Lonely Planet ranks Vanuatu in Top 10 Global Travel destinations for 2025

October 23, 2024 9:52 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

The Lonely Planet, one of the world’s leading travel authorities, has chosen Vanuatu as one of the Top 10 Global Countries to visit in 2025. The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) confirmed this yesterday.

This is a prestigious recommendation for Vanuatu, as the list includes destinations from around the world, including neighbours Fiji, Laos, and Paraguay, with Vanuatu among those selected in the top 10.

“It is only fitting that Vanuatu be recognised in such a prestigious list. We have always known what a special place Vanuatu is, and now the rest of the world does. We should rightly be proud of being included in this list of the best countries to travel to in 2025. Congratulations to everyone in the tourism industry for the experiences you provide,” stated Minister of Trade and Commerce, Samson Samsen.

Founded over 50 years ago in 1973, Lonely Planet is famous for publishing guidebooks that have assisted millions of travellers in exploring most countries in the world. They are a world-renowned brand and expert on travel.

Today, Lonely Planet is using its reputation to guide travellers on what is ‘the best,’ and Vanuatu has made this list as one of the 10 best places to travel to in the world in 2025. This announcement will be supported by the global launch of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 book, sold in bookstores around the world, alongside a host of online and digital marketing that will be shared globally.

“We are so excited to receive this news from Lonely Planet. We have always known why Vanuatu is a special holiday spot,” said VTO Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mrs. Adela Issachar Aru.

“Lonely Planet travellers are, by nature, looking to get off the beaten track, seeking adventure or a more exciting way to relax. They want to meet and engage with local people, discovering how they live. They turn to Lonely Planet guides for recommendations and holiday ideas.

“Whether you are in Port Vila, Gaua, South West Bay, Tanna, Ambae, Pentecost, or anywhere else in Vanuatu, this recognition is for you! It is for all those who run events, guesthouses, tours, sell handicrafts, or show visitors around this amazing country. It is for everyone who takes the time to stop and have a chat or share a laugh with a visitor. This announcement is something to make us all proud.”

“We have worked hard for many years to achieve standards and develop our businesses and skills, and being chosen in the top 10 in 2025 is an incredible boost to our community’s morale and progress. We are just so happy about this and look forward to welcoming more visitors,” said Charlie John from Top Rock the Lookout at North Efate.

The VTO will undertake a marketing campaign with Lonely Planet to reach as many people as possible with this announcement. They also encourage all tourism operators to share the news and have produced a selection of marketing tools for everyone in Vanuatu to use.

“While mindful of our responsibilities and impact as travellers, we’re proud of the destinations, journeys, and experiences featured here and are excited to share the local expertise and insight at the heart of these recommendations,” said Nitya Chambers, Lonely Planet’s Senior Vice President, Content and Executive Editor. “Wherever you are in the world, we’re confident Best in Travel brings fresh inspiration and recognition for the year ahead.”

In case you are wondering how the Best in Travel destinations were selected: each year, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel starts with nominations from Lonely Planet’s vast community of staff, contributors from around the world, publishing partners, and more. This year, its panel of experts curated 30 must-see places across countries, cities, and regions and included ten travel trends they are excited about.

Each inclusion is chosen for its topicality, unique experiences, ‘wow’ factor, and ongoing commitment to sustainability, community, and diversity.

Lonely Planet reaches hundreds of millions of travellers each year online and across social channels, helping them unlock amazing experiences. Lonely Planet can be found on lonelyplanet.com, mobile, video, social media, and in 14 languages, as well as armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more.