Australia remains committed to supporting Vanuatu as the country continues to rebuild and recover from the destructive effects of Cyclone Pam.
The Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Steve Ciobo has announced that Australia will support a campaign to boost tourism in Vanuatu to help restore vital income for the people who were devastated by the severe tropical cyclone earlier this year.
Australia will provide $600,000 to the campaign which will help local businesses and the economy recover from one of the worst natural disasters in Vanuatu’s recent history.
Tourism is a key industry in Vanuatu, making up about one third of the country’s GDP.
A strong tourism industry and increasing visitor numbers will help improve the livelihoods of the Vanuatu people.
This investment from Australia will help rebuild Vanuatu’s tourism industry and economy. With a strengthened tourism industry and economy Vanuatu will be less reliant on foreign aid in the future.
Australia’s contribution forms part of the Vanuatu Government’s $2.26 million tourism campaign to boost visitor numbers from Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia by mid-next year. New Zealand is also contributing to the campaign.
Australia has committed $50 million to support Vanuatu’s long-term recovery, which has helped distribute food, repair schools, replace damaged learning materials, restore key health facilities and immunise over 24,000 children in cyclone-affected areas.