The Travel Bug 32

Issue 32 - October 2007

Vanuatu TV's New Video

Vanuatu TV has just finished a new video in Mandarin Chinese and is now available for view on their website! Click here to view video. Vanuatu.TV is an internet based TV station dedicated to bringing Vanuatu customs, tourism and business via professionally produced television programming via the Internet. (Source: Vanuatu TV 17 October 2007)

Vanuatu TV Live on Top US Show

Torrent is a weekly one-hour culture show for tech-savvy audiences looking for interesting, first-person, pop-tech stories from around the world. Entertaining, edgy, but most importantly the show is packed with great content that delivers viewers something new each and every week from the explosive world of video content on the web. This show also gets shown on cable networks around the world. For more information, click on the following link: http://www.vanuatu.tv/torrent.htm (Source: Vanuatu TV 09 October 2007)

Successful South Pacific Fest 40

Tahiti Tourisme North America (TTNA) and Tahiti partners participated in another successful SPF40 (South Pacific Fest 40) in Long Beach, California. This year marks the 3rd annual SPF40, which was the culminated efforts of eight South Pacific National Tourism Offices representing: the Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, and Vanuatu.  SPF40 was launched to provide a cost-effective and highly focused training event. SPF40 is a three-day training and networking event. The first day was dedicated to Retail Travel Agents while the remaining two days were dedicated to Tour Operator Staff. This year’s event saw more Retail Travel Agents, Tour Operator selling staff and South Pacific suppliers than any previous year!  Tahiti Tourisme North America would like to say Mauru’uru roa to all partners for participating and supporting another SPF40! (Source: Tahiti Tourisme North America – Partner Update 27 September 2007)

Earthquake no problem to South Pacific

A strong earthquake which happened near New Zealand on Monday, 24th September, resulted in a tsunami warning for parts of the South Pacific. The warning was subsequently lifted as sea levels remained calm and with no problems in the South Pacific.

Pacific Blue Airline to fly to Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands Visitor Bureau says it’s excited at the possibility of more tourists, after Pacific Blue applied to the International Air Services Commission to fly to Solomon Islands, Radio New Zealand International reports. The Virgin Blue offshoot airline has lodged an application for 540 seats a week for flights on the Australia to Solomon Islands route for five years, starting on Nov 2008.  But Sky Air World was also lodging an application to fly to the Solomons, seven days a week. The Bureau’s General manager, Michael Tokuru said for the year to September 2006, there were 5,443 visitor arrivals, mainly from Australia and New Zealand. He said with more competition and cheap airfares, its likely tourist numbers would more than double, and Australia is one of their top markets. “We at the Visitor’s Bureau are hoping that things will be opening up and that will create an increase numbers here to the Solomon Islands, because that’s basically what we are trying to do here at the Visitors Bureau. We’re trying to get the numbers, especially holiday travellers here to Solomon Islands within the next three years.” Mr Tokuru said as a result the tourism industry will have to start looking at ways to expand its capacity, so it can accommodate more visitors. (Source: Samoa Observer Online News 02 October 2007)