Our Borders Are Now Open! Click here for travel information to Vanuatu. Visit Nabanga Pledge to stay Covid-safe during your holiday.
Domestic Industry Update
Welcome to the Domestic Industry Update webpage where you can discover the latest information for the domestic market put out by the local tourism industry operators including news releases and current updates by the VTO on events and activities for the local tourism industry.
August Latest:
05.08.22 Media Release -Vanuatu Welkam Back to Solomon Airlines
The Vanuatu Tourism Office welcomes the return of Solomon Airlines, after over two years of temporary suspension of commercial services between Honiara and Port-Vila, as result of border restrictions due to Covid-19.
Solomon Airlines resume its first service today [02 August 2022], landing at midday in Port-Vila.
“Seeing Solomon Airlines returning to our shores, adds another smile to our travelers. More international flights mean more options for our visitors to answer the call of Vanuatu and take an adventure to experience the many islands and its uniqueness that we have.” Says Adela Issachar Aru, Chief Executive Officer of the Vanuatu Tourism Office. Read more
JULY LATEST:
11.06.22 Media Release - The Vanuatu Tourism Office welkam Aircalin's return to Vanuatu.
The Vanuatu Tourism Office is excited to welcome Aircalin’s return to Vanuatu, after over two and a half years of suspension of their commercial services between the two nations, due to the pandemic and subsequent borders restrictions.
“We are so excited to welcome back our travelers from New Caledonia and our team were at the airport to make sure the first flight receives the warmest of the Welkam” says Adela Issachar Aru, Chief Executive Officer at the Vanuatu Tourism Office. Read more.
08.06.22 Media Release - The Vanuatu Tourism Office welcomes Fiji Airways' Return to Vanuatu
Friday, 08th July 2022, Port-Vila, Vanuatu: The Vanuatu Tourism Office welcomes the return of Fiji Airways to Vanuatu, as it resumes its first international passengers’ flight between Port-Vila and Nadi, starting Monday, 04th July 2022.
Fiji Airways currently offers two (2) flights a week on Mondays and Saturdays between the two cities, with domestic connections in Fiji and other long-haul connecting flights.
JUNE LATEST:
14.06.22 Media Release - Virgin Australia Announces Return to Vanuatu
The Vanuatu Tourism Office has welcomed Virgin Australia’s announcement today that it will start direct services from Brisbane to Port Vila, Vanuatu from 10 March 2023, with up to five (5) flights a week.
With Vanuatu’s borders opening to Australian travellers on July 1st 2022, the Vanuatu Tourism Office reports it expects the island destination to be very popular with both families and couples looking for a nature-based escape close to Australia.
Vanuatu Tourism Office’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Adela Issachar Aru, says the return of Virgin Australia to Vanuatu in March, will give travelers even more choice when planning their travels to Vanuatu. Read more.
Industry Update – ending 29 May 2022
It’s another week and the team at VTO has been actively working, to align with health travel protocols, marketing campaign relaunch and messaging, social media activities and destination brand positioning, aviation and cruise readiness programs etc., ahead of our much-anticipated border reopening in 30 days.
While the excitement and the prospect of the back to business continues to grow, we also acknowledge the many challenges ahead of us – one of those include the labor shortage. Read more
MAY LATEST:
We hope that you are all safe and well in all this rain, after the short passage of TC Gina. It is really the last thing we need at the moment. It has been an interesting week. From zoom meetings, review of planning, reconnections with trade partners, site visits into different local properties etc. We are now 40 days before the 01 July 2022.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
We are excited to announce that SANMA Province and the Torres Group are now on Recovery Level 1. This means they will be able to welcome international visitors back from 1 July when borders re-open.
Other islands and provinces currently on Recovery Level 2 and Alert level 1 & 3 will continue to be monitored by the Ministry of Health. Read more.
15.05.22 Industry Release - Only 47 more days until the border opens!
News, Updates and information
The Ministry of Health has updated the Roadmap to Safe Border Reopening (Version 3 – 11 May 2022), which also highlights the new travel protocols and testing regime, under Recovery Level 1 (lift most restrictions), ahead of the border reopening in July 2022. Read more.
11.05.22 Media Release - VTO signs Placement Agreement with Vanuatu Skills Partnership
From left to right : VTO CEO, Adela Issachar Aru and VSP Director, Fremden Shadrack Yanhambath at the signing ceremony on Friday, 06th May 2022
The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) signed a placement agreement last Friday with the Vanuatu Skills Partnership (VSP).
The placement agreement outlines the temporary placement of Mr. Warren Gama, the Productive Sector Technical Advisor (TA) for VSP, within the VTO lead the coordination and management of the Business Intelligence program focusing on tourism data and insights for improved organizational performance. Read more.
10.05.22 Media Release - Preparing Border Reopening Aviation Connectivity through collaborative marketing initiatives between the VTO and Air Vanuatu
Today, the Vanuatu Tourism Office and Air Vanuatu signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further strengthen their marketing partnerships, as the country is gearing up for the reopening of its borders to international travelers, in July 2022. This partnership is not new; however, it aims to guide the parties identified and planned marketing initiatives towards the development of the international and domestic tourism market, addressing the reopening of the borders and the recovery of the travel and tourism business in Vanuatu. Read more.
09.05.22 Industry Release - Time to get Tourism Ready!
Its only 8 weeks until we welcome our first visitors to Vanuatu!
Last week has seen the team move away from the Tourism Ready phase, which the Department of Tourism (DOT) will continue working on, to our next two phases of the Tourism Recovery Road Map – Market Ready and Market Opening. Both our local and international teams are focused on their plans and bringing life to these activities ensuring all our partners and stakeholders are ready to have visitors Answer the Call of Vanuatu from 1st July 2022. Read more.
05.05.22 Media Release - Vanuatu Launches the Tourism & Hospitality Worker Attraction Campaign
The Vanuatu Government announced on Friday, 08th April the reopening of borders on 01 July to international travellers and tourists. One of the growing challenges identified by both the industry and the Government towards the successful border reopening, is the shortage of labour or skilled workforce in the tourism and hospitality sector.
To address the shortage, a labour coalition has been formed between the Ministry of Tourism Trade Commerce and Ni Vanuatu Business and the Ministry of Internal Affairs through the collaboration of the Department of Tourism (DoT), Department of Labour and the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) to work together and facilitate the opportunity for registration and training of ni-Vanuatu into the tourism and hospitality sector for preparation towards border re-opening. Read more.
03.05.22 Industry Release - Answer the Call of Vanuatu in July 2022
Another busy week for the team as we work to establish protocols for safe borders opening on the 1st of July 2022 and to welcome back visitors to Vanuatu. We’ve continued to collaborate with our many partners both on the ground in Vanuatu and offshore to establish clear pathways forward, ensuring we have everything covered as we work through our Tourism Ready phase of the Border Reopening Plan. Read more.
APRIL LATEST:
20.04.22 Industry Release: VTO Easter Activities & Campaigns
Dear Tourism Industry Operators, For Easter last year, The Vanuatu Tourism office (VTO) was pleased to see the communities around Vanuatu step up to the challenge of supporting our local businesses who continue to show resilience despite the difficult times to grow our domestic tourism program because international borders were closed.
This year’s 2022 Easter is just a bit different, in the midst of our first wave of COVID-19 in Efate and Santo, we had to prepare for border reopening. Read more.
19.04.22 Media Release : VTO gives to Covid patients this Easter
The Vanuatu Tourism office (VTO) visited the food preparation team packaging food for the Covid-19 patients at the Korman isolation center on Thursday last week.
A special care package has been delivered by the team, to be distributed to the patients who are isolating during this Easter period. Inside the care package, are warm recovery messages from the team and bars of Gaston chocolate. Read more.
15.04.22 Industry Release : VTO getting Tourism Ready towards July 1st
It’s been a week since the Prime Minister, Hon. Bob Loughman Weibur announced our borders will be open for tourists and all international visitors on 1 July 2022 to Answer The Call of Vanuatu! The VTO team have been busy moving into the “Tourism Ready” phase of our border re-opening plans and focusing towards the “Marketing Ready” phase. Read more.
What wonderful news from the Prime Minister, Hon. Bob Loughman Weibur today. Our borders will be open for tourists and all international visitors on 1 July 2022!! to Answer The Call of Vanuatu! That is only 84 more sleeps. Read more.
04.04.22 Industry Release : Meet the Pacific 2022
Dear operators, we would like to take this time to share with you some key updates from our Long-Haul Markets. As you may (or may not) know, the in-person edition of ITB Berlin 2022 was cancelled, after being originally planned to take place this month. Owing to the latest developments and directives as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Messe Berlin was not in a position to proceed with its exhibitors and partners. The current situation surrounding the pandemic, as well as the heightened travel restrictions and limitations imposed on the numbers of people that can attend large events, is the main reason behind Messe Berlin's unfortunate decision. Read more.
MARCH LATEST:
29.03.22 Industry Release : Preparation for 2022 and Border Openings
Don’t leave it all to the last minute to start your preparation for welcoming back visitors.
While we still have plenty of work ahead of us to increase the vaccination rates, make sure you look after your business too. As you think about getting your business up and running again, here are a few things or tips on what you can do right now. Read more.
24.03.22- Industry Release : Join us in our #WindowBlongMI social media campaign
Dear operators, While Vanuatu is currently addressing its first wave of covid-19 community transmission, the Vanuatu tourism Office is excited to launch a social media campaign under the theme #WindowBlongMi. Read more.
14.03.22 Industry Release : Mi Tumoro Vanuatu 2022 Postponed 
Dear Tourism operators, Don't we just miss all the fun Vanuatu Moments right now – we would love to be back outdoors living life to the fullest. Until then, it’s important we all look out for one another. For now, the Champagne (or Kava) is on the ice – but our rivers continue to flow and the sun continues to rise. Let’s Keep Vanuatu Beautiful. Read more.
February LATEST:
22.02.22 Industry Release : Exciting times for VTO's Business Intelligence unit which used to be called Information, Research and Data. The program now has a new manager, Data Analytics officer, and its very own Research and Intelligence Working Group.
VTO staff also received their booster shots this week to help keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe from COVID-19...
1.02.22 Industry Release: features the Vanuatu Domestic Tourism Marketing Strategy 2021 - 2023 and VTO's 2022 plans for:
1. Turisim Marketing Storian (TMS)
2. Mi Tumoro Vanuatu
3. Vanuatu Volcano Run
4. Social Media Campaign
5. Media Partnerships
6. Nawimba Magazine
If you are a local tourism business operator and you would like to join our mailing list, send us a message.