South Pacific Tourism Organisation

SPTO reports more visitors in Pacific in 2018

The organisation released its inaugural Pacific Tourism Forecast this week which showed about 40,000 more visitors arrived in the region last year - 38,941 more than 2017.

It attributed the growth to a positive global tourism trend, regional and national tourism marketing, improved connectivity and infrastructure development.

The organisation said it expects tourist numbers will grow by 3.3 percent in 2019 and each year until 2024.

     

Pacific tourism body wants oceans focus from operators

This comes after the first ever United Nations Oceans Conference in New York.

The SPTO said in a statement that it recognizes the significance of the ocean to Pacific tourism.

It points out that tourism is a specific target under the Sustainable Development Goals with the emphasis on the sustainable use of marine resources, including the through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism by 2030.

SPTO launches new regional tourism brand in the UK

The events in London and Canterbury last week were also attended by Pacific tourism sector representatives from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga.

The “South Pacific Islands” brand is complemented by the tagline, “Ours is Yours”, which invites the world to discover the South Pacific with messages such as ‘Ours secrets are yours to discover’, ‘Our friendships are yours to keep’, ‘Our songs are yours to sing’, and “Our stories are yours to tell’.

Cook Islands PM launches new brand for South Pacific tourism

Organised by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), the region’s peak tourism development and marketing body, the council meeting was attended by tourism ministers and government representatives from 13 Pacific island countries and China.

The new brand draws heavily on Pacific Islands’ cultural elements, in particular weaving. Individual letters in South Pacific Islands and SPTO have been taken apart, then strung back together like the strands in a woven mat. 

South Pacific Tourism Goes to London

Tourism delegations from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga as well as the Pacific island airline companies Air Calin and Air Niugini will join a team from SPTO in London to showcase what South Pacific tourism has to offer.

SPTO Signs MoU with PIPSO

SPTO and PIPSO share common interests in developing tourism and private sector growth in the Pacific region and have identified areas where the two organisations can work together to promote and develop a joint strategic way forward in the region.

This partnership is an undertaking between SPTO and PIPSO to work together to promote tourism and private sector development in the South Pacific in a manner that is both sustainable and brings economic growth and social benefits to the region.

Pacific is open for business: SPTO

Hotels, airlines and tour companies have been able to convince foreign buyers at the South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE) that operations are normal and visitors are welcome.

According to Islands Business, South Pacific Tourism Organisation Acting CEO, Alisi Lutu, said the event at Sea World Resort on Australia’s Gold Coast was already a huge success after less than a day.

“Samoa, Vanuatu and Fiji which were affected by Cyclones Pam and Winston have had many queries from overseas buyers on the state of infrastructure,” Lutu said.

SPTO premier event set for Gold Coast

South Pacific Tourism Organisation marketing manager Alisi Lutu said the event wo­uld continue to provi­de a platform for international travel agents and Pacific Island destinations tourism operators to conduct business-to-business meetings and exchanges.

Lutu made the announcement during a press conference in Suva to announce the dates for the 2016 South Pacific Tourism Exchange.

Pacific cruise development strategy forum

This will also assist line ministers, government ministries and authorities, donors and development partners to determine appropriate investments in infrastructure and the necessary upgrades and improvements needed for their cruise strategy.

This was agreed at the Pacific Cruise Strategy Forum organized by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) in Melbourne Australia.