Nadi, Pacific Islands – The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is set to host the Regional Stakeholder Consultation in Nadi from June 13th to 16th. This four-day workshop will bring together tourism practitioners and policymakers from National Tourism Organisations (NTOs), the private sector, donors, and partners. The primary objective is to enhance regional cooperation and strengthen the resilience of the tourism sector across the Pacific.
As the regional body mandated to promote and develop tourism in the Pacific, SPTO, in collaboration with the New Zealand Government, will facilitate a series of Regional Stakeholder Consultations. These consultations aim to advance regional collaboration in key areas, including tourism research cooperation, sector resilience and donor coordination, sustainable tourism standards, and communications and digital transformations.
The Regional Stakeholder Consultation aligns with SPTO’s Strategic Plan 2020-2024, which envisions the Pacific Islands being empowered by and benefiting from sustainable tourism. It represents a crucial step towards achieving key regional tourism priorities outlined in the Pacific Tourism Statistics Strategy, the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework (PSTPF), and SPTO’s Digital Strategy.
Christopher Cocker, CEO of SPTO, emphasized the significance of the workshop. He recognized that tourism’s crosscutting nature reinforces the interconnectedness between tourism policy instruments and regional policy frameworks, such as the overarching 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and corresponding regional economic, social, cultural, and environmental strategies.
“The Regional Stakeholder Consultation comes at a crucial time to provide tourism practitioners and policymakers the opportunity to contribute to these regional tourism initiatives. By ensuring relevance and adaptability to the changing needs of tourism markets and destinations, particularly for Pacific communities, industries, and nations involved in tourism, these consultations will help shape future support programs. Through a strong regional approach, Pacific tourism can better serve the needs of the region, visitors, industry, and the environment,” highlighted Mr. Cocker.
The Regional Stakeholder Consultation will facilitate collaborative discussions, knowledge sharing, and the development of strategies to strengthen the Pacific tourism sector. By fostering regional cooperation, SPTO aims to enhance the sustainability and prosperity of Pacific tourism while preserving the unique natural and cultural heritage of the Pacific Islands.
