The Pacific Ocean covers about one third of our planet’s surface and contains fascinating island destinations with diverse natural and cultural characteristics. There is a wide range in the degree of tourism development between Pacific islands; some economies are highly dependent on tourism whilst others are just starting their tourism development journey. Regardless, sustainable tourism development is a key opportunity to improve the livelihoods and well-being of the island communities and to reduce poverty. Pacific islands generally have stunningly beautiful, but fragile marine environments; so care needs to be taken in any tourism development activity. With climate change being a major threat for low lying atolls and also for other Pacific islands frequented by cyclones and typhoons, there is a need to support the ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental impacts and carbon emissions which is of paramount importance for the resilience of the sector. Therefore, climate change strategies need to be incorporated into tourism development programmes.
Historically, a handful of Pacific islands have led the way in terms of tourism development as a key national economic strategy. Their experiences and lessons learnt provide valuable insights for other destinations newer to tourism. Increasingly, Pacific islands are seeking regional cooperation to tackle common issues.
Pacific populations tend to be small and located afar from each other and from the major outbound tourism markets. Hence, isolation and access are common challenges, which some destinations are successfully converting into strengths. As tourism involves a complex and ever- changing global network, human resource development is vital in Pacific island countries to enable competitive tourism product development.
Whilst Pacific islands offer outstanding tourism resources, much work is still required to fully develop these into tourism products. Given the vastness of the region surveyed, this study aims at identifying high priority steps that can be taken at a practical level to further develop the Pacific tourism offer while ensuring sustainable and high return on investment for communities.
Methodology involved desk research of existing statistics and relevant studies, including country-by-country tourism strategies where these are available. Site visits were carried out in the five Pacific island states of Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, selected on the fact that they provided for a good representation of the range of size and nature of Pacific destinations. Good practice cases were also investigated from both within the Pacific islands and Pacific destinations to give practical guidance on how to alleviate challenges and make the most of opportunities. Additionally, effort was made to ensure good practice cases are associated with key elements of product development such as government policy, private-public partnerships, small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurial development, community engagement and carrying capacity.
A key finding from this study is the opportunity to increase efforts at the regional level in supporting tourism product development. There is considerable opportunity for cross-learning between Pacific islands, as well as cost-effective regional development of standardized solutions to common challenges faced. One of the main values of this study therefore lies in the following ten concrete regional recommendations developed to address common tourism product development issues faced by island destinations across the Pacific:
Tourism product development opportunities are presented chapter by chapter specifically for eleven destinations, these being the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu. A general tourism product development checklist is tabled to assist destinations and practitioners.
It should be noted that the study was carried out in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recovery of tourism will take priority for Pacific island nations ahead of recommendations in the report. It is further recognized that one of the key areas in COVID-19 tourism recovery is preparing for tourism’s unique ability to lead local socioeconomic recovery and national growth. Sustainable tourism development is integral to growing back better for any destination management model, and that the product development recommendations will add value to the recovery of a destination.
The Pacific Ocean covers about one third of our planet’s surface and contains fascinating island destinations with diverse natural and cultural characteristics. There is a wide range in the degree of tourism development between Pacific islands; some economies are highly dependent on tourism whilst others are just starting their tourism development journey. Regardless, sustainable tourism development is a key opportunity to improve the livelihoods and well-being of the island communities and to reduce poverty. Pacific islands generally have stunningly beautiful, but fragile marine environments; so care needs to be taken in any tourism development activity. With climate change being a major threat for low lying atolls and also for other Pacific islands frequented by cyclones and typhoons, there is a need to support the ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental impacts and carbon emissions which is of paramount importance for the resilience of the sector. Therefore, climate change strategies need to be incorporated into tourism development programmes.
Historically, a handful of Pacific islands have led the way in terms of tourism development as a key national economic strategy. Their experiences and lessons learnt provide valuable insights for other destinations newer to tourism. Increasingly, Pacific islands are seeking regional cooperation to tackle common issues.
Pacific populations tend to be small and located afar from each other and from the major outbound tourism markets. Hence, isolation and access are common challenges, which some destinations are successfully converting into strengths. As tourism involves a complex and ever- changing global network, human resource development is vital in Pacific island countries to enable competitive tourism product development.
Whilst Pacific islands offer outstanding tourism resources, much work is still required to fully develop these into tourism products. Given the vastness of the region surveyed, this study aims at identifying high priority steps that can be taken at a practical level to further develop the Pacific tourism offer while ensuring sustainable and high return on investment for communities.
Methodology involved desk research of existing statistics and relevant studies, including country-by-country tourism strategies where these are available. Site visits were carried out in the five Pacific island states of Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, selected on the fact that they provided for a good representation of the range of size and nature of Pacific destinations. Good practice cases were also investigated from both within the Pacific islands and Pacific destinations to give practical guidance on how to alleviate challenges and make the most of opportunities. Additionally, effort was made to ensure good practice cases are associated with key elements of product development such as government policy, private-public partnerships, small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurial development, community engagement and carrying capacity.
A key finding from this study is the opportunity to increase efforts at the regional level in supporting tourism product development. There is considerable opportunity for cross-learning between Pacific islands, as well as cost-effective regional development of standardized solutions to common challenges faced. One of the main values of this study therefore lies in the following ten concrete regional recommendations developed to address common tourism product development issues faced by island destinations across the Pacific:
Tourism product development opportunities are presented chapter by chapter specifically for eleven destinations, these being the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu. A general tourism product development checklist is tabled to assist destinations and practitioners.
It should be noted that the study was carried out in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recovery of tourism will take priority for Pacific island nations ahead of recommendations in the report. It is further recognized that one of the key areas in COVID-19 tourism recovery is preparing for tourism’s unique ability to lead local socioeconomic recovery and national growth. Sustainable tourism development is integral to growing back better for any destination management model, and that the product development recommendations will add value to the recovery of a destination.
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