the World Travel Market (WTM) 2011 on meeting the challenges of climate change and the international experts sitting on the panel presented leading models of best practice. The Seychelles highlighted their disaster risk reduction activities.

Alain St. Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, addressed the conference:

"A Department of Risk and Disaster Management has been established which falls directly under the Vice President of the Republic, in a move to coordinate efforts to improve Seychelles preparedness and response procedures to such phenomena as severe, tropical storms; tsunamis; rising sea levels; and periods of drought. Here, we are concentrating on strengthening evidence on risk factors and risk and tracking climate-related disaster losses and analyzing their impact on development priorities. Investigation continues into cost-effective risk reduction options and improving early warning systems."

He additionally outlined public awareness and eduction programmes undertaken, energy and water management, and climate change mitigation strategies being employed.