DoT targets untapped mainland tourism in Aneityum, Futuna starts from scratch
September 17, 2026 10:42 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Doddy Morris.
The Department of Tourism (DoT) is looking beyond Mystery Island to develop tourism opportunities on mainland Aneityum, while Futuna is being considered for small-scale, community-owned experiences.
Director of the DoT Paul Pio said the two islands are at different stages of development, with Aneityum already benefiting from cruise tourism and Futuna preparing to establish its tourism sector.
“The two islands are at very different stages,” he said. “Aneityum already has cruise tourism on Mystery Island; what it lacks is a reason for visitors to stay longer or to come by air and yacht.”
“Mainland Aneityum already has several experiences that could help attract visitors beyond cruise day trips: kastom experiences, the orchid nurseries and native forest, hiking and off-road trips, agritourism and community-run bungalows and homestays at Anelcauhat, Port Patrick and Umej.”
For Futuna, the Department sees opportunities based on the island’s cultural identity and natural environment.
“Futuna is starting from scratch, but it has a strong cultural identity, a great volcanic coastline with the basalt column formations, and very good weaving,” the Director said.
“The natural fit there is small-scale, locally guided experiences with homestay accommodation. In both cases we are talking about community-owned products, not large developments.”
Connectivity and infrastructure
Pio said air and sea connectivity, road access and basic visitor facilities remain the main constraints to developing the sector on both islands.
“The main constraints are air and sea connectivity, road access and basic visitor facilities, and those sit with other agencies rather than with us. Our job is to make the tourism case to them.”
He said the Department will work through the TAFEA Provincial Government Council (TPGC) and relevant agencies on infrastructure, while continuing engagement with domestic aviation and shipping operators.
“We will be working through the TPGC and the line agencies on infrastructure, through our regular engagement with the domestic aviation and shipping operators on connectivity, and we will put the priorities from this mission to our development partners as part of the provincial tourism programme.”
Investment and next steps
Pio said the Department is not yet putting a figure on the investment required, as the immediate priority is to identify and prepare tourism products.
“It is too early to put a figure on investment. The immediate work, assessing products, training operators and helping them package and price what they offer, is being done within the Department’s own provincial programme.”
He said larger investment could follow once priority products are settled, with opportunities for private investors.
“Larger investment in accommodation, transport and facilities will follow once the priority products are settled, and there is real scope there for private investors, ni-Vanuatu and foreign, especially in accommodation and marine and land-based activities.”
The Tourism Duty Exemption Programme and Tourism Business Recovery Programme Phase 2 are open to operators on both islands.
On Futuna, Pio said the immediate step is for the chiefs to formally endorse tourism development.
“On Futuna the first thing is the chiefs’ formal endorsement of tourism on the island, because nothing happens without it. Technical visits, training in hospitality, guiding, business and marketing, and help with packaging and pricing follow from there.”
Jobs and a new tourism direction for TAFEA
Pio said the initiative is expected to create employment and income opportunities by involving communities directly in tourism activities.
“On jobs and income, yes. This kind of tourism puts money straight into households through guiding, accommodation, food, transport, handicrafts and cultural performances, and it spreads the benefit across a community rather than concentrating it.”
“Aneityum already sees it from the cruise ships; we want to extend it to the mainland and, for the first time, to Futuna.”
Pio said the mission forms part of a broader vision to reposition TAFEA as a multi-island destination.
“More broadly, this is about TAFEA being more than Tanna and more than a cruise ship day.”
“The province has some of the most striking landscapes and living kastom in the country, and we want visitors and the industry to see it as a whole destination.”
He said Aneityum and Futuna are the start of a regular programme of outer island visits.
