Travel Bug 38

Issue 38 - April 2008

Vanuatu and Santo Ocean Swims Update

The annual Vanuatu Ocean Swim is scheduled for 7. June 2008, while the Espiritu Santo Aore Swim is scheduled for 10. June 2008. If you are coming to any of these two swim events, please contact Pacific Swims at info@pacificswims.com for program updates, course details, and registration information for the event. Accommodation in Port Vila and at hotels and resorts on Espiritu Santo is filling fast, so if you still haven't booked you are advised to do so soon. In Australia contact Sarah Beeken at Millennium Travel (sarah@millenniumtravel.com.au) and In NZ contact Jeremy Shannahan at United Travel Takapuna (jeremy@utdtakapuna.co.nz) (Source: Pacific Pulse April 2008)

Vanuatu Holiday Accommodation Growth

A comparative study recently carried out by the Vanuatu Tourism Office Information Section with the help of Vanuatu Hotels Resort Association and Vanuatu Island Bungalow has shown a steady increase in the number of Hotels, Resorts and Bungalows in the Country in the last three years. The study is based mainly on the number of rooms available for our tourist within the country. According to the findings results shows that during the years 2005-2006 there are a total of 766 numbers of rooms. In 2007 with new properties operating the figures rises up to 54 per cent with a total of 1180. For the first three months of 2008 there is a total increase in 7% compared to last year. Overall the figure shows a steady increase in number of rooms available for tourist within the past three years. (Source: VTO Island Nius April 2008)

Vanuatu 2008 Tok Tok Dates

In Vanuatu's Bislama language, 'tok tok' means 'get together and talk'. The 2008 Vanuatu TOK TOK will be held in August Thursday 28th and Friday 29th. One wholesaler at the 2007 event said that Tok Tok had been achieved at a highly professionally level, with the event "outshining other trade shows, and being relaxed whilst informative, it imbued us with the way of life of Vanuatu." The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) that organizes the annual event is expecting an even larger attendance at this year’s event than the record-breaking 2007 Tok Tok, which has been praised variously by participants as "the best ever," "very educational," and "offering a fantastic amount of information in a short stay." VTO General Manager, Annie Niatu said registration for buyers and sellers for this year’s Tok Tok would open on 15th April, and be due on 15th July. "

A total of 65 buyers from Australia, New Zealand, the USA, New Caledonia and Japan attended the 2007 event, and more than 70 local companies show-cased their hotels, resorts, bungalows, budget and backpacker accommodation, dive, game fishing, cultural and adventure tours, airline and cruise/charters, and the main islands of Efate, Espiritu Santo and Tanna."  "From indications already, we’re anticipating an even larger roll-up on both sides in 2008” states the VTO General Manager, Mrs Annie Niatu. Venue of event will be released shortly. Annie can be contacted on (678) 22685 / 22515 and email gmanager@tourism.vu for further enquiries. (Source: Vanuatu Tourism Tribal Drum Newsletter March 2008)

Vanuatu Tourism Office at Tabua Awards BFTE 2008

Vanuatu Tourism Office will be participating in this year's Air Pacific Tabua Awards at BFTE 2008, taking place in June 4th - 7th. This will be the 13th BFTE event, to be hald at Warwick Fiji Resort & Spa, Coral Coast, Viti Levu, Fiji Islands. BFTE stands for Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange. At each BFTE event, there is an opportunity for products to participate in the Air Pacific Tabua awards which aims to acknowledge the talents, creativity and resourcefulness of marketing efforts of those promoting not just Fiji but other South Pacific tourism destinations around the world. This year The Awards has a new look and for the first time, there is a category created for National Tourism Offices to qualify for categories I through to M, which the VTO has been offered a place, and has submitted a colorful and informative blend of VTO promotional items that fall under categories for Poster, Internet Website, CD Roms & DVDs, Media, and Electronic Advertisement. (Source: Vanuatu Tourism News, Tribal Drum March 2008)

Justin Wellington in Port Vila 19th-26th April

Australia – NZ – Pacific International Singer Superstar, Justin Wellington, will be here in Port Vila & Espiritu Santo from Saturday 19th to 26th April. Justin’s upcoming shows will mark his third trip to Vanuatu, after touring and performing in 2006 during Fest Napuan Music Festival, and 2006 New Year’s festivities. Justin will be singing all your favorite tunes from his first and latest hit albums Much Love and Run the Beat at various venues including Erakor Island Resort, Trader Vics, Beachfront Resort on Santo, and a few more. (Source: VTO Island Nius 8 April 2008)

Vanuatu and Fiji Safest Family Destinations

Vanuatu and Fiji have been chosen by Australian families as safest family destinations. An exclusive online poll of Aussie families conducted by the family travel magazine Out & About With Kids says that when asked about the safest holiday destination, 26 percent of respondents chose Fiji, 20 percent Vanuatu and 15 percent the UK, with the United States coming in at 12 percent. (Source: Travel Mole News 26 March 2008)

Rocket Guide to Vanuatu Launches New Website

Rocket-guide-vanuatu.com has been a popular tourism guide to Vanuatu, providing an interactive CD-ROM. Over the next few months the creator of the guide, Richard Chesher, plans to move most of the content of the Rocket Guide to Vanuatu onto the new website - vanuatu-vacations.com - to make the professional destination travel guide available to a global public market. The new website has two main themes, the first is "book direct" - and, as always, the Rocket Guide will provide the information and contact details so prospective visitors can easily contact the properties and activities directly to book their holiday.

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