Travel Bug 42

Issue 42 - August 2008

Pacific Blue Additional Flights to Vanuatu

Pacific Blue Airlines has announced an additional two flights from Australia to Vanuatu commencing from 16 October 2008. The flights, between Vila and Sydney will operate twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays. Brett Godfrey, Chief Executive of Pacific Blue’s parent company, Virgin Blue said demand for direct services between Sydney-Vila had been strong. “Since we began operating to Vila in 2005 we have enjoyed good loadings with our three weekly flights from Brisbane and have worked closely with the tourism industry in Vanuatu to grow the market. Many of our Guests connect from other Australian and New Zealand ports to Vanuatu, including Sydney, so it is a natural progression to offer a direct service from this market.”

Mr. Godfrey said Pacific Blue’s entry in to the Sydney-Vila market will complement existing services and offer new visitors to Vanuatu another affordable choice. Fares from Vila to Sydney start at just AUD$289 one way on the net (inclusive of $114 taxes fees and charges), approximately 21% cheaper than the current advertised competitors ‘special’ fare of AUD$367.09. Connecting fares are also available from Vila to Melbourne and Adelaide via Sydney. Industry representatives in Vanuatu have welcomed the news saying the additional flights cement the confidence in Vanuatu’s growing tourism market. (Source: VTO Media Release)

The First Outer Island Hospitalty Training

The Hospitality Tourism Leisure Training Centre is conducting the first ever Hospitality Training in Tanna. In its Mission statement the centre has its sights on outer Island Training. The initial courses are in Restaurant and bar service and Hotel Housekeeping. The courses began on the 8th of September and will go on till the 13th of September. There has been a large amount of Participants and the courses run concurrently at Lenea Palms Resort and at the Ever Greens Resort. The Restaurant Service Course is being conducted by Mr John Sam while the Housekeeping is being conducted by Madame Annies E Namel. The medium of instruction is in French, English, as well as Bislama. These courses will be on going thus fulfilling the centres commitment to outer Island Training.

The feedback received thus far has been extremely positive. One of the Resort Managers says he can already see a change in the levels of service, both in Housekeeping and Restaurant service. The Centre Manager would like to thank the European Union for its generous funding to make this much awaited training a reality. For more information contact: Rohan De Silva, Training Centre Manager / Directeur, Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Training Centre. Centre de Formation en Hôtellerie, Tourisme et Loisirs. Tel. (678) 26830 / 26044 / 67189. Fax (678) 26832. Email: tcm@htltc.edu.vu (Source: VTO Island Nius)

Diving and Snorkeling at Vaughani Shores

The key selling features for Vaughani Shores diving and snorkeling include small & personalized diving groups (4 max. on any dive), flexible dive times, unique cavern environments with many swim-throughs, marine ecology expertise, and being located reasonably close to Vila yet still outside of Mele Bay. This mix combined with a post dive BBQ, hammock time, and general R & R with very few people around, leaves divers feeling they have visited the pristine environments of the outer islands for the day. As an extra feature Vaughani Shores will take a camera down on request and burn a CD souvenir of photos and video clips of the dive. They have been operating for almost a year now. Online bookings via their website is progressing very well. They also get many local expat divers out that are living on Efate, and most are continuing to return time and again. Word of mouth seems to be working. Nos services sont aussi disponibles en francais. Thank you et merci. (Source: VTO Island Nius)

Sovereign New Zealand Ocean Swim

Open water swimming in New Zealand has seen a tremendous growth in interest and numbers in the last couple years, and a major reason for this is the efforts of Scott Rice and his Sovereign New Zealand Ocean Swim Series. From humble beginnings, and just two events, the series has expanded to include five events in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. Scott is the Series organiser, and he and his wife Natasha, were with us in Vanuatu in June for the Port Vila and Espiritu Santo swims. Scott's a pretty handy swimmer himself, and picked up a category placing in Port Vila swim, and third overall male in Espiritu Santo swim. The series has been running for two full seasons now and attracts 4500 swimmers from around New Zealand and the world. The website to find out more and enter is www.oceanswim.co.nz. Come and say hi to Tash and I when you arrive. It will be great to catch up again'. The New Zealand Ocean Swim Series - there's something to look forward to already. (Source: Pacific Swims Newsletter)

« TB41   Archive   TB43 »