As quoted by Mr Paul Fred, Chairman of the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) Board “When the storm is on, we don’t change the captain, especially one that is rich in experience, so the boat sails on until it reaches its destiny”.
Recently the General Manager of VTO Mrs Linda Kalpoi had her contract as General Manager extended for three months allowing time for due process of advertising the position.
This was officially signed by Mr Paul Fred on behalf of the Board of VTO & Vanuatu Government, witnessed by line managers and staff of the VTO.
Mrs Kalpoi expresses, “I am thankful for the trust and confident that the VTO Chairman, Board and staff, government and industry have bestowed on me as the Head of the Vanuatu Tourism Office for the past five years. It has not being easy due to market conditions and budgets coupled with cyclone Pam and the recent airport issues which have seen a decrease to visitor arrivals”.
Mrs Kalpoi further adds, “In taking office in 2011 visitor arrival numbers were 93,960 a decrease from 100,675 visitor arrivals in 2008 when I departed from the VTO to join the ANZ Bank. Visitor arrivals begin to increase to 108,161 in 2012 to 110,109 in 2013 and 2014 saw a slight tip to 108,808 due to tough competition in markets with our competitors who had bigger budgets to over cloud Vanuatu”.
In addition, Mrs Kalpoi remarks “However I am so pleased that after all the hard work we have achieved our goal in securing donor and government funding to finally relaunched Vanuatu’s Recovery Campaign in all our key markets, Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia which was proudly announced by the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister as Minister of Tourism early this week with the aim of increasing visitor arrivals for the benefit of the tourism industry, Government and the people of Vanuatu”.
In closing Mrs Kalpoi says, “I thank God for his wisdom and the support of the people of Vanuatu, the Government and the Board in allowing me the privilege to take charge of VTO for the past five years after returning from three years with the ANZ Bank in 2011. I have great passion and love for Vanuatu and vision to take Vanuatu Tourism to greater heights along with the Ministry of Tourism, VTO Board & Staff and the Industry. I look forward for the privilege and challenges ahead with God’s blessing and direction”.
VTO board, management and staff congratulates Mrs Kalpoi and looks forward to continuously supporting her, and together accomplish all tourism marketing activities for the office and destination.