Tuesday 7th January 2014 - Issue 43 - Weekly Vanuatu Tourism News - Compliments of the Vanuatu Tourism Office

Inside: News from the Office VTO Pics Out & About

Website Newcomer Industry Updates

Trade & Media Events & Festivals

Entertainment

Welcoming 2014 with a

smile… Vanuatu style….

News from the Office VTO Out n About pics

Website Newcomer

Publisher & Design: VTO. Host : Issuu.com. Images: Len Garae, SPTO, Beachfront Resort, Paradise Lodge Sailing, MS Caledonian Sky, Desiree Tibbs, David Kirkland, Pacific Island Living. © 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. Email tourism@vanuatu.travel. Web www.vanuatu.travel

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Hon. Moana Carcasse K. Kalosil spared a few seconds from his busy schedule to be photographed with VTO’s Info Officers. Thank you Hon. PM!

South Pacific Team Sales calls in Shanghai, VTO was represented by Marketing Manager Allan Kalfabun.

Ministry allows Turkish visitors in without visa

By Len Garae, Daily Post published on 8th January 2014: Vanuatu has opened a new page with the Republic of Turkey in tourism, now that the biggest stumbling block has been removed to allow Turkish visitors into the country without any visa requirement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade has assured the Turkish Embassy in Canberra that in line with the current Immigration Act, Turkish citizens do not need a visa to enter the country as tourists. The Ministry said it will inform the Embassy of any future changes. Read more.

Pardise Lodge Sailing Adventures: Based in beautiful espiritu santo at aore island, ‘paradise sailing‘ offers the perfect getaway with a difference. Come aboard ‘divine wind’ a beneteau oceanis 50 yacht. Read more.

Just before Christmas, Nancy escorted an agent famil in Santo and got photos of the group at Mount Hope. Fun!

Congratulations Michel & Jessica! Michel Kalpoi’s wedding (GM’s son pictured below with his wife) took place in the House of Refuge at Pango village on 20th December. It was beautiful! And VTO looked bright and colourful in tropical island attires. We also bumped into Mrs King from Evergreen Tours, pictured below, 2nd from far left posing with Alcina.

Turkish professionals to visit Vanuatu By Len Garae, Daily Post published 7th January 2014: A Turkish group of an unspecified number of professionals is visiting Vanuatu on January 17. The group arrives as tourists to enjoy the local hospitality, cuisine, golfing, environment and its people who were twice voted “the happiest people on the planet”. While the planned visit has yet to provide more details, Honourary Consul Mehmet Atar says from Istanbul that it has been announced based on promotions that he has made to promote Vanuatu to the people of Turkey. Read more.

Beachfront Resort managed by Stay-Vanuatu Stay-Vanuatu Ltd. has been contracted by the owner of the Beachfront Resort in Santo, to manage the resort. The company is managing the resort under the same business name, but under the umbrella of Stay Vanuatu and looks forward to keeping a good relationship to all business partners, guests and friends of the Beachfront Resort. Beachfront's contacts are now Jörg M. Schwartze, email jorg@thebeachfrontresort.com and Daniel Faivre daniel@thebeachfront.com. Read more.

Industry News

Air Vanuatu takes off for maintenance 06 JANUARY 2014: Air Vanuatu’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft will be returning to Singapore on 13 January for one week for an engine swap. In September an engine on the aircraft was removed for servicing and a leased engine was installed in order to ensure the shortest downtime for the aircraft possible. That lease has now been completed and the airline’s own engine will be refitted on 14 January. The aircraft is expected to return to service by 21 January. During the engine swap, Air Vanuatu has leased a 132 seat Boeing 737-400 aircraft from Airwork New Zealand. Read more.

Evergreen Tours starts 2014 with a double Evergreen Tours welcomed their New Year with two cruise ships in town which were the P & O cruise boat and their very own vessel MS Caledonian Sky, both arriving in Port Vila harbor on 1st January around lunchtime. Passengers disembarked at the seafront and were greeted with the warm smiles of Evergreen tour guides and drivers. The 100+ passengers and crew members contingent were taken on tour first through Vanuatu biggest village Mele Village, then the Secret Gardens, and last stop was at the beautiful Mele Cascades before heading off for Gideon's Landing to be ferried across to Moso island where guests enjoyed the islands serenity, and stopped by the Turtle Sanctuary. Read more.

How giving back can be the most rewarding experience of ones life

Written by Desiree Tibbs, NorthWest Sales Manager, Dolphin Adventues (a U.S. Tour operator): I have visited Vanuatu twice, to Port Vila and Espiritu Santo, but it is the island of Tanna that has stolen my heart. When I went to Tanna in 2012, I was able to visit Lowinia Kustom Village as one of the very special tour offerings from the White Grass Resort. It was a new tour, beautifully handled by Annie (the Chief's wife), seen in the photo with me. At the time I asked her if she ever thought about all the children going to school? She said probably not in her life time but she hoped most definitely in her children's lifetime. I had the opportunity to return a year later and Annie told us she wanted to start a school in her Village for the children. That was in August 2013. . I told her that I would help her start her school. After returning to the U.S, I started gathering school supplies. Within a few weeks 2 boxes of school supplies were sent to Annie, each weighing over 40lbs. There was hundreds of pencils, paper, markers, glue, scissors, tape, etc. Most of these items were purchased and donated by friends who were interested in Annie’s Village. Read more.

… an island boy raised by his grandmother packed a single suitcase and set off to make his mark on the world…

Events & Festivals Trade & Media The Journey From Travel Photographer To Fine Art

Photographer Begins – My 10 Year Plan Posted in Travel Photography Hints, by David Kirkland: It’s been 13 years since I left my corporate job and embarked on a 10 year plan to become an international travel photographer. While my passion has always been to travel and condense as much human experience into my life as possible, photography became my new vehicle and, since then, I have dedicated myself to the craft. Ten years later, by most measures, it appears I arrived at that goal and today (somewhat remarkably I might add), I am generally busy throughout the year, I have published 12 books of my work and I own probably the largest travel and tourism photo library on the Asia Pacific region. Read more..

Events and Festivals 2014 Calendar ready Click on image below to download PDF

©David Kirkland