November
2006
The Travel Bug - Issue 21
Upbeat at Vanuatu
Tok Tok event
Clouds from Cyclone Xavier may have been hovering
over Vanuatu Tok Tok that wrapped up in Port Vila at the weekend, but it was blue skies on the horizon for sellers
and buyers alike at this year’s most upbeat event ever. Thirty-four buyer groups from Australia, New Zealand, New
Caledonia, the UK, USA, Japan and for the first time ever Europe and Thailand, together with over sixty supplier
companies, heard predictions of a 5-per cent increase in air arrivals in the coming year and twenty per cent on
cruise ships, Qantas announcing it was seeking a 33 per cent increase in seat capacity from Australia, Solomon
Airlines confirming twice-weekly direct Brisbane-Santo services from later this year, and Air New Zealand
celebrating the addition of its own equipment to Vila from yesterday (October 29) as well as continuing code-share
from Auckland with Air Vanuatu.
Vanuatu Tourism Minister, James Bule and Vanuatu
Tourism Office’s General Manager, Linda Kalpoi predicted five per cent increases in 2007 over this year’s 62,364
arrivals by air, and a twenty per cent increase in 2007 over the 63,554 who arrived by sea this year. “Visitors are
worth over AU$100m to our economy, or about 40% of our GDP,” Mrs Kalpoi said. “With Australia alone accounting for
64 per cent of tourists.”
(Source: Vanuatu
Tourism Tribal Drum Newsletter September/October 2006)
Sydney Adventure and
Travel Show
Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau would like to
invite operators for the Sydney Adventures in Travel Expo from the 24-26 November 2006 at the Sydney Convention and
Exhibition Center. SIVB will assist operators in coordinating Airfares with Solomon Airlines special concessions.
Operators will be responsible for their own daily expenses of accommodation, transport, and meals while in
Australia.
The Sydney Adventure and Travel Show is fully
targeted for the adventure market in Australia. Solomon Airlines has given FOC tickets to participating operators.
SIVB and Solomon Airlines wish to take this time to travel with the Operators with the assurance that Solomon
Islands is a peaceful country with 90% are other islands other than Honiara people can also go to.
(Source: Solomon
Islands Tourism On-line News 30/10/2006)
PNG Dive Shines at
Antibes Festival
PNG has been a preferred destination for European
underwater photographers for well over a decade. Award-winning photographer Lionel Pozzoli first brought PNG to the
Antibes festival (French Riviera) in 1992 and his work was met with immediate acclaim and awards. In 1993 Pozzoli
again featured work from PNG and again won awards. PNG opened a whole new world for underwater photographers.
Acccording to Pozzoli, PNG's waters are diverse and for underwater photographers each region holds something
different. But it is the clarity of the waters of PNG that allows for the intense light and vibrancy in photographs
that sets the country apart from other destinations in the world. According to Pozzoli the future of underwater
photography is in three dimensions, with huge 180 degree screens allowing for slideshows which will virtually
recreate the underwater experience.
In terms of tourism, what was achieved at the 33rd
Festival Mondial de l'image Sous-marine in Antibes in the South of France must be seen as the equivalent of Ryan
Pini's gold-medal winning performance for Papua New Guinea. Peter Vincent, CEO of the Tourism Promotion Authority
said that Papua New Guinea continues to create interest in niche markets around the world. He said that the TPA
will continue to support industry initiatives such as that of the PNG Divers Association in the European market.
"The PNGDA must be applauded for their initiative. With tourist numbers in PNG up by 13% on 2005, the trend will
continue so long as industry bodies continue to work together in exploring new marketing opportunities" he
said.
(Source: PNGTPA
Monthly Newsletter Issue 28 – October 2006)
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