PNG Experienced Strong Tourism Growth in 2007
Papua New Guinea has surpassed the 100,000 mark recording more than 102,000 international visitor arrivals in 2007. The total arrivals represent an increase of 32 percent or some 25,000 additional arrivals compared to the 77,730 visitors in 2006. PNG Tourism Promotion Authority chief executive officer Peter Vincent said the arrival figures exceeded TPA ' s target of 90,000 for 2007 and that the healthy growth marks the fifth consecutive year for an increase in international visitor arrivals since 2003. (Source: PNG Tourism Promotion Authority Garamut Newsletter Issue 75 – January 2008)

Vanuatu Records 19 percent Increase in Tourists Arrivals
Vanuatu has recorded a 19 percent increase in tourists arrivals last year compared to the year before. The country has become more accessible as there are now more flights on offer, and it has also been advertising in its key markets. Annie Naitu from the National Tourism Office says Vanuatu has had a record high in tourist arrivals last year. “The total arrival was 81,345. That’s an increase of at least 19.3 percent. Overall, there’s been an increase from Australia of 9 percent, the US market with 8.5 percent and Japan 8 percent. From New Zealand, there’s been an increase by 2.4 percent.” She also added that 62 percent of the visitors to the country are from Australia, while New Caledonia and New Zealand both contribute about 12 percent. (Source: Radio New Zealand International News 05 February 2008)

Fiji Tourism Awards
A total of 24 awards were given out on Friday night at the Fiji Tourism Awards at the Sofitel Resort in Nadi in different categories with no particular major award given out as last year. Some of the award winners included Pure Fiji – ‘ Shopping Experience’, Tui Tai Adventure Cruises – ‘Cruises Overnight and Day’, South Sea Cruises – ‘Transportation’, J Hunter Pearls – ‘Tours’and Mango Bay Resort – ‘Accommodation Budget: Mainland Viti Levu’. Photo: Fiji’s new Minister of Tourism Hon Tom Ricketts opens the Awards at the Sofitel.

New Policies Creating Momentum for .travel
New policies designed to make .travel domain names more relevant and accessible drove significant sales increases in January. According to Edward A. Cespedes, President and CEO of Tralliance Corporation, “Although we don’t comment publicly on sales numbers, we have seen significant renewed interest in the .travel domain since the new policies took effect.” On December 21, 2007, Tralliance Corporation amended its eligibility policies to focus more on use of .travel domain names. Companies acquiring .travel domain names must now ensure that they resolve to relevant websites within 60 days. Any bona fide member of the travel industry can own any .travel domain name(s) as long as they adhere to the new policies. Cespedes continued, “We are pleased with our continued progress. There are still many phenomenal .travel domain names available for purchase. We urge the industry to acquire these valuable marketing tools.” To check .travel name(s) available, visit www.travel.travel (Source: eTurboNews 06 February 2008)

Cook Islands Tourism Industry Backs Training Centre
According to Greg Stanaway, Chairman of the Cook Island Tourism Industry Council, one of the main objectives of the council should be to underpin or support the activities of the human resources department and in particular, the Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre. Stanaway in his address at the reopening of the HTTC in Ngatangiia said that the council will ensure their accredited members understand that HTTC is one of their most important partners. "There are many challenges facing the tourism sector but the biggest is our ability to both attract and retain Cook Islanders for our work- force," said Stanaway. He said that tourism's success going forward will largely depend on giving all visitors a unique and authentic Cook Islands experience. As the price of oil steadily climbs, Stanaway said that regular long haul travel will only be available to the very wealthy and therefore the short haul traffic out of New Zealand and Australia will become an increasingly larger contributor to visitor numbers. "We will therefore need to have a workforce that is uniquely Cook Islands and very much stronger in service standards than our Pacific island neighbours. We will have to clearly reinforce our points of difference. "So I see this as perhaps one of the biggest objectives for HTTC. Not only will you need to run courses which are internationally recognised, as a means of stemming the outward flow of people going elsewhere to get qualifications, but you will need to run courses that meet the requirement of a distinctively Cook Islands tourism sector," said Stanaway. For more information, click here. (Source: Cook Islands News Online 05 February 2008)

New Guide Books on PNG Tourism
There are four new guide books to better inform industry members and potential investors in the PNG Tourism Industry. Produced by the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority, they include - Tour Guiding Techniques Guide Book (2nd Edition); Product Development Guide Book (2nd Edition); Guest House Development Guide Book; and Tourism Investment & Incentive Guide Book. The Tourism Investment & Incentive Guide Book was done in close consultation with IPA and IRC. These books will be found useful to those that use them. Invaluable comments can be made on each of these books from industry members, stakeholders, operators and others so that improvements can be made in the next editions. Books are available for distribution at PNG TPA office. (Source: PNG Tourism Promotion Authority Garamut Newsletter Issue 75 – January 2008)

Bureau Lauds Anuha Move
Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau yesterday applauded moves to reopen the Anuha resort in the Florida Islands, Central province, Solomon Islands. General manager Michael Tokuru said once the resort is up and running tourist arrivals will increase, boosting the industry. Mr Tokuru made the comments following plans by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to rebuild the once famous Anuha Resort. “This was one of the drawcards for tourist arrivals in the country over the years and we expect that to happen once it is reopen,” he said. Tokuru said the Bureau is looking at getting visitor arrivals to 20, 000 by 2010. Last year’s arrivals were 13,000. (Source: Solomon Star News Online 07 February 2008)

China Outbound
Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Professor Kaye Chon (pictured) gave a presentation in Nadi on the emerging Chinese market. The Professor noted that whilst 42 million Chinese took outbound holidays in 2007 (up from 30 million in 2005), the vast majority of these visits are still to Hong Kong and South East Asia for urban experiences (shopping and gambling). Professor Chon noted though that South Pacific destinations do have a niche opportunity with China’s elite and honeymoon travelers, who are looking for something special. He noted that the Maldives for example are doing well in this area.

Silversea Cruises, with Eye on Tahiti, to Open Regional Office in Sydney
With an eye already focused on basing a ship in Tahiti next year, Silversea Cruises is preparing to open an Asia Pacific regional headquarters in Sydney, according to the Internet's Travel Today Web site. The travel industry specialist described the headquarters as Silversea's "largest investment in the Australian market to date". The move will enable Silversea to "take control of the day-to-day running of its business", taking over from general sales agent Wiltrans and Cruise Brokers, Travel Today reported in its online daily newsletter. Last December, the Temaru government and the Monaco-based Silversea Cruises signed a letter of mutual commitment intent that could end up adding the 132-passenger Silver Dawn to a Papeete-based fleet of three ships next year. The Silver Dawn, the former expedition ship World Discoverer, is in Singapore for a multi-million-dollar refurbishment before it begins service this spring, about a year before the ship is hoped to arrive in Tahiti. In a related development, the French Polynesia Ministry of Tourism announced Saturday that an agreement had been reached with the French government in Paris concerning visas for cruise ship crewmembers. The agreement reached means long-term visas will no longer be required for arriving cruise ship crewmembers, according to the ministry's article published in its weekly tourism news page in French language daily newspaper La Dépêche de Tahiti. Click here for more information. (Source: Tahitipresse 05 February 2008)

PATA’s CEO Challenge
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton is confirmed as a speaker amoungst others including Cathay Pacific’s Tony Tyler and Banyan Tree’s Ho Kwon Ping at PATA’s CEO Challenge in Bangkok in April. www.pata.org

south-pacific.travel represented at Flight Centre AKLD 2008
south-pacific.travel participated at the recent Auckland Flight Centre Expo along with reps from two member countries. The Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau and Kiribati National Tourism Office were both represented by their Marketing Managers at the two-day event held at the ASB Show grounds. The objective of participating in such shows was to assist in lifting the images of smaller member destinations in short haul markets, which most visitors to the region originate from. Apart from the physical presence of Solomon Islands and Kiribati, south-pacific.travel also represented the Niue, Tonga, Tuvalu and Nauru. The key is to consistently feature these destinations at such shows, which could lead to Flight Centre brochuring and packaging such smaller destinations with bigger South Pacific destinations. south-pacific.travel is looking forward to working with smaller members in future events in New Zealand and Australia. For more information, contact anihopara@south-pacific.travel