Vanuatu: survivor of the storm

Vanuatu, an 83-island archipelago in the South Pacific was voted the happiest place on earth in July last year. After getting the world’s attention to say nothing of the popularity it gained after hosting the popular television series “Survivor” things have indeed been looking up.

The uncertain political situation in neighbouring Fiji late last year brought in a surge of tourists from Australia and New Zealand—the country’s two leading tourism markets according to a report by islandbusiness.com. Tourist arrivals for 2006 are expected to exceed 150,000 (including those arriving by boats and cruise ships), according to Tourism Minister James Bule. This is the highest number the country has had so far (a 25 percent increase over 2005). “Survivor” boosted American tourist numbers by five percent, says a tourism official.

Anticipating the increase in arrivals,Air Vanuatu and Air New Zealand inked a code share deal last year bringing in more Air New Zealand flights into Port Vila, supplementing the national carrier’s greatly stretched single jet inventory.

The country’s immense tourism potential is being taken seriously by the government—especially following the global spotlight and the disturbed political atmosphere in its more famous neighbourhood. “Vanuatu’s tourism infrastructure is gearing up to cater for the growing tourist numbers,” says Vanuatu Tourism Authority General Manager, Linda Kalpoi.

As well as refurbishments and extensions at existing resorts on Efate Island and around the national capital Port Vila, several new small to mid-size holiday apartment complexes and resorts are being built–many of these by Australian entrepreneurs.

The Warwick Group, which runs the upscale Le Lagon Resort, outside Port Vila, is planning a luxury resort on Espiritu Santo, according to the group’s general manager, Jamal Serhan.

It is not only this anticipation in the impending tourist boom that is fuelling the construction industry. A number of large construction projects are also taking shape or are in the final stages of planning. Among these, are several new government office buildings, a new convention centre that will have the capabilities to host regional and even international conferences and events, a regional school of hospitality and tourism, and the Chinese-funded and built headquarters of the Melanesian Spearhead Group

Report by Chitra Mogul