Tourism in the south west pacific

1. Tourism in the south west pacific US17106 Fiji / vanuatu / cook islands

2. South west pacific

3. What is tourism • Tourists are people “traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes”. • Tourism is a huge economic sector that provides all the products and services that tourists need. It includes the way people travel, where they stay, where they eat, the places they visit, that attractions they see, and the activities they do while away from home.

4. Benefits of tourism • Tourism has many benefits (to the hosting community) • It is an important source of employment • Stimulates investment in infrastructure which benefits locals • It provides the governments with increased tax revenues and helps improve foreign relations • Promotes intercultural understanding and awareness between countries • Can improve standard of living through the income generated from it • Can lead to economic and social developments • Creates job in rural areas increasing their economic opportunities discouraging them from migrating to over crowded cities

5. Sectors & sub-sectors of tourism • The core of the tourism industry is: tourists, attractions, accommodation and catering, transport, the host community, entertainment and government. • Supporting aspects include: banks, information services and construction companies. • There are many other examples that ensure the tourists needs are met. • Products: something that physically exists, such as food souvenirs, postcards & accommodation. • Service: something intangible, you can not take it home with you, a flight for example. It is important to give good service or else they may lose customers.

6. Travel & attractions • Is the link between a persons home and their destination. Destinations cannot develop successfully without efficient transport links to the outside world. • This includes air, rail, road (car or bus), boat or ship. • The host country must provide efficient transport to and from the airport and domestically to get tourists around. • Attracts can be something unusual or interesting to do, without them there would be not tourist and no need to provide these products and services • There are 3 types of attractions: man made, natural and cultural

7. hospitality • Accommodation: tourists need to sleep. It should be safe, friendly service, comfortable and welcoming. B & B’s and renting private houses is a booming industry. • Food & Beverage: tourists need to eat. This can be at restaurants, lodges, fast foods, hotels, clubs, or schools and hospitals etc.

8. Middle men • Tour operators: sell tours usually includes accommodation, transport, entertainmentand meals. • Travel agents: sells services (tours, flights, packages) to the tourists and receives a portion of the sale to keep

9. Community based tourism • Community managed and owned sustainable tourism that aims to share local ways of life and the communities natural and cultural resources. • Benefits: • Communities are often aware of the commercial and social value placed on their natural and cultural heritage through tourism, and this encouraged them to preserve it. • Locals earn income which benefits the community.

10. Cook islands – important facts • Population: 10,447 • Language: English and Maori • Capital: Avarua • Youth unemployment: 13.1% • Tourism in economy: 75% of the economy • Climate: tropical, dry season (Apr. – Nov.) more humid (Dec. – Mar.) • Terrain: low coral atolls, volcanic, hilly islands • Natural resources: / • Natural Hazards: typhoons • Environmental issues: /

11. Fiji – important facts • Population: 896,758 • Language: English, Fijian, Hindustani • Capital: Suva • Youth unemployment: 7.6 • Tourism in economy: main industry in Fiji • Climate: tropical, • Terrain: volcanic • Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower • Natural Hazards: cyclones • Environmental issues: deforestation, soil erosion

12. Niue – important facts • Population: 1,229 • Language: English and Niuean • Capital: Alofi • Youth unemployment: 12% • Tourism in economy: Trying to increase GDP through tourism, tourism remains small • Climate: tropical • Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau • Natural resources: fish and arable land • Natural Hazards: typhoons • Environmental issues: loss of soil fertility due to slash and burn agriculture

13. Samoa – important facts • Population: 195,476 • Language: Samoan and English • Capital: Apia • Youth unemployment: 12.2% • Tourism in economy: tourism accounts for 25% of GDP (and growing) • Climate: tropical; rainy season (Nov – Apr.), dry season (May – Oct.) • Terrain: two main islands and several smaller, volcanic. • Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish, hydropower • Natural Hazards: typhoons and volcanic eruptions • Environmental issues: soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species and overfishing

14. Tonga – important facts • Population: 106,322 • Language: Tongan & English • Capital: Nuku’alofa • Youth unemployment: 11.9% • Tourism in economy: Second largest sector • Climate: tropical; warm season (Dec. – May), cool season (May – Dec.) • Terrain: limestone and volcanic bases • Natural resources: fish, and fertile soils • Natural Hazards: cyclones, earthquakes and volcanic activity • Environmental issues: deforestation, coral reef damage and overhunting of sea turtles