AUSTRALIA: South Pacific Tourism Organisation Launches New Website

Travelers interested in visiting the South Pacific are now able to access instant information on Pacific countries through the www.southpacificislands.travel site, launched at the 4th South Pacific Tourism Exchange in Sydney, Australia last month.

The new domain name linking the key words South Pacific islands and travel is the new home for the South Pacific Tourism Organisations (SPTO) revamped website reflecting the organization mandate as the regional agency responsible for marketing and developing tourism in the region.

The new look website has been developed in line with the new SPTO brand launched one year ago at the 26th Council of Tourism Ministers meeting in the Cook Islands reflecting the key message of “Ours is Yours’ which is also an invitation for the world to come and discover the South Pacific and share in what the region has to offer.

The website has also been tailored to meet the requirements of SPTO’s corporate clients in particular clients who work with SPTO to market the region to the world.

These clients will have access to the large database of accentuated Pacific images to assist them with doing their work, through the password protected area of the site.

The refreshed regional tourism website will strengthen SPTO’s capacity in a number of different areas, including regional destination marketing and servicing membership requirements and providing more information in the area of niche markets, SPTO Chief Executive Officer, Chris Cocker said.

It has been tailored specifically for the different types of clientele served by SPTO and we are excited that it has been launched and we are now live, so let us work together to make tourism happen in the region!” he added.

The site is expected to also boost the marketing efforts of SPTO member countries by providing visitors with access to specific pages on activities and tours available in the different countries and help them plan their trip by linking them directly to tour operators and destination websites.

The site has a specific portal for travel agents who choose to become South Pacific specialists where they can access training material for 16 Pacific Island destinations and for specific niche markets in the region. These niche markets include, weddings and honeymoons and diving.

Other aspects of the site include an interactive map of the Pacific with specific in country maps and links to all SPTO
Social media sites, as well as blogs on the region and latest news releases from SPTO.

About SPTO

Established in 1983 as the Tourism Council of the South Pacific, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO)
is the mandated organisation representing Tourism in the region. Its 18 Government members are American Samoa,Cook Islands,Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia,Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and the People’s Republic of China.

In addition to government members, the South Pacific
Tourism Organisation enlists a private sector membership
base.

TUVALU: Discover Tuvalu

Tuvalu is an unspoiled corner of the South Pacific in Micronesia, halfway between Australia and Hawaii where the water is clear and the the palm trees aplenty. It is one of the smallest and most secluded destinations in the world, and a perfect place for travellers searching for seclusion and tranquility.

With a maximum of 13 feet above sea level, the islands provide the classic image of blue sea and sky, white breakers along the fringing reefs, sand and swaying palms. Within the lagoons, the contrast between the colors of deep and shallow water and the beach is especially dramatic, creating a unique South Seas ambience. The spectacular marine environment consisting of a vast expanse of ocean interspersed with atolls, magnificent lagoons, coral reefs and small islands.

The way of life in Tuvalu is slow, take some time to unwind, relax and refresh yourself. If you want to escape the city and the people, Tuvalu is the perfect place. Seclusion and tranquility is abundant.

The temperature ranges from around 28-31°C (82-88°F), with brief heavy rainfall during the wet season, November to February. From May to October winds are light.
Attractions & Activities

Funafuti is Tuvalu's capital and the location of its international airport. Approximately 4,000 people are making up the entire population and life is easy going and laid back. Only two small manufacturing facilities remind visitors of the modern world lingering beyond the horizon.

The major attraction on the island is the Funafuti Conservation Area. Its five islets are lined up along the western side of the atoll. They are all uninhabited and protected.

Another attraction on Funafuti is "David's Drill." Scientists from the Royal Society of London conducted experimental drilling in the late 1800s to test Charles Darwin's theory of atoll formation. Darwin, the famous formulator of evolution theory, believed that all coral atolls rest on a volcanic base. The deepest bore at David's Drill reached 928 feet but did not hit volcanic rock. A second attempt also failed but modern science has proved that Darwin was correct. The boreholes can still be seen to this day in Fongafale village.

During World War II, large numbers of American troops were stationed on the islands of Tuvalu and air force bases were strategically located throughout the country. Funafuti was the main base, but remains of World War II are visible on several islands. An old runway exists on the northeastern side of Nanumea (the most northern island) and the remains of war planes are visible in the scrub. A wreck of a landing craft can be seen on the reef near the island's village. Nanumea also has a striking church with a pointed German-style tower, which is among the tallest in the South Pacific.

Americans are also responsible for the best snorkeling on Funafuti. In order to obtain building material for wartime airstrips, US military blasted several huge ocean-side pits. Thousands of fish become trapped in these pits at low tide. Until high tide returns, the pits become enormous swimming pools offering amazing close-ups.

Another recently attraction is the cause way at northern side of Funafuti Island (Capital) which also known as Fongafale. It has recently eroded due to sea level rise and therefore the pathway which connects the road to the other side is getting thinner and more tourists are being attracted to it to take pictures.
Culture & Events

Although geographically located in Micronesia, ethnic Tuvaluan people are Polynesian and account for 94% of the population. However, the majority of the 600 natives on the Tuvalu island of Nui are of Gilbertese (Micronesian) origin.
The ancestors of Tuvaluan people are believed to have arrived on the islands about 2,000 years ago. Under the leadership of chiefs, known as 'Aliki', traditional Tuvaluan society continued for hundreds of years before it underwent significant changes with the arrival of European traders in the 1820s.

Even greater changes took places when missionaries arrived in the 1860s. Tuvaluans soon embraced the new faith and virtually all of the people are now Christians, mostly Protestants. Religion plays an important part in everyday life, although much of the island's previous culture and traditions are retained.

Tuvalu first came under British jurisdiction in 1877. In 1892, Tuvalu became a colony. In 1975, following over-whelming support for separation, the country became an independent constitutional monarchy and the 38th member of the commonwealth on October 1, 1978. Tuvalu was recently accepted as the 189th member state of the United Nations.

The traditional community system of Tuvalu is still intact. Each family has its own task, or salanga, to perform for the community, such as fishing, house building or defense. The skills of a family are passed on from father to son. There are three different linguistic areas in Tuvalu, but English is spoken throughout the islands.

Like in all Polynesian countries, traditional dancing plays an important role in the lives of Tuvaluan. Tuvaluans are great dancers and traditional dancing is performed almost every night at falekaupules (meeting houses). These meeting houses play an important role in Tuvalu's every day life since locals use them as a venue for singing, dancing, and other forms of evening entertainment. On Funafuti, each outer island community has a falekaupule of their own. Even the national ball game Te Ano ends with a dance: The losers perform a funny song and dance routine intended to make them win the next time.

NIGERIA: Visa Free Countries For Holders Of Nigerian Passports

As a Nigerian citizen with a Nigerian passport, there are certain countries which do not require a visa or a visa-lottery upon entry so long as you have your Nigerian passport.

However, for some of these countries, there is an estimated amount of time you are expected to spend before a visa will be demanded for. The period of days for which you can stay varies from country to country and then you would have to obtain a visa, at least this is not like a gamble when you play the visa- lottery.

The easiest way to know the visa free countries is to list all the countries you may visit visa free is to split them into continents. In the Americas you may access Barbados for six months, Dominica for 21 days, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis for three months and Turks and Caicos Islands for 30 days.

In Asia you can freely arrive in the following countries to which you will then be issued with a visa once in the country. In Azerbaijan, Laos, Macau and Timor-Leste you are granted with a 30 day visa. In Bangladesh you are granted a 90 day visa.

In Oceania you may access Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Vanuatu and Palau for 30 days, Cook Islands for 31 days, Tuvalu for one month, Samoa for 60 days and Fiji for four months.

In Africa Nigerian passport holders can visit the following countries visa-free; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger Senegal and Uganda, basically all the West African countries.

Please note that this posted was last modified on the 5th of March 2014. Kosovo is no longer visa free for Nigerians and many African countries.

You can also get visa-on-arrival in Kenya.