Tourism in the Pacific is recognized for its natural beauty and remoteness.  Before the pandemic, tourism in the region experienced huge export revenue benefits and provided various socio-economic potential for the Pacific Island countries.  When the COVID-19 pandemic hit tourism operators in the South Pacific, the impact was immediate and devastating.   Across the region, businesses found themselves in a difficult predicament of seizing operation, temporarily or permanently, and letting staff go as their revenue plunged to zero overnight.  The Pacific Islands heavily relied on international tourist arrivals but with borders shut and no flights arriving, the following months had dim circumstances.  

But as we look further into the stories of tourism operators in the Pacific, we learn that the very group who was impacted most were also the ones who found inspiring ways to adapt to the COVID-19 crisis for the sake of their tourism business, their staff and families, and their community and environment as a whole.   

More than data on revenue and visitor arrivals, tourism is about the people who make the experience for tourists. This year, UNWTO puts the spotlight on the Pacific region with seven portraits of tourism heroes from Fiji, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa.  Through a partnership with the Asia-Pacific Tourism Exchange Center (APTEC) and the Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO), this year’s tourism stories series is made available in both E-book and video format.  It aims to showcase the efforts of local operators to lead tourism recovery at their own level, while providing a unique insight into their everyday lives during these challenging times, thus echoing the importance of tourism personally and for their communities.

Come and discover those stories for yourself: 

UNWTO Tourism Stories Pacific Ebook

UNWTO Tourism Stories Pacific Videos

Summary Video

Ainu'u Tupa'i Saleimoa Vaai (Samoa)

Bob Bates (Papua New Guinea)

Edelene Albert (Palau)

Eretia Monite & Nabuti Mwemwenikarawa (Kiribati)

Kaboua John (Kiribati)

Kasimiro Taukeinikoro (Fiji)

Setareki Ledua (Fiji)

In collaboration with