Reducing single-use plastics (SUPs) and strengthening environmental stewardship in the Pacific’s tourism sector took centre stage during a panel discussion at the Third Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit (PSTLS), held in Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga. Under the theme “Environmental Stewardship through Tourism,” the panel session on Goal 4: Health...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), in partnership with Tourism Solomons (TSO) and the Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), has released the results of the 2024 Community Attitude Survey (CAS)—the first nationwide study of its kind in the Solomon Islands. The research findings provide insight into how Solomon Islanders perceive tour...

The archipelago of New Caledonia has moved to bring greater cohesion to its cruise tourism sector with the launch of the Club Croisière de Nouvelle‑Calédonie (CCNC). The initiative, unveiled jointly by institutional and private actors in the territory’s tourism ecosystem, is aimed at re-establishing New Caledonia as a competitive cruise destination in the...

From 16 to 30 September 2025, the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) hosted a two-week research training program for the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA), aimed at strengthening PNGTPA’s capacity to manage and deliver high-quality tourism research through the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI). The PTDI program, funded by the ...

Construction of the new Aviation Complex Building near Honiara International Airport is advancing steadily, with major milestones achieved as part of the government’s push to modernise the nation’s aviation infrastructure under the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2), supported by the World Bank. Implemented by the Ministry of Co...

The Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu — known as the Na Vualiku Project — continues to gather momentum, with contracts worth more than FJ$22 million (US$9.7 million) already signed and several major procurements now underway. The project, spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MTCA) in partnership with the World Bank, a...

Fiji has secured a landmark investment with Kerzner International Holdings Ltd announcing plans to develop the country’s first One&Only resort and private residences on Nacula Island in the Yasawa Islands. The project, undertaken in partnership with BSP Life, was welcomed by the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,...

 The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) has reaffirmed its commitment to regional collaboration, urging Pacific leaders to recognise tourism not only as an economic sector vulnerable to global shocks but as a strategic tool for resilience, sustainability, and Pacific-led prosperity. At the 32nd Meeting of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Enviro...

Fiji Airways has soared into aviation history, becoming the smallest carrier by fleet size ever to be named among the Top 10 Airlines in the World after securing the APEX World Class Airline for 2026 Award. The honour, regarded as the most prestigious in global aviation, crowns a remarkable rise for the Fijian flag carrier, which also clinched the APEX...

The Solomon Islands and Cook Islands are exploring closer ties in tourism and culture, with both nations looking to turn shared heritage and industry needs into opportunities for cooperation. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara, where Solomon Islands Minister for Culture and Tourism C...

The Solomon Islands recorded 13,994 visitor arrivals in the second quarter of 2025, marking a 21 percent increase compared with the previous quarter, according to official figures released on 29 August. Compared with the same quarter last year, arrivals grew 11.8 percent. Returning residents comprised the largest share of entries at 51.8 percent, while...

The Pacific’s rich cultures, traditions, and natural beauty have long shaped authentic visitor experiences that reflect the spirit of Pasifika. Building on this, Samoa and Fiji have launched a Peer-to-Peer Exchange on Community Tourism, coordinated by the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO)—a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at strengthening community-l...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), in partnership with Trove Tourism Development Advisors, has rolled out a landmark digital upgrade for five of its member National Tourism Organisations (NTOs): Timor-Leste, Tonga, Nauru, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). Funded by the New Zealand Government...

The Pacific island nation of Palau is fast emerging as a sought-after destination for Indian tourists, buoyed by the country’s recent move to grant visa-free entry to Indian passport holders. New booking data from digital travel platform Agoda shows that Palau recorded a 49% year-on-year (YoY) increase in accommodation searches between July and December 2...

Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Australia is helping some of the region’s most remote nations carve a stronger presence in the Australian travel market through the 2025 Treasures of the South Pacific (ToSP) Roadshow. The two-week tour, which started in Brisbane on 18 August and ends in Newcastle on 3 September, will also stop in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydn...

The University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Pacific Tourism Research Institute (PTRI), marking a milestone in regional collaboration. The institute will serve as a hub for knowledge generation, capacity building and innovation, aimed at ensuring t...