Regional stakeholder consultation

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) will host a Regional Stakeholder Consultation at the Tokatoka Resort in Nadi next week from June 13-16.

As the regional body mandated to promote and develop tourism in the Pacific, SPTO in partnership with the New Zealand Government will host a series of Regional Stakeholder Consultations to advance regional collaboration.

The four-day workshop is expected to provide tourism practitioners and policymakers from the National Tourism Organisations (NTO), private sector, donors, and partners the opportunity to strengthen regional co-operation to bolster resilience across the tourism sector.

SPTO chief executive officer Christopher Cocker noted that the crosscutting nature of tourism reinforces the linkages between the tourism policy instruments and regional policy frameworks such as the overarching 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the corresponding regional economic, social, cultural and environmental strategies and frameworks.

“The convening of the Regional Stakeholder Consultation comes at an opportune time to provide tourism practitioners and policymakers an opportunity to contribute towards these regional tourism initiatives,” he said.

“These consultations ensure that future programs of support are relevant and fluid enough in addressing the changing needs of tourism markets and destinations, particularly for Pacific people who are involved in tourism at the community, industry, and national levels.

“Through a strong regional approach, tourism in the Pacific can better serve the needs of the region, visitors, industry, and the environment,” Mr Cocker said.

Discussions will be held on the topics of tourism research co-operation, sector resilience and donor options and coordination, sustainable tourism standards and communications and digital transformations.