The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, Vanuatu Skills Partnership and IDEA Vanuatu, has just completed a 3-day Digital Training Workshop, equipping 18 market-ready tourism businesses in Efate, Pele, Nguna, and Moso island, with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively promote their businesses online, ultimately increasing their visibility, driving more bookings, and attracting a greater number of travelers to Vanuatu.

As an activity for market readiness the Digital Strategy and Communications team recommended for the training to be delivered due to readiness of operators who need to enhance their digital skills to promote their services through content, manage their bookings and queries for their businesses. 

The training coordinated through the Vanuatu Skills Partnerships with IDEA Vanuatu and held at the Yumi Work conference room from Wednesday 29th - Friday 31st October highlighted key areas on digital marketing to empower market-ready small and medium enterprises who were assessed as market ready tourism operators covering island bungalows, lodges, guest houses as well as tour operators. 

The VTO’s CEO, Mrs Adela Aru, outlined that “The training was developed in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Vanuatu Skills Partnership and IDEA Vanuatu underscoring a commitment to enhance digital skills sets for our tourism operators in this time and age to foster a robust and digitally savvy tourism sector”.

Mrs Aru further adds, “The collaborative effort ensures that the training content is not only relevant but also deeply rooted in the practical needs and challenges faced by local operators and the initiative aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of digital marketing principles”.

The key outcomes and topics covered in the training included Google My Business setup, content storyline development, social media introductions (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), Review management, Trip Advisor engagement, networking, booking online via AirBnB and Booking.com, password management, social media content processes, Visitor marketing (tagging), hashtag usage, and free online tool guidance, and Chat GPT.

The training delivered was very intensive with day-long sessions ending with the VTO marketing and data team presenting on topics covering B2B & B2C marketing events, familiarization programs, and Tourism Data and Statistics. 

A closing ceremony, each of the 18 operators received a Certificate of Achievement with follow up plans to check on their progress going forward in 2026. 

The VTO expresses its continued gratitude to the Vanuatu Skills Partnership, the Department of Tourism, and IDEA Vanuatu for their valuable collaboration and partnership and anticipates future joint projects around digital marketing in the near future.