Pacific / Vanuatu

Vanuatu launches ambitious tourism plan

15:55 pm on 11 March 2019

Vanuatu has set an ambitious target of quadrupling visitor numbers over the next decade.

Tanna women in traditional dress. Photo: Vanuatu Tourism

Vanuatu aims to quadruple visitor numbers in next decade

The government said the goal could deliver earnings of over a $US billion annually by 2030.

In 2017, tourism accounted for more than 46 percent of Vanuatu's GDP through about 110,000 visitor arrivals.

Now the government wants to get numbers to 450,000 visitors by 2030.

Vanuatu Tourism chief executive Adela Issachar Aru said his office was increasing its marketing budget to meet the target.

"As part of our tourism market development plan, within the next five years there should be an increase in support for destination marketing at a value of 6.5 million US dollars per year up until 2023," she said.

Last month, Air Vanuatu announced the purchase of four new Airbus jets.

Meanwhile, the airports authority is expanding three air fields with a multi-million dollar package from the World Bank.