Island Sky expedition delivers economic benefits to communities

October 6, 2026 10:12 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

Vanuatu’s latest expedition cruise visit has delivered economic opportunities to communities in the Banks Islands, Efate and Tanna, with tourists taking part in cultural activities, tours and locally run experiences.

Managed by Noble Caledonia, a small-ship cruise operator specialising in cultural cruises and escorted tours, the Island Sky expedition brought 89 passengers and 12 crew members to Vanuatu for a three-day visit in mid-September.

Vanuatu Ecotours partnered with Noble Caledonia to plan and deliver visitor experiences for the guests.

To develop the programme, Vanuatu Ecotours’ Chief Operating Officer, Allan Thomas, travelled to the Banks Islands in 2025 to meet local chiefs, assess landing sites and identify suitable visitor activities, including cultural performances and entertainment.

Thomas was on board MS Island Sky as the tour agent, escorting visitors during their Vanuatu journey.

His role was to assist the crew, brief them on the activities planned for each day, answer guests’ questions about the itinerary, ensure their safety and represent Vanuatu Ecotours in communities as a trusted tour partner.

“The chiefs from the two islands of Rah and Mota Lava were happy to be included. They agreed Rah Island would be the perfect spot to bring in tourists, and both the communities would be there to welcome the guests,” said Thomas.

“In the past, others promised that cruise ships would arrive at their ports, but bad weather conditions prevented it.

“They felt neglected and ignored. News of the Island Sky expedition once again gave them hope.”

MS Island Sky’s visit to Rah Island marked the communities’ first opportunity in many years to receive cruise ship tourists.

Guests were welcomed with cultural performances, including the well-known bamboo band, and watched magic and snake custom dances. Most visitors went ashore, while a few remained on the ship because they had difficulty walking.

Tourists from MS Island Sky said they received the best welcoming ceremony they had ever experienced from the Banks Islands communities.

In Efate, 84 tourists came ashore at Port Vila. Most travelled to Mangaliliu village for activities including birdwatching, snorkelling and visits to Chief Roi Mata’s Domain World Heritage cultural landscape.

“We received great feedback on these tours. They loved the option of choosing their own tour according to their special interests,” said Allan.

“A highlight was the local food prepared by the community’s mamas, which gave visitors a taste of local cuisine while generating income for the community.”

The Managing Director of Roawia Turtles and Snorkeling Tours at Mangaliliu, Max Zacharie, thanked Vanuatu Ecotours and the Department of Tourism (DoT) for the successful visit to the community.

“This was the first time we had the privilege of hosting such a large group, with more than 70 guests joining us to experience our local culture, traditional food, and the beauty of our snorkelling sites,” he said.

“We are truly grateful for your support and generosity. Every contribution made through this tour goes directly back to our local communities and helps create meaningful opportunities for our people.”

The next day, MS Island Sky arrived at Port Resolution, Tanna, for a planned full-day visit.

Seventy-eight tourists went ashore to visit Yasur volcano. Representatives of five tribes at Port Resolution participated in the welcome ceremony and visit programme, supported by 12 local guides.

The highlights at Port Resolution were the Imaio custom dance and the volcano visit.

Stronger winds forced the cancellation of the afternoon tour, and the ship had to leave early for Fiji.

For Thomas, the expedition went beyond the ship’s itinerary. It renewed confidence among provincial communities that had previously missed cruise visits, expanded Vanuatu Ecotours’ community network, and created opportunities for future collaboration and local income generation.

“We are proud to be part of this successful expedition experience with Noble Caledonia,” he said. “We want to keep working with local communities across Vanuatu to improve the visitor experience when these ships visit our islands, and to make Vanuatu the highlight of their Pacific journey. This should result in more calls by expedition ships and longer stays in Vanuatu’s waters.

“At Vanuatu Ecotours, we are committed to building strong community relationships, dispersing tourists to our outer islands and delivering sustainable benefits to our committed but sometimes forgotten communities.”