Vanuatu has taken a significant step in strengthening its tourism and aviation links with New Zealand, following the announcement of expanded year-round direct services to Port Vila by Solomon Airlines. The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) has welcomed the development, describing it as a major boost for air connectivity and the national tourism industry. F...

The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) has extended its warm congratulations to the Government of Vanuatu and Air Vanuatu Operations Limited following the successful arrival of a new Twin Otter aircraft, a milestone expected to significantly strengthen domestic connectivity and tourism across the country’s 83 islands. The addition of the Twin Otter to the na...

Fiji has reinforced its growing influence in the global aviation arena with its participation in the Changi Aviation Summit, currently underway in Singapore from 1–3 February. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Viliame Gavoka, is representing Fiji at the high-level gathering following an invitation from Singapore’s...

As part of a major push to revive its international tourism sector, New Caledonia unveiled a comprehensive recovery plan aimed at welcoming at least 250,000 tourists by 2032. Christopher Gygès, a member of the government in charge of economic attractiveness, presented the plan on Wednesday in Nouméa alongside local partners. Following a crisis in 2024,...

As the sun rose over Tubou village, Lakeba became the setting for a moment its people have awaited for generations, as a high-level delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka visited the island for the first time. The visit signalled Lakeba’s formal entry into Fiji’s national tourism conversation,...

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele on 16 Januaryt led the opening of the upgraded Parangiju Mountain Lodge in Central Guadalcanal, marking a government-backed push to strengthen tourism as a driver of economic growth in Solomon Islands. Manele was the chief guest at the ceremony, which marked the completion of new bungalows, additional rooms and expanded s...

Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau on 16 December officially commissioned the newly upgraded Ellington Wharf in Rakiraki, marking a milestone in improving inter-island connectivity for communities in Ra and beyond. The reopening reflects the government’s continued investment in critical transport infrast...

Vanuatu’s tourism sector is showing strong signs of recovery, according to the January–June 2025 International Visitor Survey (IVS) released jointly by the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO). The survey, conducted under SPTO’s Pacific Tourism Data Initiative and funded by the New Zealand government, provides detail...

The government has endorsed the Commercial Use of Marine Areas Bill 2025, clearing the way for the return of proprietary ownership of marine areas, or qoliqoli, used for commercial activities — chiefly tourism — to their customary owners. Once passed by Parliament, the Bill will repeal the Regulation of Surfing Areas Act 2010 and establish a new framew...

“This is a model of partnership and shared prosperity,” Prime Minister Rabuka tells Tanoa Hotel staff and stakeholders Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka last night officially re-launched the newly upgraded Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi, commending the Reddy Group and Tanoa Hotels for their continued confidence in Fiji’s tourism industry. The P...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), through its Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI) and in collaboration with the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (CIT), has released a series of five comprehensive reports detailing findings from the International Visitor Survey (IVS). Covering the periods July–September 2024, October–December 2024, January–Mar...

The Santa Cruz Airfield upgrade in Temotu Province is making significant progress towards completion, marking a major milestone in enhancing the Solomon Islands’ aviation sector. The project, funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA), is progressing steadily. Recent works include the application of ...

The Fijian Government, through the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is working closely with Fiji Airports and Fiji Airways to strengthen aviation safety and minimize the risks posed by bird strikes across the country’s airports. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka told Parliament that both organizations are implementing coor...

The Coalition Government is taking decisive steps to enhance air and sea connectivity for the Yasawa Group, with plans for a new airport and improved ferry services aimed at strengthening access, opportunity, and services for island communities. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka informed Parliament of the ...

Fiji is taking a major step toward strengthening its tourism industry with the introduction of the Fiji Tourism Policy 2025–2035 and the Fiji Tourism Standards Framework Guidance Note, both designed to guide the creation of the nation’s first-ever Tourism Law. According to the latest Cabinet update, the two documents will serve as key pillars in shapin...

Fiji remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening tourism and aviation connectivity across the Pacific region. This was underscored by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka during the Ministerial Dialogue on Connecting Tourism and Aviation held in Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga. Hosted by the Pacific ...