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Cruise tourism stakeholders from Vanuatu's public and private sector converged in Le Lagon Resort & Spa in Port Vila on the 24th and 25th of June to learn, understand and share ideas on ways to enhance on-shore cruise visitor experiences and focus on improving their awareness of the international and regional cruise tourism market.
With the overall objective of contributing to the sustainable growth and development of the cruiseshipping sector in Vanuatu, the two (2) days capacity building workshop was facilitated by South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and delivered by Sydney based company Nautic Consulting; through funding by the European Union.
Participants to the workshop included representatives from both the Vanuatu's public and private sectors, all keen to improve service delivery and maximise revenue earning capability from the promising cruise shipping sector.
SPTO Chief Executive Officer Ilisoni Vuidreketi says "capacity building in the tourism industry is critical to moving the sector forward in the region as tourism plays a vital role in the economies of Pacific Island countries and in most of these countries it continues to be a driver of economic growth and foreign exchange earnings".
The SPTO acknowledges that there is room for more growth in regional cruise tourism and thePacific will need to enhance its current performance if it is to increase its contribution to theregion's economy.
Charge d' Affaires of the Delegation of the European Union to Vanuatu, Mr. Robert De Raeve commended the initiative carried out by the SPTO and acknowledged that cruise tourism is important to Vanuatu and that continued collaboration between the public and private sectors is vital if the industry is to prosper.
In addition to the natural beauty of the islands, the workshop emphasized on the need for port destinations to have adequate infrastructure, safe and reliable transportation network, and institutional structures conducive to the promotion of the cruise tourism sector.
Vanuatu expects to welcome 246 cruise ships in 2013 and similar workshops will be carried out in Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands and Fiji. |
