PALAU: Tourists Shun Palau Says South Pacific Tourism Organisation, Bad Politics

A recent report from the South Pacific Tourism Organisation said visitor numbers dropped 16 percent from the previous quarter, spearheaded by a 20.9 percent drop in visitors from China, Palau's biggest market.

That quarter coincided with retaliation meted out after a visit by Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, in November, when Beijing banned its travel agencies from arranging visits to Palau.

But John Tanner, from the Palau Visitors Bureau, said the tourism industry remained healthy, and the country had been trying to diversify its industry anyway after what he described as an unsustainable influx.

We're trying to bring it back into a more diverse balance of tourism instead of being lopsided by most of our Chinese tourists.

So we're just trying to balance out between all the nationalities a little bit, Mr Tanner said.

A sharp drop in the number of visitors to Palau from China is of little concern, says a local tourism official.

Palau saw a 16 percent drop in arrivals from China in the last quarter of 2017, presumably as a result of the Chinese government's cancellation of the country's approved destination status.

China instructed its tourist agencies in November to stop flights to Palau in protest over its diplomatic relations with Taiwan, reinforced by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's visit.

Despite the last-quarter drop in arrivals, China continues to be the major source market for Palau, with a nearly 48 percent share according to the latest figures from the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

The share was nearly 52 percent in the prior quarter.

Japan was second highest accounting for 23.7 percent of visitors, followed by Taiwan at 8 percent.

The organisation says the drop in Chinese arrivals also reflected a drastic reduction in scheduled and chartered flights to Palau. 63.9 percent and 17.4 percent, respectively.

Members of the Palau Senate have filed a lawsuit against the government over non-disclosure of information about its airport extension plans.

The government recently signed an agreement with the company Japan Airport Terminal to conduct the extension of Palau's international airport.

However, members of the senate's minority bloc are suing the Ministry of Infrastructure, Industries and Commerce for violation of the Open Government Act.

They said the Ministry had refused to disclose government documents pertaining to the agreement with the Japanese.

Marianas Variety reported that the agreement is the first public-private partnership scheme in Palau.

According to the Office of the President, the lawsuit came as a surprise because copies of the signed agreement were given to the senate.

The senators in their lawsuit said the only documents provided to the Senate were drafts and unsigned agreements.

Palau is to seek a pledge from every tourist to the country to protect its environment.

The government has partnered with a volunteer campaign, the Palau Legacy Project, to raise awareness of the environmental effect of mass tourism on Palau.

Palau's population is only about 21,000, but last year nearly 150,000 tourists visited the country.

Under the project, tourists will be asked to sign a pledge when the Palau visa is stamped in their passports.

Outrage about tourism has grown among locals in recent years due to impacts such as more rubbish on beaches, and tourists capturing turtles in order to take selfies with them.

The pledge requires tourists to agree to tread lightly, act kindly and explore mindfully, and to protect and preserve Palauans beautiful island home.

New legislation aimed at turning Palau into a luxury destination is to be put before the incoming congress which comes into power next week.

The proposed law will restrict future investment to five-star hotel chains.

The legislation is part of the president Tommy Remengesau's vision to reduce tourist numbers and increase tourist spending.

President Remengesau says the new law, which he aims to have passed within the first 100 days of the new government's tenure, will include tax incentives for potential investors.

In our definition of high end tourism would be that they would also come in with their own designed water treatment system, power back-ups.

If there are any other infrastructures that they have to do, like opening a road, the investor would do that themselves.

In return for that we will give them the necessary tax break and exemptions for them, said Tommy Remengesau.

The legislation also comes after a huge influx of tourists in 2015 and 2016, thanks mostly to an increase in package tours from mainland China.

That growth however has come at a cost, with the overcrowding having some negative environmental and social impacts.

President Remengesau says focusing on high end tourism is also aimed at limiting that impact.


Tourism Observer

USA: Pacific Tourism Industry Encouraged To Protect And Manage Oceans For Tourism Development

To mark the occasion of the first ever United Nations Oceans Conference that discussed the significance of the oceans to sustainable development, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation has called on the Pacific tourism industry to protect and sustainably manage the oceans for tourism development.

The Oceans Conference held in New York last week is recognized as a milestone achievement for the world and the Pacific region in particular, given the dependency of Pacific people on ocean resources for livelihoods and economic development.

SPTO recognizes the significance of the ocean to Pacific tourism which is a major attraction for tourists and a core part of the region’s tourism product.

Visitors to the region are drawn because of the appeal of turquoise waters for swimming, snorkeling, diving, surfing, water skiing, sailing,fishing, and turtle, dolphin and whale watching.

Tourism is a specific target under the SDGs with the key target (14.7) of an “increase to the economic benefits for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries,aquaculture and tourism by 2030”.

Speaking at a side event at the Oceans Conference, the United Nations Under-Secretary General for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu highlighted the importance of Sustainable Development Goal 14 to “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
development” particularly to countries in special situations where millions of people depend on marine resources for
their nutrition and their livelihoods.

Harnessing ocean resources in a sustainable manner can lift communities out of poverty by increasing the economic benefits that flow to them, especially from the fisheries and tourism sectors.

New and emerging sectors such as aquaculture and offshore mineral exploration also hold great potential for these countries to derive further economic benefits from the ocean, Ms ‘Utoikamanu said.

SPTO continues to work with partners on a range of initiatives that can help achieve this target in the Pacific. SPTO is
committed to supporting actions that promote sustainable whale watching in Pacific waters with SPTO and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme(SPREP) as lead partners in the voluntary commitment towards the Pacific Year of the Whale Declaration, an outcome of the Whales in a Changing Oceans Conference,held in Nuku’alofa, Tonga in April this year.

Another collaboration between SPREP and SPTO involves the development of Regional Coastal Tourism Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines, which is being led by environmental experts at SPREP and includes input from Pacific tourism stakeholders and SPTO.

Both partners recognize the importance of EIAs for responsible development and management of tourism.

SPTO is committed to raising awareness amongst tourism stakeholders to manage the impact of the sector on the environment and oceans.

Amongst other initiatives, we are working with our partners to create awareness for the tourism sector and to encourage the private sector to relook at their daily business practices, ensuring that waste and waste water are responsibly discharged; biodegradable chemicals are used; diving and recreational activities are monitored while marine ecosystems around their boundaries are protected.

SPTO CEO Chris Cocker said Our coastal communities and the general public also need to be more responsible. Efforts should heighten to ban plastic bags, he added.

SPTO’s advocacy efforts have been heightened in 2017 which has been declared as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

UNWTO calls for tourism development to be a part of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management in order to preserve and conserve fragile marine ecosystems.

The Pacific Islands were well represented at the first UN Oceans Conference which was chaired by the Prime Minister of Fiji. The large presence of the region representatives reflects the significance of the ocean to the Small Islands Developing States in the region.

SAMOA: South Pacific Tourism Organisation Markets Samoa Tourism

The South Pacific Tourism Organisation (S.P.T.O.) is creating greater awareness of tourism in the South Pacific Islands region across Europe, through a series of marketing events over the next two months.

Meet the Pacific is a series of one-day business-to-business meetings that’s held across five European cities, namely Barcelona, Milan, Prague, Zurich and Manchester from 22 February to 6 March.

It creates the opportune platform for Pacific tourism suppliers to meet with key European tour operators (buyers) who are committed to or interested in selling the South Pacific as a destination to their clients.

“Meet The Pacific is a great way for South Pacific tourism bodies and operators to meet with key industry buyers in Europe in a short period of time, and maximize their resources with maximum impact for their particular destinations, product and service offerings,” said S.P.T.O. Marketing Manager, Alisi Lutu.

Now in its third year, the event is organised by Rosie Holidays (Fiji) and Turama Pacific (Cook Islands) and supported by S.P.T.O.

On 25 February, S.P.T.O. will also participate in a consumer tourism event called Visit Pacific in Malmo, Sweden.

Visit Pacific organiser Tour Pacific, a Swedish-based South Pacific Travel Specialist, has confirmed 33 exhibiting companies including airlines, cruise operators, tourism offices and hotels from Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti and Vanuatu expected to attend.

S.P.T.O’s presence at Visit Pacific will help ensure that the region’s smaller Pacific Island destinations get a voice at this key event.

These events lead up to South Pacific Islands’ participation in I.T.B Berlin, the world’s largest consumer and travel trade show in Europe from 8 to 12 March along with national tourism offices and private sector (airlines, resorts, tour operators) from Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands,

New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu.

The annual event attracts thousands of participants and experts mainly from the European travel and tourism industry, as well as globally.

Participants at I.T.B. range from all sectors of the tourism and travel industry including travel agents, wholesalers, tour operators, hotels, airlines, media, government representatives and other travel related companies.

S.P.T.O. will use the I.T.B. platform to promote the new South Pacific Islands brand identity, launched in October 2016 into the wider European market, which is highly diverse and remains one of the key consistent markets in the world today.

Total visitor arrivals from Europe to the Pacific Islands region have fluctuated from 177,828 visitors in 2011 to 173,278 visitors in 2015. A decrease of 172,824 visitors is estimated for 2016, which may be largely attributed to impacts of Brexit. The forecast for 2017 is 173,222 visitors.

Participation at Meet the Pacific, Visit the Pacific and I.T.B. 2017 allows Pacific Island countries to invigorate key networks; re-establish contracts; enter new markets by creating business opportunities through sales leads and introduce new products and services to the European travel market.

Europe is the 3rd largest tourist source market, representing about 10% of all visitor arrivals to the Pacific Islands region; following Australia and New Zealand holding steadfast, a combined 50% market share.

“It is important for the sustainability of Pacific tourism that we are maintaining marketing and promotional presence and engaging productive partnerships with European travel partners on selling our Pacific Island destinations.

This will help encourage the needed growth of visitor traffic and yields out of these long haul markets into our Pacific island economies,” said S.P.T.O. Marketing Manager Alisi Lutu.

S.P.T.O will also promote its online South Pacific Specialist programme to train European travel agents on how to best market and sell the South Pacific to their clients

FIJI: South Pacific Tourism Organisation Hosts Miss Pacific Islands 2016, Anne Christine Dunn

National and regional pageants give recognition to young Pacific Island women and their contributions to regional affairs across diverse fields.

This was highlighted by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation that welcomed and hosted Miss Pacific Islands 2016 Anne Christine Dunn to a luncheon at their office in Suva today.

South Pacific Tourism Organisation Chief Executive Officer Chris Cocker says Dunn, who is also Miss Fiji 2016 was recently crowned the overall winner at the 30th Miss Pacific Islands pageant last week in Apia, Samoa.

Eight Pacific Island beauties from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Samoa competed in this year’s event.

Cocker says that the Pacific’s tourism assets are its people, environment and culture; and pageants serve as a unique platform to celebrate these assets.

He adds that SPTO, as the leading regional body for tourism promotion, will continue to support national and regional pageants that celebrate cultural diversity, promote our idyllic Pacific destinations, and contribute to foreign exchange earnings of the host country.

Miss Pacific Islands 2016 Anne Dunn is championing awareness on climate change and tourism in the Pacific, with a special focus on young women and youths.

SAMOA: Pacific Islands Commit To Sustainable Tourism

Heads of national tourism offices from 15 Pacific island countries met in Rarotonga, Cook Islands last week for the yearly board of directors meeting of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), the region’s peak tourism development and marketing body, which was held before the regional tourism ministers meeting also held Rarotonga.

With ‘sustainable tourism’ as the theme of the threeday meeting, sustainability has been at the forefront of discussions.

More than a buzz-phrase, Pacific island countries are increasingly embracing and adopting sustainable tourismpractices, with the host Cook Islands using the platform of the meetings to launch the country’s sustainable touris policies at the Prime Minister’s welcome event that week.

However, while there has been substantial movement in this area, sustainable tourism has not been fully mainstreamed into national and international policy discussions.

Thus, coordinated and extensive efforts need to be undertaken to raise awareness among policy makers and the public of the vital role sustainable tourism can play in all three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – as well as in achieving the

objectives of the post-2015 development agenda.

One such opportunity is the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development2017(IYST2017).

Two years ago at their meeting in Tahiti, the SPTO directors had endorsed the United Nations initiative on sustainable tourism to declare 2017 as IYST2017.

As part of their commitment, the directors agreed at the

meeting to:

i. promote Pacific Island Countries participation in this

global event at the national level;

ii. designate a national tourism event to celebrate and

promote IYST; and

iii. endorse SPTO’s planned initiatives to promote the IYST

2017.

“Through the establishment of its new Sustainable Tourism Development Division, SPTO has continued its advocacy role to promote the economic and social contribution of sustainable tourism, the conservation of our environment, protection of our cultures, and the development of business

opportunities for tourism private sector,” said Chris Cocker, Chief Executive Officer of SPTO.

Coming up in 2017, SPTO will mark IYST in a number ofways: via a special event at its annual  tourism marketing forum South Pacific Tourism Exchange in Sydney in May; at a side event at its board and ministers meetings next year; and by incorporating IYST in workshops, conferences

and its usual activities.