Thursday 18th April 2013 Issue 16

Marriage, birth, your arrival. Any excuse to dance. Celebrate with us!

Feature News from the office

Get Out n About Industry News

Trade and Media

Website Newcomer

Events & Entertainment Advertisement

Editor/Publisher: VTO Host online: Issuu.com Design: VTO Image credits: Vanuatu Surf, Traveltrade, Spacific, Unity Airlines, Elissa Richard, Snuba Vanuatu.

©All rights reserved. This electronic magazine may not be reproduced in any form, in whole, or part, without the consent of the publisher. The VTO can not be held liable for any information contained in the advertisements. COPYRIGHT: VANUATU TOURISM OFFICE

Vanuatu Tourism Office, PO Box 209, Port Vila, Vanuatu. Ph (678) 22515 / 22685. Web www.vanuatu.travel Email tourism@vanuatu.travel

News from the office

Capital FM107 carries VTO’s message to the world On Monday 15th April, Mr Brian Tete (pictured left), radio journalist and producer of Capital FM107’s newly launched Tourism Program, interviewed the VTO General Manager Ms Linda Kalpoi on upcoming plans for promoting Vanuatu to our main markets and the rest of the world. The interview is aired this week on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 12.30pm and listeners can hear about where VTO is heading in terms of marketing the destination. FM107 has a live web stream broadcast from Port Vila with thousands of people from over 160 countries tuning in online 24x7, which serves a huge opportunity in further promoting Vanuatu through radio internet. Ms Kalpoi comments, “VTO is pleased to work in collaboration with Capital FM 107 and congratulates the station for its newly launched Tourism Radio Program and producer Brian”. For further queries, email briantete45433@gmail.com . Phone +678 5445357 / 7798403 / 7755042.

VTO Out & About

Photos taken during 2013 Noumea Tok Tok week, in New Caledonia, Noumea on 22nd March. Top left photo: Ms Martin Robin, VTO New Caledonian rep, doing a presents on Vanuatu Tourism to over 30 agents and wholesalers, followed by intermingling and catch up. Bottom left image from left to right: Martine Robin, Sebastien Bador (VTO Events /Trade Mgr) and Linda Kalpoi (VTO GM).

From magnificent

fireworks atop Yasur volcano on Tanna to…

….deep crystal blue holes in Santo… Vanuatu has it all… come and discover our treasures…

Local Industry

Australian & Vanuatu Surf to setup Vanuatu Surf Life Saving Association

Mr Martin, a specialist in Aquatics Rescue (Surf Life Saving) got in touch with the VTO last week and updated the office on the training he is currently undertaking with Vanuatu Surf Association, their stake holders, and local communities in First Aid, CPR in Aquatics training. Mr Martin is here in Vanuatu as a Red Cross Volunteer to capacity build in lifesaving skills. As a Drowning Prevention Planning and Education Officer, Mr Martin’s aim is to setup Vanuatu Surf Life Saving Association here in Port Vila, and other Island communities in Vanuatu, similar to those in Australia and other International Surf Life Saving Federation countries. Mr Martin acknowledges that support of both Australian & Vanuatu Red Cross, as well as the Australian Surf Life Saving Association. Similar programs are running throughout the South Pacific islands aiming to introduce life saving skills or surf awareness to all remote communities which means, an individual candidate could, after gaining qualification in Aquatic Rescue, First Aid and CPR, could be employed as a life guard or water safety inspector Pool, and other jobs in the field. If members are looking for individual or group training, get Resuscitation Chart and contact details from http://sls.com.au/sites/sls.com.au/files/SLS-Resuscitation-Chart-2012.pdf

NZ Traveltrade to arrive next week New Zealand Traveltrade and Air Vanuatu have come together, with the assistance of VTO’s coordination, to produce a new and improved Vanuatu guide, covering everything agents need to know to book their clients on a fabulous island holiday. The comprehensive guide will include accommodation, dining, fishing, diving and cruising in and around Port Vila for various target markets. This year the guide will also extend to include more information on Espiritu Santo and Tanna. There will be an A-Z list of activities for visitors to do on all three islands. The supplement is a key educational tool for travel agents, being distributed with Traveltrade as well as to agents at road shows and on Air Vanuatu sales calls. The writer and photographer of the NZ Traveltrade will arrive this month on 24th and depart on 1st May 2013 to experience a range of products that have come forward offering their services and support towards the itinerary. The VTO acknowledges industry members who have offered to assist which are so far The Terraces, Kayaking Vanuatu, Aroma Essence, Abseiling and Helmet Ocean Walker. An acknowledgement to all confirmed operators will follow in upcoming issues. Click on the right image to view current issue online.

Vanuatu a hot pick for travel trade media & TV famils As of next week, the VTO will also be handling several other itineraries for over 15 media, travel, trade and TV crews that will be in Vanuatu within 2-3 weeks covering stories and filming on Malekula, Efate, Tanna, and Espiritu Santo. These include Lance Richardson for Sydney Morning Herald / The Age, New Caledonian Tropic Travel, Infinity Holidays – Flight Centre, Expedia, Hana Tour/ Sun Young Kim, Unitours, Best Of Travel, Eden Tours, Océanie Huwans – Club Aventure, Pacific Island Travel/ Lara Haagsma, TV Magic of Adventures, Eat, Stay, Play, NZ Radar Across the Pacific, and Weekend Today. Delegates are from Australia, New Caledonia, Europe, Korea, and New Zealand.

Package all inclusive: Airfares, Land Diving (Entrance Fee & Refreshments), Lunch, Boat Trip for a swim on the Waterfall in Pentecost. Click here. Snuba is about having great fun in the water. No experience or qualifications necessary to enjoy this amazing underwater adventure. Wonderful family entertainment from 8 years up. … Read more. Pentecost Island has become famous throughout the world for the land diving ritual (Nagol) which occurs every Saturday between April and June. To book online with Holiday Specialist, click here.

Trade & MediA

Profound and Proud SPASIFICmag.com: SPASIFIK food columnist Robert Oliver described his time in Vanuatu as profound when researching for Me’a Kai: The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific. Vanuatu was the first of his seven destinations at the start of 2013 when filming began for the upcoming television series based on Me’a Kai which was named World Cookbook of the Year. Once again, Vanuatu lived up to all expectation. We spent eight days in Vanuatu to begin filming for the television series. And what we captured was just as significant as when I visited there for Me’a Kai, perhaps even more so. The aim wasn’t just about capturing what is so unique about the local food, the people of Vanuatu and what to prepare and eat as part of everyday life. It was about transforming local food for the nation’s hotels and top dining places, which have traditionally been based on the tourist and ex-pat market, with a particular French influence (France colonised Vanuatu – then the new Hebrides - with Britain up until 1980). Read more.

South Pacific on a Shoestring: Port Vila, Vanuatu

My very first sampling of the South Pacific wasn’t in Fiji or Tahiti or one of those other blockbuster palm-fringed access points we’ve come to associate with this idyllic region of endless turquoise seas, verdant isles, and friendly locals. I was looking for something a bit more off-the-beaten-path, for an island destination where an on-arrival Facebook update would leave my friends back home scratching their heads. With my finger dangling on a map over the South Pacific, it fell, rather impulsively, on the island nation of Vanuatu, and so the journey began. While Australians and New Zealanders might count this as their backyard equivalent of Hawaii for West Coasters, or the Caribbean for East Coasters, for us Americans, Vanuatu is just about as far-flung and exotic as the South Pacific gets. With little more than a question mark (and a glowing Lonely Planet guidebook review) to go on, I flew into Port Vila, the island nation’s French-influenced capital, cradled by green lush hillsides that front a lovely natural harbor, on the island of Efate. Read more.

Website New Comer Unity Airlines Nagol Package 2013

Winter wahoo arrive early Source oceanbluefishing.com: Jason Rigg returned to Vanuatu for his second trip in as many years. Jason travelled with a crew of mates from Victoria for a week based out of Trees and Fishes. A great bunch of guys experienced some great fishing. Wahoo appearing is a welcome surprise for late March/April with 12 hoo caught on one of their days. Wahoo, dogtooth tuna, yellowfin, some nice trout and red bass had the guys occupied for the week. Top that off with a blue marlin caught practically within the harbour a great week was had by all! Read full post and watch video here.

Aquaventure-Snuba Vanuatu

Holiday Specialist Land Diving Package

EVENTS & festivals

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