As part of the Vanuatu Tourism Crisis Response and Recovery Plan (VTCRRP) relating to Pillar 3 and business readiness, the Department of Tourism (DoT), in partnership with the Department of Public Health, the Australia Pacific Training Coalition, the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry,…

The Minister for Tourism, Trade, Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business, James Bule launched the Direct Micro Expeller (DME) pilot project for the Virgin Coconut Oil on Mataidan, West Ambae as part of the Ambae Day celebration on the 2nd of October 2020.

With the declaration by the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands last week of the first COVID-19 positive case; Vanuatu remains only one of a handful of countries in the region that remains COVID-free.

When it is safe to do so, Vanuatu looks forward to welcoming international tourists back to our shores. In the meantime, the Department of Tourism is progressing their plans to build a stronger and more resilient future for the Vanuatu tourism industry.

An important initiative of the Vanuatu Government is the training of business using the ‘Vanuatu Guidelines for Safe Businesses Operations (SBO) in the context of the COVID-19’ to apply the new health and safety procedures.

Vanuatu was listed as the 8th most tourism dependent country in the world.

This week’s update focusses on health and provides an update on the good progress being made to implement phase 1 of the Vanuatu Tourism Crisis Response and Recovery Plan (TCRRP) for all 5 pillars. Phase 1 of the TCRRP was supported in June 2020 by the Vanuatu Council of Ministers which was …

The Department of Tourism’s community awareness team are in PENAMA Province this week carrying out awareness on the Tourism Crises Response and Recovery Plan (TCRRP), as well as consulting with key stakeholders who will provide input into the development of the PENAMA Sustainable Tourism Man…

Minister of Trade, Tourism, Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business, James Bule has reaffirmed the Vt300 million subsidy approved by the Council of Ministers (CoM) — Vt150 million for Commodities and Vt150 million for copra.

Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Australia officially launched the “Learning Hub” their new platform to support Pacific-based tourism operators with digital marketing activities yesterday.

The island of Aneityum in the southern part of Vanuatu no longer receives tourists from cruise ships due to the COVID-19 pandemic currently affecting the world, but despite what seems to be a bleak future, new horizons are opening for the people on the island.

Evergreen Resort owner Merian Numake has decided to venture into agriculture.

With borders closed to overseas tourists at present, the domestic tourist market has become the main source of income for Vanuatu’s tourism businesses.

A COM decision (No 103) was released on the 16th of July to support the economic recovery of Vanuatu through a TAMTAM Travel Bubble.

On his first visit to the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO), as the second time Tourism Minister of Tourism, James Bule, praised the Chief Executive Officer, Adela Aru and her staff for developing the Institution to where it is today.

The ‘Tourism 40’ exhibition at the Espace Cultural du Alliance Français took place throughout this week as the tourism sector in Vanuatu celebrated 40 years of tourism at the Espace Culturel du Alliance Français.

As the Vanuatu Tourism Office celebrated 40 years of tourism at the L’Espace Cultural du Alliance Français, Vanuatu’s first Minister of Finance Kalpokor Kalsakau, reflects on tourism development in the country over the decades.

The Department of Tourism under the Tourism Support Program has commenced assistance to tourism operators during this quiet time while the borders are closed. This assistance is to address the shortfalls. Insufficient safe drinking water is a problem area that has been highlighted through su…

Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, Commerce and Ni Vanuatu Business (MTTCNVB), Roy Mickey Joy has confirmed that the Director of Tourism Mr. Jerry Spooner has presented the Vanuatu Tourism Crisis Response and Recovery Plan and Budget to Minister for Tourism, Trade, Commerce …

What does a tour company do when there are no tourists?

Over the last few weeks I have been focussing on the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses working in the tourism industry.

Over the next few weeks I will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses working in the tourism industry.

Over the next few weeks I will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses working in the tourism industry.

Tourism industry stakeholders gathered again yesterday at the Women’s Centre in Luganville to hear a presentation about the future vision for tourism in SANMA Province.

Over the next few weeks I will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses working in the tourism industry.

Article one – setting the scene

The Department of Tourism (DoT) held a workshop at the Grand Hotel on February 7 to discuss the development of a Vanuatu Local Cuisine Revival Strategy.

The Department of Tourism together with the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) hosted the ‘Destination SANMA’ meeting in Luganville earlier this week with over 60 tourism industry members to discuss future opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

The 30th of January celebrated another graduation of the Vanuatu Tourism Ambassador Program at the Hospitality Tourism and Leisure Training Center (HTLTC) Hall.

The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) wishes to celebrate the life and achievements of VTO Board Member Mike Crawford, who passed away in New Zealand on the 15th of December.

A prominent tourism owner says tourists entering Luganville in 2019 may decline but the government’s decision to divert more international meetings to Santo is keeping the business community busy.

The Sustainable Islands Tourism Conference held in Santo has profoundly highlighted the theme of ‘Protection of Sustainable Tourism Assets.’

The Small Island Tourism (SITC) Conference recently held in Champagne Beach, Santo was officially opened by the Head of State, Pastor, President Moses Talis Obed on Wednesday last week.

Inspired by the incredible display of Vanuatu’s unparalleled beauty and culture as well as the influential discussions presented at the Sustainable Islands Tourism Conference, the Directors of Tourism from Vanuatu, Palau, the Cook Islands, drafted the Statement of Intent for a collaboration …

International delegates attending the Sustainable Islands Tourism Conference in Santo November 26th till 29th will experience firsthand Vanuatu’s unique traditional architecture.

Collaboration is well underway in Port Vila and Luganville to develop the first of six provincial tourism plans to manage future sustainable tourism in Vanuatu.

The first Vanuatu Ecotours Tour Guiding School was recently held at Rentapao and Eratap, and was hailed as a great success by participants.

Princess Cruises’ international megaliner Majestic Princess made her maiden visit to Port Vila yesterday (Tuesday, 22 October) alongside P&O Cruises’ Pacific Aria as part of a special ‘two ship celebration’ for the city.

The Ministry of Trade, Tourism, Commerce and ni Vanuatu Business has successfully sent three men and one woman on a short term Tourism Management Training Course in China.

A delegation of staff from Pacific National Tourism Offices, tourism private sector and the South Pacific Tourism Organization were in Guangzhou China, from 24th June to 4th July to attend the 1st Tourism Human Resource Development and Training Program, an activity which is part of the China…

South Sea Shipping Ltd released its cruise ship arrival bookings for Port Vila in 2020 yesterday. There will be 82 visits in all next year.

Communities in North Maewo have established a new tourism association called the North Maewo Tourism Association (NMTA).

Tourism operators in TORBA Province are back in full operation after the devastation left by Tropical Cyclone Oma in the northern province.

Having experienced the mellowing effects of kava for the first time, Australia’s Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Mark Coulton joked that he is considering opening a kava bar in Canberra. “Maybe that will calm things down a bit,” he quipped.

An article on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council which was published on Monday contained the following errors: