Page 36 - IB MAR 2017

Tourism
Eyes on the prize

Pacific tourism

heads to Europe

By Netani Rika

WITH less than two months before the
South Pacific Tourism Event in Sydney,
Australia, a major campaign is under-
way to draw attention to the region.
Over March and April a series of
events planned throughout Europe
will seek to draw attention to Pacific
destinations.
Headed by the South Pacific Tourism
Organisation, the events will target
major European cities – Barcelona,
Manchester, Milan, Prague and Zurich.
Meet The Pacific – the name given to
the event – will be a series of day-long
business to business meetings allowing
Pacific tourism suppliers to meet key
European buyers and travel agents.
“It’s a great way for South Pacific
tourism bodies and operators to meet
industry buyers in Europe for a short
time and maximise their resources with
maximum impact for their particular
destinations, products and services,”
said SPTO Marketing Manager, Alisi
Lutu.
Last month the SPTO took part in a Pacific tourism is gearing up for a busy holiday season Photo: SPTO
consumer tourism fair, Visit Pacific, in ITB Berlin. attributed to Britain’s planned exit from
Malmo, Sweden. Lutu said Europe was the Pacific’s the European Union.
The campaign is an aggressive ap- third largest source market supplying She said 173,222 visitors were fore-
proach into the European market in an up to 177,828 visitors in 2011 but this cast to arrive from Europe in 2017.
effort to grow the region’s traditional fell to 173,278 in 2015 – a drop largely
visitor base of Australia and New Zea-
land. Targeted focus
Airlines, hotels, tour companies and THE South Pacific Tourism Or- Island Countries. On the other hand,
cruise operators – 33 in all – from Fiji, ganisation (SPTO) has introduced our youth and young professionals
the Cook Islands, Samoa, Papua New two new categories under its Private are the future tourism leaders of the
Guinea, Tahiti and Vanuatu participated Sector Membership Program to target region.
in the event. Micro, Small and Medium Enter- “The introduction of these new
These two industry events set the prises (MSMEs) as well as youth and categories underscores SPTO’s efforts
platform for Pacific participation in ITB young professionals. towards greater self-sustainability
Berlin, the world’s largest consumer and Introducing the new categories and requires that beneficiaries take
travel trade show in which the region is Pacific Dawn and Pacific Pearl, SPTO greater ownership by accessing es-
represented by national tourism offices Chief Executive Officer Chris Cocker sential services on a user-pay basis.
and the private sector. said: “SPTO considers Micro, Small This is aligned with the changes
Airlines resorts and tour operators and Medium Enterprises as impor- that international donors and de-
from Fiji, the Cook Islands, New Cale- tant members because they make velopment partners are seeking for
donia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the the bulk of our regional tourism the funding support they provide
Solomon Islands and Vanuatu attended industry and are responsible for towards sustainable development
initiatives.”
driving economic growth in Pacific

36 Islands Business, March 2017