Vanuatu Tourism News

VANUATU TOURISM OFFICE

Vanuatu Tourism in Newcastle Flight Centre Travel Expo, Australia

The Marketing Manager of the Vanuatu Tourism Office, Mr Sebastien Bador, attended the Flight Centre Travel Expo on Sunday 26th March, alongside industry colleagues Ms Annaleen Chacon representing Adventures In Paradise, Coconut Palms Resort, Grand Hotel & Casino, Hideaway Island Resort & Marine Sanctuary, Iririki Island Resort & Spa, and the Mariners Apartments, and Ms Kate Brown from VTO Australia. Final visitor figures have not been released yet but Vanuatu’s booth minders were kept very busy throughout the expo responding to visitor queries on the destination. A good proportion of consumers who popped into the booth have booked a P&O cruise and were enquiring on day tours and general information especially in and about Port Vila. Another popular group who came to the booth were return visitors who wanted to share their holiday experience all of which commented that they absolutely enjoyed Vanuatu and want to return for another holiday. Ms Brown did a 30 minutes destination presentation in a conference room 60% packed, and many were impressed on how Vanuatu is very close to Australia and is a great holiday destination for both family and couples offering a good range of tours and activities that highlights Vanuatu culture, nature both on the land and in the ocean, soft-adventures, fishing, diving, and activities for the very leisurely who just want to relax. There was a lot of interest stirred amongst consumers who were pleasantly surprised on a great range of accommodation that Vanuatu can offer to tourists. Photos taken during the expo below.

VTO participates at the Melbourne Flight Centre show

On Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th February, Patrick Vurobaravu, from VTO Santo attended the Melbourne Flight Centre show alongside colleagues Michelle Clements from Mango resort, Manuela Nielsen, VTO Australia, Keith Gallacher from Destination Specific, Hayley Rotteveel from Poppy’s on the Lagoon, and Paul Forbes from Air Vanuatu Melbourne. A record number of 36,000 visitors came to the expo which was held inside the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. Direct return flights from Melbourne to Vila/Santo between April to September  combined with hot holiday deals put together by Infinity Travel, Flight Center and accommodation providers in Vila, Santo and  Tanna increased visitor interest for bookings.

Apology: Indian Restaurant @ Seaside to open on 19 March

Dear readers, apologies for last week’s issue regarding the new Indian Restaurant @ Seaside. The restaurant has not opened but is due to open on the 19th March 2012, so expect a latest update on the restaurant including a map on where the restaurant is located  to be featured in Wednesday 14th March Island Nius. The Island Nius publisher would like to apologize to the restaurant management and readers for any inconvenience caused from this misunderstanding.

INDUSTRY

John and Silvana Nicholls of Vanuatu Hotels join Tanna Evergreen Resort & Tours

Media release, 27th February 2012: After 8 years in Port Vila, John and Silvana Nicholls owners and operators of Vanuatu Hotels www.vanuatu-hotels.vu have sold the business and launched their new venture: J&S Tourism Consulting. Returned to Tanna island in the Southern Islands of Vanuatu for their first project as management consultants to Tanna Evergreen Resort & Tours www.tevergreenresort-tours.vu .  Since launching and operating for the past 6 years Vanuatu’s first online booking portal, John and Silvana informed us: “Our love of, and ongoing relationship with Tanna island is well documented, hence this move is of no surprise to those who know us, it is where we started our Vanuatu adventure by launching and operating the White Grass Ocean Resort in 2001 to ‘03, but the lack of reliable internet access, and electricity on Tanna island has held us back our return all this time, with these two essentials services becoming more readily available, and international flights from New Caledonia to the island a real possibility, it is now the right time for us to return to Tanna and assist where we can it’s next growth phase of tourism development.” Owner of Tanna Evergreen Resort, Merian Numake had this to say: “2012 is shaping to be even tougher year than 2011 for the world economies. It is inevitable that tourism operators in Vanuatu will face hard times and will have to be more astute in managing their bottom line, with this in mind we are not only delighted to count John and Silvana Nicholls as long and true friends of Tanna islands, but resort management professionals. Read more.

MEDIA & TRADE

Microsoft and World Tourism Organization to drive innovation in the tourism sector

Travel Daily News release, Wednesday, February 29, 2012:The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Microsoft signed an agreement aimed at bringing the benefits of the most advanced technologies to the tourism sector and driving the industry’s evolution towards the computing paradigm of the future. Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, and Marcio Favilla, Executive Director of UNWTO, have forged this alliance that, in an increasingly demanding and competitive economic context, will promote technological innovation in world tourism and help the Spanish market strengthen the country’s brand as a world leader in the application of innovation to the tourism sector. With this agreement, Microsoft becomes a strategic partner of UNWTO that will propose, coordinate and spearhead technological innovation initiatives within the community of the Organization’s Member States and Affiliate Members. It will also make new technologies available to the international tourism sector in order to enhance its competitiveness. Read more.

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Vanuatu Open Water Swim – Aore Island, Santo 12th June 2012

This event happens a few days after the Port Vila Swims and is a 2.6km swim across the Channel from Luganville to Aore Island.

So escape the winter cold and swim in the clear, warm tropical waters of Vanuatu on 12th of June, 2012. Entries are now open to

Unlimited bookings. Features include Swim only and Swim + Functions packages. For more information, visit www.vanuatuswim.com and email troy@edgevanuatu.com for more information. The Vanuatu Open Water Swim takes place in two locations with three swims. In Port Vila there are two swims to choose from the Premier Event is a 3.2km swim around the Island of Iririki which is nestled in the beautiful Port Vila Harbour. In Port Vila there is also a shorter event with a 1.5km swim in the Harbour over a triangular course.