‘Tourism is everyone’s business, get involved’: Lopez

July 14, 2025 11:11 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Ezra Toara & Kiranga Taufa.

Seasoned local entrepreneur Adam Lopez has shared an inspiring perspective on how small businesses can help shape Vanuatu’s tourism future, speaking on Capital FM107’s Tourism Talk programme.

During the weekend segment, Lopez discussed his personal journey in business, spanning more than two decades, and encouraged fellow Ni-Vanuatu to take up opportunities in the tourism sector—no matter how small.

Lopez recalled that his journey began in 2001 while he was still a student. Originally from Efate, he made use of his environment by fishing and running small side businesses.

By 2004 and 2005, he had already established up to five businesses in town, including the sports store Sports Power, and was among the early second-hand clothing retailers in Port Vila.

He later handed over that business to others, noting, “It’s an easy business for many people.”

He continued building and eventually selling hospitality businesses such as Au Fare. “I just continued creating businesses, developing them, and selling them,” Lopez said. “Today, I have six registered businesses, each with multiple ongoing projects, especially in the Waterfall area.”

One of his current goals is to expand tourism activity at the Waterfall site, which he described as a key location for visitor engagement.

“We want to create 13 more business spaces because the current area is getting too small,” he said.

“This year, we hope to establish even more businesses to cater to the growing number of international visitors.”

Lopez sees potential for the Waterfall area to become a tourism hub.

“Tourists come to Vanuatu and usually just stay in their resorts. We want to give them more variety—something authentic and uniquely Ni-Vanuatu,” he said. “What will make that happen are the small businesses we support. They’ll run their activities independently while contributing to the bigger tourism experience.”

As part of the expansion, Lopez plans to set up an information booth at the site to assist tourists. “Many visitors ask a lot of questions, and it takes up time.

This booth will help streamline their experience and make them feel more welcomed.”

He spoke about the value of offering visitors something different from what they experience in their home countries.

“Tourists come here for our island vibe, culture, and way of living. They don’t want to experience what they already have back home.

“If you have a garden, a bush area, or a beach, you can turn it into a tourism activity,” Lopez said.

Encouraging those who feel left out of the tourism sector, he added, “This is a message of hope. You don’t need to own a restaurant or resort. Start small—call a tour operator and offer a garden tour, a traditional cooking demo, or roast a fish by the sea. Just be consistent and never let your tour operator down.”

Lopez also offered words of reassurance for those worried about language barriers. “Tourists don’t mind broken English. What matters most is your customer service—your smile, your attitude, and the quality of what you’re offering,” he said. “Your product must be ready, and your hospitality must shine.”

While acknowledging that there is a dedicated Ministry and a national tourism office, Lopez believes the sector remains too small.

“We want to reach over one million visitors a year in the future,” he said. “But to do that, we need proper tourism activities and reliable international and domestic flights. Right now, many island-based tourism operations have stopped due to poor domestic connectivity.”

He also cautioned aspiring tourism operators against setting prices too high. “You don’t need to get rich quickly. If you charge too much, tourists will turn away. Set affordable prices, and you’ll attract more visitors who will spend more across your offerings.”

Lopez’s message was clear—tourism is everyone’s business. With creativity, passion, and consistency, even the smallest effort can help build a more vibrant and inclusive tourism economy in Vanuatu.