PM Forecasts ‘Rapid Growth’ (Samoa)
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi is predicting ‘rapid growth’ in the tourism industry, over the next five years. By how much by, he did not say. However, he mentioned at the recent ANZ Bank-sponsored Samoa Tourism Conference that all indicators are pointing towards the right direction. Tuilaepa was delivering the keynote address at the opening of the conference. The conference was deigned to enable those involved in the industry to share ideas on how they can “navigate into the future”. Some 100 participants are taking part at the Hotel Kitano Tusitala. The conference ends this afternoon. Tuilaepa said developments such as the Polynesian Blue airline joint venture, completion of Aggie Grey’s Lagoon beach Resort and Spa, the Accommodation Standards guidelines and the set-up of the Poly-link turboprop operations were all pointing towards one thing. He said Government has reason to believe that the industry would experience “rapid growth” over the coming years. (Source: Samoa Observer 23/09/2005)

International Tourism on Track for Another Strong Year
An estimated 460 million international tourist arrivals were recorded worldwide in the first seven months of 2005. This represents an increase of some 25 million arrivals compared with the respective period of 2004, or 5.9% growth, according to the preliminary data gathered for the new issue of the WTO World Tourism Barometer, presented on Monday, the first day of the WTO international conference on the Tourism Satellite Account in the Iguazu region. The year-to-date increase is very much in line with WTO’s initial forecasts for the twelve months of 2005. According to the updated forecast in this Barometer, the year as a whole is expected to end with an increase of 5 to 6%. This can be considered exceptional because international tourism is not only on track to consolidate the bumper year of 2004 (+10.7%), but it will also exceed the forecast long-term average growth of 4%. Global tourism trends confirm that growth has slowed. The first quarter’s 9% rise halved in the second quarter (+4%), partly as a result of early Easter holidays, which fell in March this year. Month-on-month growth for March is estimated at +15%, with April at 0%, May at +7%, June at +6% and July at +5%. This slowdown was to be expected, as tourism tends to grow faster in the shoulder season than in the high season. This is because available transport and accommodation capacity can be a constraint at times of peak demand. On the other hand, it is also a sign that world tourism is entering a more sustained phase of growth. Leisure tourism has once again outperformed business tourism, boosted by the increasing availability of low fares for short-haul travel and by pent-up demand still being released for long-haul destinations. But anecdotal evidence points to a recovery in demand for business tourism, including the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector. Cruise tourism has also recorded above-average growth this year so far. For more information on this article visit the following link: http://www.world-tourism.org/newsroom/Releases/2005/october/barometer.htm (Source: WTO News Releases 03/10/2005) 

Airlines Seal Deal (Fiji)
Air Fiji has signed a memorandum of understanding with Solomon Airlines for the exchange of professional services and in the long term sharing of aircrafts between the airlines. The MOU was signed at the Air Fiji head office in Nausori yesterday between Air Fiji chief executive Sialeni Vuetaki, Solomon Airlines chief executive Joseph Anea and Solomon Airlines chairman Kevin Misi. "We are happy to sign the MOU with Solomon Airlines, it is a commencement of a new direction on a commercial basis," Mr Vuetaki said. Air Fiji has already contracted two of its pilots to Solomon Airlines and would also share its equipments and aircrafts to the company in the near future. Mr Vuetaki said they would also be training the Solomon Airlines pilots and engineers. "We are pleased to have this association with Air Fiji, which would do a lot of us on the basis of professional services, exchange of engineers, safety administration management and route networks," Mr Anea said. The MOU has been in the pipeline for the last six months and is the first for both airlines. Mr Vuetaki said the airlines' long term plan is to have an airline virtual business model where they would be outsourcing most of their services. He added that they were also looking at entering joint ventures with other airlines such as Air Vanuatu, Tonga Airlines and Polynesian Airlines. Mr Anea said they chose Air Fiji as it had similar aircrafts to the ones they used. Solomon Airlines has three twin otters, one Islander and leases a 737-400 from Qantas for its international airlines. It would soon lease an aircraft from Air Fiji. Air Fiji has a total of 11 aircrafts and would get two new ones in December. Mr Anea said one of their biggest challenges was finding the best type of aircraft for the island as the twin otters considered to be ideal were no longer in production. Air Fiji sold its twin otter last year. Mr Vuetaki said Solomon Islanders studying at the Fiji Institute of Technology would be attached with the airline. In addition, Air Fiji engineers would also be sent to the Solomon Islands to train Solomon Airlines engineers. Mr Vuetaki said Solomon Airlines and Air Fiji would concentrate on joint ventures which would benefit both airlines, unlike some arilines who were interested in building their own empires. (Source: Fiji Times 04/10/2005)

SPTO and Cook Islands Advises on China’s Emerging Market
China was yesterday identified during the ANZ Bank-sponsored Samoa Tourism Conference as an emerging tourism market for Samoa. Peter Dawkins, of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation, believes Samoa will do very well to tap into this. “Australia and New Zealand, two of the main source markets for the South Pacific, are small in the global scale,” Mr Dawkins said. “India and China are the two major emerging markets and have vast populations. To effectively develop these emerging markets, significant challenges must be addressed, especially the case of China.” But Cook Islands Tourism Marketing Corporation chief executive Chris Wong, who was also a panellist, sounded a word of caution. “You’ve got to look very carefully at the segment of the market you want,” Mr Wong said. “It is known that the volume of the market (from China) is very questionable. “You have to  see what segment of the market that best fits Samoa rather than going mainstream.” American Samoa Department of Commerce Director Faleseu E. Paopao supported Mr Wong. “I want to thank you for being honest with us,” he said. “It is something we need to be aware of.” During his presentation, Mr Dawkins said figures showed that by 2007 China would produce 30 million tourists and 50 million by 2010. “It will be good for the Pacific to get a slice of the pie,” Mr Dawkins said. There are steps, however, that must be taken. Mr Dawkins said the Government of China was very strict about which country they approve for their people to visit. “Since 1995, China have approved travel by its citizen for the purpose of tourism to international destinations that have been granted Approved Destination Status,” he said. It is also tough to promote international travel in China unless it is done by an organisation licensed by the China National Tourism Administration, he said. Mr Dawkins said if Samoa wants to be promoted in China, it must work with an agent that is licensed. And given that the cost of getting here will always be expensive, Samoa as a product must be sold on quality rather price. “Traditional attractions will appeal,” he said, as well as a “beautiful and pristine environment with unspoilt beauty. Friendly people and a child friendly environment.”   (Source: Samoa Observer 23/09/2005)

5th South Pacific Tourism Conference Theme: "Tourism: Investing In Our Future"
Registration for the 5th South Pacific Tourism Conference has been extended!
The SPTO conference is a most significant and prestigious biennial Tourism Conference, which involves the 13 SPTO member countries, Tourism Ministers, Head of Tourism Organizations, and Industry member of the South Pacific. To date over 100 participants have been registered. Hosted by the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority, the conference will bring together key participants and industry members who are vital in assisting the promotion and enhancement of tourism in the region. For further information please contact: Ms Dorothy Koch on Phone: 675 320 0211, Mobile: 675 682 3074, Fax: 675 320 1995, Email: dkoch@online.net.pg

Industry Stakeholders Discuss Tourism Industry Code of Practice
The South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) recently organised a workshop on Accommodation Classification & Grading in Apia, Samoa. The EU Regional Economic Integration Programme (REIP) funded workshop brought together a balanced mix of private and public sector stakeholders from ten SPTO member countries. . Participants were trained in the art and science of accommodation classification taking away with them skills that will assist them to upgrade accommodation standards in their own countries. The three-day workshop, opened by the Honourable Hans Joachim Keil, Samoa Minister of Tourism, balanced training with results and participants provided useful feedback on the draft Pacific Tourism Industry Code of Practice as well as making progress towards a regional Quality Assurance Framework. Amongst the topics debated were the principles of quality assurance and accreditation; international accommodation classification schemes, minimum standards including fire and health safety and consumer protection. Participants also gained experience in the practice of developing accommodation-grading criteria, and compared different approaches to the scoring of quality indicators. One of the high notes of the workshop was the very active contribution of Pacific island participants. Six of the NTO’s presented impressive case studies and others offered impromptu input to the debate, providing those without active experience in accommodation classification a huge amount of practical knowledge to draw upon. In a short space of time strangers became good friends and cultural differences were overcome by the collective will to work as a team, achieving impressive results. Mr. Robert Skews, Chairman of the SPTO and General Manager of Island Hopper Vacations, said, “It was probably one of the most enjoyable and inter-reactive workshops I have attended and gave all participants a fantastic overview of quite differing systems, enabling them to assess what might be right for their own country- and I think even reassess the systems that Samoa and Cook Islands already have in place.  From this and other input, SPTO will be well able to outline some clear and studied guidelines for other countries to use.  Both Louise and Michael contributed to this event greatly and made it the success it was”. Workshop facilitator and Industry Standards expert Louise Twining-Ward commented “one of the things that dictates the success of a workshop is the active involvement of participants before, during and after the workshop. I give credit to the participants who showed their willingness to collect information, share it with the workshop and are now determined to go home champions of accommodation standards. I made them work extremely hard, but hopefully they will forgive me as we had enormous fun in the process!” The workshop was a stepping-stone towards regional agreement on quality standards, and one of the key outputs will be a Tourism Industry Code of Practice and Resource Kit on Accommodation Classification, which will assist the on-going process of upgrading accommodation standards.  This will allow countries to have a Classification scheme model to follow to assist with the development of regional standards. (Picture below: participants take time out for a photo shoot)

SPTO Membership update
The South Pacific Tourism Organisation welcomes three New Private Sector Members.
1.  Dateline Industries, Pago Pago, American Samoa - Dateline Industries has 2 properties; the Sadie Thompson Inn which has 14 units including 2 apartments and it is located in the heart of Pago Pago and Sadies by the Sea which  has 46 units, and has acquired on long term lease 2 wings of the old "Rainmaker Hotel" which was the pride of the South Pacific when it opened 40 years ago as the Pan-Am "Intercontinental Hotel. For more information, please contact them on e-mail:  tdrabble@blueskynet.am
2.  Raffles Gateway Hotel is located right opposite the Nadi International Airport, 5 miles from Nadi town and 15 miles from Lautoka in the Fiji Islands. At raffles you can choose accommodation to suite your style and budget. For more information, visit their website: http://www.rafflesgateway.com
3.  Navutu Stars Resort, Yasawa Island, Fiji. Navutu Stars is a new luxurious boutique resort located in the Yasawa group. It is still under construction and will soon be ready for business before the end of this year. The exquisite individually thatched-room of their beachfront bures include 2 honeymoon suites featuring own spa.  For more information, please contact them via
e-mail: info@navutustarsfiji.com
If you would like to know more about the SPTO Private Sector Membership Programme and its benefits, please contact our Membership Marketing Coordinator on e-mail: rdrekeni@spto.org

Sanbis Resort – The 5-Star Feel Without the 5-star Formalities
The latest addition to the Solomon Islands’ hotel inventory sits almost hidden among the ubiquitous coconut trees that tourism brochures associate with such locations. Only a wooden jetty pushing its way out from the sandy beach into the lagoon betrays Sanbis Resort’s presence to prying eyes. Unseen from the fibreglass boat ferrying you there are the great lengths the developers have gone to preserve the natural environment. How they built two of the five bungalows closer than they would have liked just so they wouldn’t cut down any of the trees; how they even modelled lunge space around another so you have an honest-to-God living trunk piercing the thatch roof with a bat named Bernie perched on the top; and how for good measure they planted an additional 4,000 plants to add to all the others they did not destroy. Karl Svendsen, general manager of Solomon Watersport, one of Sanbis Resort’s sister companies, hosted a guided tour of the resort. Attention to detail permeates every aspect of the resort and during its design and building there wre a few emotional exchanges between Svendsen and managing director Hans Mergozzi. “But we always sorted things out,” Svendsen says, “and we now have what we believe is the best resort if not in the Solomon Islands, certainly in the Western Province.” The bungalows are built in a way that makes air conditioning unnecessary. Situating them partly over the water ensures they catch naturally cooling sea breezes. The resort also runs on renewable energy with its 12-volt electrical system relying on solar power. There is no noisy generator running at night with power demands met by an array of storage batteries. “Basically our target market is anyone looking for quality, not quantity,” Svendsen says. “Anybody seeking a different, environment-oriented holiday, couples, divers, fishermen – people who have the environment at heart.” Sanbis, which means sandy beach in the local dialect, is a six-minute boat ride from Gizo, the provincial capital. Gizo, in turn, is a one-hour and five minutes flight from Honiara. But a stay at Sanbis means being cut off completely from the outside world. There are no phones, mobiles or fax machines on the island. Just you and a maximum of nine other guests at any one time. “Limiting it to 10 guests at a time ensures visitors get the best customer service and enjoyment out of that service,” says Svendsen. Visit there website: http://www.solomonconnect.com/sanbis/sanbis_home.htm (Source: South Pacific Tourism Magazine Issue 2, 2005)

A Star is Born - Navutu Stars Resort Update
Navutu Stars is a new luxurious boutique resort, nestled on the island of Yaqeta, Yasawa, opening in November, 2005. Our guests will choose from 9 individually designed, thatched-roof beachfront Bures (two honeymoon suites featuring own spa) stretched over three secluded bays. Our menu offers a fusion of European, Asian and Fijian cuisine and a great selection from the Old and New World vineyards. In our Spa Bure, Fijian traditional beauty remedies are blended with the best of Western cosmetics. Our clients will also have the opportunity to enjoy authentic Fijian village experience, diving, non motorized watersports, yoga workshops among a host of other activities or just do nothing. Navutu Stars aims for a four to five star clientele of well travelled well educated professionals, and is ideal for couples and honeymooners looking for a romantic escape. Weddings and renewal of vows packages are available. Navutu Stars Resort is on track for construction work to be completed by November and we are taking bookings from the 01st of December, 2005 onwards. Our opening special rates of: F$600.00 + Fiji Govt Tax (12.5%) per couple per night in the Beachfront Bure (which is 70 square metres) and  F$720.00 + Fiji Govt Tax (12.5%) per couple per night for the Grand Bure (which is 80 square metres with own spa bath) includes full Continental breakfast, welcome tropical cocktails, fruit platter and complimentary massage. Navutu Stars Resort is owned by Manfredi de Lucia and Maddalena Morandi, two dynamic Italians who lived and worked in London for 10 years until they decided to move to Fiji two years ago and create the resort of their dreams. (Source: Press Release Navutu Stars Resort 06/10/2005)

Captain Cook Cruises Expands Its North American Marketing
Captain Cook Cruises has appointed Delivering America as its new representative in North America to market its extended, sightseeing and dining cruise products there. An Australian owned and family run company, Captain Cook Cruises started their business on Sydney Harbour 35 years ago and now is an icon in that city. Their ongoing success has added cruise operations to the Great Barrier Reef, Murray River and Fiji Islands. “We’re committed to the business of delivering extraordinary destination experiences for our passengers, aboard small ship cruises that take our guests to some of the most remote and exclusive parts of our region,” said Executive Director for Captain Cook Cruises, Mrs Allison Haworth-West. Delivering America, a full scale tourism marketing company, based in Los Angeles with an office in New York City, will market Captain Cook Cruises’ products to the North American sector. “With a focus on sales and marketing in this region, Delivering America will be an integral part of our team and provide a local point of contact to the North American market for our Fiji Islands and Australian products,” she said. “Their experience, professional affiliations and focus will enable them to build on the presence that we established over the past 30 years we have been here.” “We are committed to the future of the market from North America and believe the leisure and cruise segments offer good potential for upcoming growth,” Haworth-West added. “This is a strategic appointment and we believe it will be highly beneficial to our overall promotion, brand awareness, client service and our bottom line sales.” Delivering America’s President, Mr Nicholas Reid said “We are delighted to secure such an iconic product as Captain Cook Cruises for our business.  For us, it is like winning the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge – we are delighted to be part of the team.” Delivering America’s have over 130 combined years of experience and knowledge which includes positions in airlines, hotels, destination management companies, tour wholesalers, MICE companies, marketing and trip fulfilment.  They are a member of The Delivering Group with offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok. Captain Trevor Haworth established Captain Cook Cruises 1970. It now carries in excess of 750,000 passengers per year on Sydney Harbour and over 20,000 per year on their Australian and Fijian cruises. They offer three, four and seven night cruises of the Great Barrier Reef and Fiji, three or four day Sailing Safaris in Fiji, two and five night cruises on the Murray River in South Australia.  The Sydney Harbour fleet consists of fifteen sightseeing and restaurant cruise vessels, with more than 20 scheduled cruises operating daily and Sydney Harbour’s only overnight accommodation cruises. Delivering America’s appointment takes effect from 1 September 2005. (Source: Captain Cook Cruises Media Release 07/10/2005)

Air New Zealand Lands in Adelaide
Air New Zealand will commence direct services between Auckland and Adelaide from March next year, becoming the first new carrier to establish services at the new $260 million Adelaide airport terminal, set to officially open on Friday. From 26 March 2006, Air New Zealand will introduce three direct flights a week between Auckland and Adelaide on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays contributing more than 43,000 passenger seats on the route. Air New Zealand Group General Manager Marketing, Network and Sales, Norm Thompson, said Air New Zealand was delighted to be adding Adelaide to its network of Australian destinations. “Adelaide offers us a great opportunity to generate new inbound and outbound tourism between New Zealand and South Australia, as well as a competitive alternative for people wanting to travel between South Australia and the USA. The new service has excellent connections with Air New Zealand’s direct services between Auckland and Los Angeles as well as San Francisco, creating one of the shortest travel times for customers between Adelaide and the USA. “We’re excited to be the first new carrier making use of the new Adelaide airport terminal which is a magnificent facility and supports our ability to offer our customers a high level of service on the ground as well as in the air,” said Mr Thompson. South Australian Premier Mike Rann said Air New Zealand’s decision to include Adelaide on its flight schedule highlights the pulling power of Adelaide's new state-of-the-art airport. “I’m delighted to welcome Air New Zealand as the first international carrier to announce fresh flights taking advantage of our new-look airport,” says Premier Rann. “We look forward to greeting some 21,000 additional international visitors to South Australia from March next year. "South Australia is enjoying a growing reputation as a premier tourism destination and a great place to do business and this new gateway to Adelaide will only enhance our appeal to visitors from New Zealand and the United States." Offering a user-friendly daylight schedule, the service will depart Auckland at 8.15 am and touch down in Adelaide at 10.35 am local time before returning from Adelaide to Auckland at 11.30 am for a 6.10 pm arrival. Air New Zealand will operate its new Airbus A320 aircraft on the route offering Business Class and Economy Class seating. Economy class airfares from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to Adelaide start from $299 one way plus applicable taxes and levies. (Source: Air New Zealand Media Release 05/10/2005)

Air Pacific Flys to Kiritimati Island
Fiji’s National carrier Air Pacific's first flight to Christmas Island in Kiribati left Nadi at 12 midnight on Tuesday. Air Pacific chief executive John Campbell said the service would operate once a week using a Boeing 737-700 aircraft flying Nadi-Christmas Island-Honolulu and returning to Nadi at 6.40pm on Wednesday. The flight's departure time is 12midnight on Tuesday. "The service is a joint venture between the Kiribati Government and Air Pacific to provide essential transport, communications and import and export cargo opportunities for residents of Christmas Island," Mr Campbell said. The island is renowned as a pristine sports fishing and diving spot and is virtually undiscovered, having limited commercial development and reliable air services. "We are delighted to be a partner with the Government of Kiribati to commence services to Kiritimati and anticipate the flights will play a major role in improving economic opportunity and communications for Christmas Island residents. "We plan, in future, to link Kiritimati with Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati, through commencement of a Nadi-Tarawa service using the same aircraft." He said this would facilitate the linkage of two remote points within one country across a separation of 3600 kilometres of Pacific Ocean. Mr Campbell said services to Christmas Island were open for sale and available for stopover opportunities on the weekly flight between Fiji and Honolulu with same day connections at Nadi from Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane, Honiara, Vila, Tonga and Tokyo. Air Pacific is negotiating with local domestic airlines to start domestic services by the end of the year. (Source: Fiji Times 07/10/2005)

Bali Tourism Ready to Fight Back
The recent tragedy which hit Bali on October 1st will not undermine the government determination to fight any form of terrorism, to assure the prosperity of Indonesian people through tourism and to implement all the necessary measures to make Indonesia a destination safe and open to all visitors. On October 4th, prior to the start of the Ramadan as well as the religious Balinese festival of Galungan, some 200 Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists gather to reaffirm their common determination to fight all forms of extremism and terrorism and promote peace. The explosion of three bombs in the island of Bali is a tragedy for all Indonesians as well as for all our friends around the world. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism expresses its most sincere condolences to all families and people who lost some relatives or friends on October 1st. The Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik as well as the Director General for Tourism in charge of marketing Thamrin Bachri wants also to extend their gratitude to all governments who expressed their support to Indonesia as well the numerous friends of Bali around the world. “We hope that visitors will continue to provide their support to us by still visiting Bali and Indonesia”, declares Jero Wacik. Up to the date of October 5th, the Bali tourism trade recorded only limited cancellation from visitors. There has been also no cancellation from any of the airlines flying to Bali. According to the Bali Hotels Association, it is “business as usual” with a minimal amount of people leaving the island following the tragedy. Hotels did not experience mass exodus like in the previous tragedy of October 2002 but expect however some cancellations over the next few weeks. In 2003, tourist arrivals declined by 23 per cent following the October attack. For more information visit the following link: http://www.world-tourism.org/newsroom/Releases/2005/october/bali_tourism.htm (Source: WTO News Releases 05/10/2005)