Tourism remains a strong growing sector in Vanuatu: Kalotap

July 23, 2024 11:43 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

Tourism remains a strong, growing sector in Vanuatu, despite the challenges of aviation connectivity and climate change.

Mr. Mark Kalotap, Principal Tourism Investment Officer at the Department of Tourism (DoT), made this clear as the DoT confirmed the launch of the long-anticipated Tourism Business Recovery Program (TBRP) yesterday.

“The Department of Tourism has been actively working with the private sector to identify priority needs and manage expectations,” he said.

“With the anticipation of extra capacity in Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 of 2024 and 2025, we are supporting our pool of tourism operators to be business-ready.”

The TBRP is a government support programme to assist tourism operators throughout the six provinces.

Supported by the New Zealand Government, the TBRP is an extension of Phase 1 of the Tourism Business Support Programme (TBSP), conducted in 2021-2022, which selected 254 successful tourism operators for funding support.

The DoT has since carried out audits of Phase 1 TBSP in 2023 and is now able to confirm the roll-out of Phase 2 – the Tourism Business Recovery Program (TBRP).

Valid tourism businesses are given the opportunity to apply for government financial support to address facility improvements in their properties. All tourism businesses holding a valid tourism permit and a business licence are encouraged to apply.

A steering committee is appointed to thoroughly review individual applications based on established criteria and to award funding support based on merit. Led by the DoT, the committee is composed of the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO), the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the Department of Industry (DoI), the Department of Cooperatives (DoC), the Department of Finance and Treasury (DoFT), and the Vanuatu Aid for Trade Management Unit (VAMU).

Mr. Kalotap is the Chair of the Steering Committee.