March quarter 2017

According to the Vanuatu National Statistics Office, the decrease was reflected in the drop in the cruise ship visitors to the country.

Visitor arrivals by air made up 23% of all international visitors with a total of 20, 923 in the March quarter 2017.

This indicated an increase of 24% over the same period in 2016. However, this fell over the previous quarter.

Half of the tourists who arrived by air were Australians.

The decrease was attributed to decreases in exports for copra, coconut oil and cocoa over March quarter of 2016.

There was an increase though in beef exports for the period in review.

Beed exports increased by 32% or 35 tonnes in March quarter 2017 from 109 tonnes in March quarter 2016.

Vanuatu’s trade deficit stood at VT 7,059 million in March quarter 2017.

The trade deficit deteriorated by VT 1,566 million compared to March quarter 2016, according to the latest March quarterly statistics released by Vanuatu National Statistics Office last Friday.