The President of the Region, Huguette BELLO, is currently making an official visit to Madagascar, on the island of Sainte-Marie. This trip aims to strengthen cooperation ties between the two islands as well as to promote local environmental and tourism initiatives. We share the press release with you below (Photo: La Région Réunion)
With the aim of developing sustainable and human-scale tourism in a post-covid context, the president spoke with the Minister of Tourism and Crafts of the Republic of Madagascar, Joël Randriamandranto. She also had discussions with the tourist office of Sainte-Marie Island and professionals in the hotel sector.
The interconnectivity of the islands and a direct Réunion – Sainte-Marie air line are among the subjects addressed by the actors. During this trip to Sainte Marie Island, the President of the Region was able to attend the prestigious Whale Festival, an annual event celebrating the migration of humpback whales and attracting visitors from all over the world. The tourism sector constitutes one of the areas of cooperation between Reunion and Madagascar.
The operational cooperation between Reunion and Madagascar is geographical and historical evidence. Madagascar is thus the first beneficiary of credits deployed within the framework of Interreg Indian Ocean cooperation, of which the Réunion region is the management authority. Out of 266 projects supported by the Interreg program, 144 involve a Malagasy partner. Other cooperation projects also link Reunion and Madagascar. Recif’art (an environmental education program targeting coral reefs) is thus almost 50% financed by the Réunion region, to the tune of 32,662 euros. From a more global perspective, agriculture, fishing, renewable energies, and the environment constitute major areas of cooperation which are part of a co-development strategy between the two islands.
The regional president, Huguette Bello, is currently making an official visit to Madagascar, on Sainte-Marie Island. This trip aims to strengthen cooperation ties between the two islands as well as to promote local environmental and tourism initiatives.
Huguette Bello, president of the Réunion region: “In Madagascar, as in Réunion, there is inestimable cultural and human capital. This is what I came to say to the Sainte-Mariens: let us assume with fidelity and pride the heritage of our civilizations and our histories. Let us combine our geniuses and our aspirations and put them at the service of our people.”