A Boom for the Vanuatu Tourism Hotels Resort and Bungalows
A comparative study carried out by the Vanuatu Tourism Office Information Section with the help of Vanuatu Hotels Resort Association and Vanuatu Island Bungalow in the last three months have shown a steady increase in the number of Hotels, Resorts and Bungalows in Vanuatu in the last three years. The study is based mainly on the number of rooms available for our tourist within the country.  According to the findings results shows that during the years 2005-2006 there are a total of 766 numbers of rooms.  In 2007 with new properties operating the figures rises up to 54 per cent with a total of 1180.  For the first three months of 2008 there is a total increase in 7% compared to last year. Overall the figure shows a steady increase in number of rooms available for tourist within the past three years. (Source: Vanuatu Tourism Tribal Drum Newsletter April 2008)

Solomons Tourism Launch International Visitors Survey
Solomon Islands Tourism moves one step ahead with the launch of its full and final report of the 12 months Solomon Islands International Visitors Survey. The launch took place last month at Honiara Hotel where a copy of the report was officially presented to the national government. Solomon Islands Tourism said that the objective of the Survey was to provide the Department of Tourism and Culture, the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau and the broader Solomon Islands Business community with the information on the characteristics, attitudes and expenditure of overseas visitors to the Solomon Islands in the period from November 2006 to November 2007. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Luke Eta received the report on the government's behalf. Mr. Neil Stollznow of Stollznow Research highlighted that some of the main findings include visitor spending and patterns, a large proportion of business travelers, Honiara is the main destination, median length of stay of 10.5 days, scuba diving is a very important market, majority of visitors will highly recommend travel to Solomon Islands and potential tourist hardly find the information they need to plan their visit to the Solomon Islands. (Source: Solomon Times Online 02 May 2008)

Collaborative Opportunities Emerge from CEO Challenge
Delegates at the inaugural PATA CEO Challenge 2008: Confronting Climate Change agreed to collaborate on a range of initiatives to confront climate change, such as Banyan Tree's green audit programme, Intrepid Travel's project management plan, and Expedia's World Heritage Alliance. "The CEO Challenge successfully facilitated the sharing of these valuable and practical initiatives," the Association's President and CEO Peter de Jong told the 236 delegates.  Mr de Jong said he was delighted that so many industry leaders - from all sectors of travel and tourism - accepted the challenge to share their thoughts, ideas and actions on climate change. "It has really delivered on our goals, with so many good ideas, innovative programmes and practical solutions, and, most importantly, opportunities for collaborative action," he said. While summarising the outcomes of the PATA CEO Challenge, facilitator Rohit Talwar of Fast Future suggested there was a simple action plan for any leader of a travel and tourism organisation. For more information click here. (Source: News@PATA 01 May 2008)

Vanuatu Round Island Relay with Sure Thing
Remember those days when marathons didn’t involve specially engineered tracks and high-tech shoes… just roar passion, determination and strength?  Well those days are still here – on the Island of Efate, Vanuatu! On Saturday 26th July the Telecom Vanuatu Round Island Relay will take place with 138km of the most amazing and unique terrains. Teams consist of 10 runners who relay their baton right around the island, across sealed roads, rugged coral, friendly traditional villages, dirt roads, crystal clear streams, coconut plantations and picturesque white sand beaches. Contact Sure Thing Vanuatu Travel on e-mail: info@surething.com.au for flights and accommodation and they’ll put you in touch with the organisers of the event to get your team registered. (Source: Vanuatu Tourism Tribal Drum Newsletter April 2008)

Web Stats for south-pacific.travel
www.south-pacific.travel received 97,766 visitors in April 2008.

Intelligent Tourism Investment Forum Update
Mr. Jamal Serhan, Vice President/Regional General Manager Pacific Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa will be attending the two day “Intelligent Tourism Investment” Forum. To register for the Intelligent Tourism Investment Forum contact rdrekeni@south-pacific.travel or click here for details. The two day forum is to be held at the Novotel Hotel, Nadi, Fiji Islands, 28-29 May 2008, and is made possible with the support of Japan.

Visitors to south-pacific.travel this week
south-pacific.travel welcomed Solomon Islands Deputy Director of Tourism Savita Nanan and William Matapaza who are flanked by south-pacific.travel’s Helen Poulivaati and Andrew Nihopara during a discussion on capacity building needs this week. Professor David Harrison, Head of Department of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of the South Pacific (pictured on right with south-pacific.travel’s Tony Everitt) also visited south-pacific.travel earlier this week to discuss enhanced cooporation. south-pacific.travel will deliver 3 guest lectures on Communications, Destination Marketing, and E-Commerce at USP's Suva Campass this month. 

South Pacific Management Appointments (Tahiti)
South Pacific Management, one of Tahiti’s leading luxury resort management companies, which manages Pearl Resorts & Spa, Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa and Manea Spa, is pleased to announce a series of executive appointments throughout the ten-resort portfolio. At Te Tiare Beach Resort in Huahine, Wayne Sterling is stepping down as general manager to return to his native island of Hawaii. To take his place, Sylvain Delanchy, currently general manager at Manihi Pearl Beach Resort, is departing his position in the Tuamotu Atoll to assume the same role at Te Tiare. As his second in command, Nelly Grange, currently the duty manager at Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, will join Te Tiare as executive assistant manager. Henri Valin, who comes from the Maldives after previously serving as general manager of the Nuku Hiva Keikahanui Pearl Lodge, will assume the role of general manager at Manihi Pearl Beach Resort. “We are privileged to employ such a dynamic team of managers, whose strong experience and skill sets allow seamless transitioning between resorts as opportunity dictates,” said Thierry Buttaud, general manager of Pearl Resorts & Spa. “We feel fortunate that Mr. Delanchy, Ms. Grange and Mr. Valin will remain in the Pearl Resorts & Spa family, to contribute positively to their respective teams and further promote this piece of paradise. And we thank Mr. Sterling for his valuable contributions at Te Tiare and wish him the very best in his ongoing pursuits.” (Source: South Pacific Management 29 April 2008)

Miss Tahiti 2008 Crowned
Twenty-year-old Hinatea Boosie, a psychology student who believes Tahiti's women today are "intelligent, active and becoming more and more independent", is the new Miss Tahiti, winner of the biggest and most prestigious of the yearly beauty contests. She was elected during a contest that created a very Tahitian and very romantic ambiance built around the theme of the H.M.S. Bounty epic of the 19th Century that has been made into a Hollywood love story on four occasions. A second theme during this year's contest focused on solidarity for women in distress throughout French Polynesia. At the end of the long evening, a check for one million French Pacific francs (US$13,423/$3,3780) was presented to the president of the French Polynesia Women's Association to help improve the equipping of the "Pu o te Hau", the home for women in distress.  A jury, backed by a telephone poll, chose Ms. Boosie as the 48th Miss Tahiti winner since 1960, the oldest of the yearly beauty queen contests that has only not been held once—in 1967. Nearly 2,000 telephone votes were received. However, the jury's vote counted for 80% of the choice. Vaihere Merpaut, 19, was elected first runner-up, and Manavarii Ravetupu, 21, was elected second runner-up. Vahinetua Flaccadori, 18, was elected Miss Heiva 2008, the "queen" of Tahiti's annual festival, known as the Heiva, which is held in July. For more information click here. (Source: Tahitipresse 27 April 2008)