Vanuatu Tourism Office

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Tue, 01 May 2012 22:22:54 +0100

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Erakor Island trip bliss

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 03:18:14 +0100

By Alcina Charlie: Stepping ashore Erakor Island felt great since I last visited, which was two years and too long ago I must admit. Today the resort is tagged ‘new look, new feel, same tropical paradise’, and whilst on the island, it was crystal that the resort had gone through thorough revamp luring in the long gone ambience Erakor once had, but better this time. The premises looked immaculate, lush, and fresh. Now under the ownership of Ms Cris Hardman who also owns Lagoon Beach Resort Apartments and Villas, bookings have risen again after long periods of silence in past years. Onsite, we saw groups of couples and families having a good time on the beach, or perched on sun lounges reading and having a private moment. Brenda, Nancy, Rachel, and I visited last Tuesday and were impressed.

On arrival, we were met by the bright and bubbly guest relations officer Natalie, and were led to the restaurant for a refreshing fruit punch to cool off on hot afternoon. Natalie gave a run down on the facilities, services, including an insight on future plans for Erakor. We were then met by Linden Lawson, Building and Renovations Manager, followed by a quick tour around the resort with Natalie. The restaurant ‘Aqua on Erakor’ menu had choices to suit all taste buds, light and heavy. Guests could start the day with a breakfast buffet and end with a succulent seafood platter or Santo eye fillet steak. In between, a delicious menu of tropical juices and smoothies can be ordered at the Calypso Juice Bar, plus selection of rolls, wraps, burgers, ocean fresh fish, home-made cakes and tropical fruits. Erakor Island hosts functions catering from 2 to 100 people at various locations from cocktail parties on Calypso Beach to seafood buffets in Aqua Restaurant.

What a pleasant surprise when we arrived at a waterfront villa. The villa was freshly painted, spic and span, and carried a relaxing atmosphere. Wall decorations were frangipani and hibiscus portraits which ideally added to the tropical ambience. The king bed and sitting area opened to a timber deck and looked directly to the sea capturing the ocean breeze. Our next stop was the Loft Villa which was ideal for families or friends and slept up to 5 people with a separate mezzanine loft. When we got to the far end villa next to Sunset Beach, we noticed that it had a spa jaccuzi in the sitting room viewing the ocean, perfect to get totally spoilt! After the villas was the Starfish Lodge. Before reaching Starfish, we passed two of the islands’ most ancient and monumental sites which were Efate’s first missionary’s house and relics of the church built in the 1800’s. Surrounded by gardens, lush greenery, and coconut palms, this looked perfect for an island wedding. We saw the cemented pulpit and was told that the site has re-opened again for weddings. Bookings have flowed in already. Starfish Lodge could fit large groups, extra wedding guests, and included up to 8 bedrooms set as doubles, twins, and triples. There was a huge lounge area, fully self contained kitchenette, and M/F showers and toilets, three in each set.

As we approached the water sports hut, we noticed that it had also been refurbished with bamboo walls and ceilings, and new stock. Kayaks included ones that you could see through completely, great for those who want to just rest out on the lagoon and watch the marine life through their kayaks. When asked about in-house activities guests can do on the island, Natalie mentioned craft-making, beach volley, coconut climbing demonstrations, trivia nights, karaoke, beach parties, and crab racing. There was plenty to keep guests occupied on the island if they wanted. Just over an hour and a half and it was time to go. We head for the jetty but were asked for a final stop at Aqua to sample chef’s special seafood, and curry nibbles, accompanied by the signature fruit punch. I savored every moment of it especially the prawns in mango sauce which clearly would make anybody want to revisit. The trip concluded with an exchange of thank you, good byes, and a ferry ride across to the mainland before returning to work. Visit Erakor Island Resort on www.erakorislandresort.com. Phone +678 26983.

The VTO we would like to thank Erakor Island Resort management for the invitation and we applaud you for all the work done to the resort. We look forward to future developments and working closely together in promoting Vanuatu.

Congratulations to all Vanuatu Tourism Awards winners!

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 05:10:45 +0100

The Vanuatu Tourism Office would like to congratulate all finalists and winners of the Vanuatu Tourism Awards 2010. Winners for this years awards went to: Best Adventure/ Eco tour: The Edge Cascade Abseiling, Best scenic tour: Off road Adventure- Bush and Beach tour, Best tour Guide: Timothy Kaltakeira (Edge Abseiling), Best Front of House Employee: Kenneth Molwak (Warwick Le Lagon), Best Back of House employee: Maylin Roy (Chantillys), Best New Business: Lotus Day Spa, Best specialist Tourism Service: Event Logic, Best restaurant: La Tentation, Best Adventure/Bungalow accommodation: Tam Tam Bungalows- Malekula, Best Budget accommodation: Coconut palms Resort, Best self contained accommodation: Island Magic Resort, Best Boutique accommodation: Eratap resort, Best hotel: Chantillys on the Bay, Best resort: Eratap resort, Outstanding Contribution to tourism by an individual: David Miles. Special award to Air Vanuatu for 23 years of contribution to tourism development. Also thanks to the Vanuatu Tourism Awards committee, VHRA members, and associated members that participated and assisted towards a successful awards night at Warwick Le Lagon Resort, whom by the way put on a beautiful venue set up for the event. Well done everybody!

What To Do In Vanuatu for November/December 2010 now availale online

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 23:51:47 +0100

Click here to download your complimentary What To Do in Vanuatu newsletter issue 23, for November to December 2010, and plan for a festival holiday with so much to discover, experience and enjoy amongst our beautiful islands! The What To Do in Vanuatu newspaper is Vanuatu Tourism Office's official newspaper, published by the Vanuatu Daily Post.

Vanuatu’s new look and feel turn heads and raise smiles at Sydney Airport

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 23:42:05 +0100

Two supersite billboards that show Vanuatu’s new brand imagery and a tagline are up at Sydney Airport, Australia! Measured at 12.66m x 3.35m, the billboard are designed to impact affluent business travelers waiting for taxis, and a driving audience coming from the Virgin and Jetstar pick up zones. The supersite billboards are impacting all drivers on approach to Sydney International Airport passenger drop off zones, and raising much interest and awareness on beautiful Vanuatu.

Custom fishing festival on Rah, Motalava just around the corner

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 03:03:47 +0100

Every year, few weeks before Saint Andrew's day at the end of November, all the villagers on Rah island, an island in the far northern province of Vanuatu called Torba, join to make a 400meter fishing net with coconut leaves and the net is taken out to sea. Early in the morning on high tide, the villagers form a large semi circle out in the lagoon and pull the fish net together forming a loop. Following the tide, as it drops, villagers move in towards the center reducing the size of their loop until all the fish are trapped then caught at the lowest tide. This is one of Vanuatu's most fascinating community festival to watch and experience! The festival runs from 26th November to early December. Email Wrecks to Rainforest on info@wreckstorainforest.com for more information.

Moon unveils first Vanuatu Tourism campaign this week - includes new logo and brand identity

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 02:22:50 +0100

Release by Moon Communications Group in Campaign Brief, Tuesday 16, November 2010: The Vanuatu Tourism Office will this week debut its first ever destination marketing campaign, aiming to significantly increase the number of Australian and New Zealand travellers visiting its largely unexplored tropical islands. Developed by Moon Communications Group, Sydney (part of STW Group) after winning the competitive pitch earlier this year, the brand campaign will use the new tagline 'Discover What Matters' along with stunning emotive concepts to communicate the island's distinct offering.
Targeting younger couples, adventure seekers and empty nesters, it comes to life through a strategic media buy that uses digital, outdoor media and national print to drive brand awareness and tactically motivate travellers to visit Vanuatu's website. It also includes a new logo and brand identity to complete Vanuatu's new look and feel. A revamped website and other marketing elements such as co-op advertising, a travel trade site and a social media network campaign are also due to be launched within the next few months.

"We wanted to create a strong emotional connection between the audience and Vanuatu's people. In doing so, we've placed focus on the people and the emotions that they experience when in Vanuatu. It's an immersive place where you can get up close and interact with the locals and the landscape, and the photography is reflective of that," said Janaya Galloway, Moon's associate creative director.

"The use of the vivid colour palette, the visual language that draws inspiration from traditional sand drawings, plus the mixed use of human emotion and landscape photography are all used to stimulate the senses and promote the destination as a place where people can choose to completely relax, explore or immerse themselves in the vibrant culture," said Galloway.

"It's exciting to be part of this significant milestone for Vanuatu Tourism. We wanted to clearly communicate the true hidden gem that is Vanuatu and ensure it is on everyone's must-do list. Creatively, we also wanted to take a different approach to tourism advertising. We've explored a different way to differentiate, and motivate," added Galloway.

The launch of this campaign follows Moon's work on a number of other destination-based branding and strategy projects, including the recently launched Brand Sydney, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, the country of Jamaica and the city of Parramatta.

VTO would like to sincerely thank and acknowledge its brand creative partner Moon Communications Group for all work put into the new brand, thanks team!

Earthquake no further threat to Vanuatu

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:59:33 +0100

Earthquake update - August 11, 2010 – 11.00am: Vanuatu Tourism Office reports that no significant damage resulted from the earthquake in Vanuatu yesterday afternoon and normal tourism operations have returned. The Bauerfield Airport in Port Vila on Vanuatu’s main island of Efate closed temporarily yesterday afternoon as a precautionary measures to check for structural damage but has since opened and all flights are operating as normal. Annie Niatu Vanuatu Tourism Office general manager said all public places are open today and no major damage resulted from the earthquake. “Guests at the major resorts in Port Vila followed tsunami warning safety protocols and moved to higher ground however they were able to return to their accommodation shortly after and are again enjoying the warm hospitality of the locals in Vanuatu,” Annie said.

For further information contact:
Sébastien Bador
Marketing Manager
Vanuatu Tourism Office
T. +678 22 685/ 22 515
F. +678 23 889
E. marketing@vanuatu.travel

Vanuatu Happiest Country On Earth Again

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:46:28 +0100

Source www.tropicpost.com: Lonely Planet released its latest travel guide list of the world’s happiest places. Topping the list is the 80 tropical island archipelago of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific island, while Montreal in Quebec holds second place. Lonely Planet said it was not surprised that Vanuatu emerged as the happiest place, because the general idea of a happy life, has images of a hammock in a white-sand beach. Vanuatu is known for its blue waters teeming with life, lush vegetation and scenic environment. This and more is reflected in the happy smiles of the local Ni-Vanuatu people. Lonely Planet’s travel guide pointed out Montreal is considered a happy city because it hosts Just for Laughs, which is one of the world’s biggest comedy festivals during summer. Lonely Planet said the Quebec city is also clean, welcoming and multicultural. The travel guide said other happy cities could be found in Wuyi Shan in China and Malawi in Africa. Wuyi Shan is described as a place of secret valleys with waterfalls and mysterious caves. Malawi is known for greeting visitors with effusive grins. In 2009, Forbes.com named Rio de Janiero in Brazil as the world’s happiest city, followed by Sydney in Australia.

In 2006 Vanuatu was named the happiest place on earth on the Happy Planet Index. The survey, compiled by the New Economics Foundation and the Friends of the Earth, said Vanuatu, with a population of just 209,000, came out on top because its people are happy, live to nearly 70 years of age and do little damage to the planet. Vanuatu was followed by ten Latin American and Caribbean countries, all ranked according to their ecological footprint, life-satisfaction and life expectancy. The Happy Planet Index was compiled to prove that people can live long, happy lives without consuming large amounts of the Earth’s resources.

Though living standards in the West may have improved dramatically over the past 50 years, it does not mean that people are any happier. Although Vanuatu topped the happiness index, it ranked 207th out of 233 economies, when measured against Gross Domestic Product and is classed as a Developing Nation.

Many now consider Vanuatu as the best kept secret of the South Pacific islands.

What To Do in Vanuatu for July August now available

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 22:38:57 +0100

Vanuatu Tourism Office’s 2nd issue What to Do in Vanuatu newspaper for July and August, published by the Vanuatu Daily Post is now available in PDF, featuring a special address delivered by Vanuatu founding father, late Father Walter Lini to the nation on 30th July 1980, to celebrate Vanuatu’s 30 years of Independence. In this issue tells the story of Diana Tam Art Gallery, Efate and Santo maps, a splash on Best Of Diving sites, shopping guides, travel tips, plus Vanuatu’s ever exciting range of tours and activities visitors can choose to make a holiday to remember. Click on front cover thumbnail (left) to download your copy. Enjoy!

New Uduna Beach Bungalow opens in Nguna

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:18:16 +0100

Nguna island has recently launched another beautiful island bungalow. Uduna Beach Bungalow is owned by Mr. Kalsau Tassong and is situated at Taloa Village an island retreat escape spot for backpackers, families and small groups who want to try something different located right on the beach with breathtaking views of the sheltered bay. Uduna has an appointed beach bungalow offering double and single accommodation, beddings provided with mosquito net. Uduna has a local restaurant for guests offering local cuisines and daily breakfast. For the adventurers, you can kick off your shoes and explore our 500m marine protected area – home to a variety of aquamarine fish, colourful coral gardens idea for divers and snorkelling enthusiasts. Uduna Cove Beach Bungalows offers 2 bedroom with a double bed, another with a bunk bed and a single bed. Facilities include a western toilet and shower allowing guests to enjoy the exotic village culture here at Taloa. Around the bungalow premises is also adequate spacing for camping where guests can bring their own tents.

Staff are able to offer a guided visit to Taloa Village, Taloa Farea or traditional meeting house and Taloa Presbyterian cathedral, hike up to Taloa Hill-Top for a stunning view of the coastline with the other offshore islands ie. Pele, Emau and the Shepherds isles, trek to Mt Marou, an extinct volcano crater, visit flying fox sanctuary, tag and release your own turtle and the list goes on.

For more information, phone +678 22219, Mobile +678 7766263. Email shefatourism@vanuatu.com.vu

Volcano festival in full swing prep

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:05:42 +0100

Preparations of Ambrym's first ever Sameou Festivolcano, are underway! A first of its kind festival is scheduled to take place in Sameou Village, south east Ambrym, end of August. The event is proudly coordinated by the Sameou Festivolcano Committee on Ambrym, and is promoted by Trek Vanuatu. The festival will commence on 28th August and end on 1st September 2010, where guests will have the opportunity to witness cultural & eco activities that evolve around the Ambrym twin volcanoes, including trek, explore and camping out at the fest sites. For more information, contact Trek Vanuatu on +678 phone 27715 email French : cyberdamien@gmail.com English: trek@vanuatu.com.vu

New restaurants and cafes springing up and around Port Vila

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:49:52 +0100

Tourism businesses continue to thrive in the capital with the latest additions such as new restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops and the likes. K & T Restaurant & Thai Massage is owned and managed by James Lee and is located in the Vila Mall building opposite Vanuatu National Provident Funds building, specializing in oriental Chinese cuisine, and in a separate room a professional masseur offers Thai massage. The Rock Café, also located in the town’s new Vila Mall building is managed by Pip Hannam, previously manager of Seafoods Fish Market. The Rock Café serves delicious coffee and light snacks. Savour Chinese Restaurant, located near Le Lagon junction & Pango Road intersection, is a new restaurant that has recently opened and has already drawn in a good crowd of customers who drop in for Chinese cuisine. So if you're holidaying in Port Vila and feel like any of the above, pop into the new restaurants and indulge!

Tanna’s brand new Volcano Sunrise Tour

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:44:49 +0100

Update by Tanna Tours Volcano Sandboarding: Not only do we sandboard down Yasur volcano, but we are proud and very excited of our newest product, Volcano Sunrise Tour. This is an exceptional tour because it combines the night tour of the volcano and the sunrise from the top of the volcano in a cool fresh morning. When the whole world is still at sleep, your smile of the day gets bigger as the orange colour of the sun, gets brighter to rise out from that horizon. At that instant of the first sunrise, an over whelm excitement will make you shout at the top of your voice with the roaring explosion of yasur, for being in a unique place at a special time catching that memorable occasion, once in a life time experience. For more information, contact Ben Kaurua on tannavolcano_tours@yahoo.com . Phone +678 5471312 and +678 7774471.

Who Wants a 50$ Airfare? Name the New Business Class and Win

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:42:21 +0100

Media Release: Vanuatu today launched their new improved Business Class service with a competition to re-name the superior product. “Feedback from frequent flyers told us we needed to give Business Class a makeover, to put life back in to the cabin,” Chief Executive Officer Joseph Laloyer said. “We are constantly reviewing and improving our service and today saw the first passengers experience the new features.” Mr. Laloyer said the new business class included silver service dining with canapés, selected wines and spirits, a four course meal with greater choice and better inflight entertainment. “Our senior cabin crew have also undergone extensive training to ensure we are unmatched in service and style.” To coincide with the launch of the new business class product, Air Vanuatu has also revamped their inflight entertainment with new music channels, a new inflight video on Vanuatu and new menu. To promote the service, Air Vanuatu is offering a $50 airfare to any Air Vanuatu destination to the person who comes up with a new name for business class.
“We launched the competition on Facebook and within minutes were inundated with suggestions.

The competition is still going, so logon and put your suggestions forward,” Mr. Laloyer said. Air Vanuatu’s new business class fares start from 51,000vt.

We’re nearly there with a new brand!

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:05:55 +0100

On Tuesday 8th June, there was a teleconference meeting and presentation by Moon Creative Agency & stakeholders of the new Vanuatu brand. Moon provided new creative concepts based on feedback from industry after their first pitch, last year. Attendants were predominantly the tourism stakeholders such as TMDF members consisting of reps from VHRA, VTOA, VSOA, and NTDO, whom assembled at the VTO Marketing department to listen and view the refined concepts of the new branding. The VTO is currently awaiting on 2nd round of feedback on the new concepts from last week’s presentation. Following feedback from industry and stakeholders, will be Moon’s further refinements, feedback on new concepts, revisions (if necessary), market testing, and a debrief by all parties on the final brand, including analysis on the market testing, refinements (if necessary), and around this time if everyone is satisfied, Vanuatu will launch its new brand.
We’re nearly there!

Kayaking Vanuatu & Evergreen Tours smile on

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:00:27 +0100

Kayaking Vanuatu is excited about their new product combined with the Evergreen Cascades tour which has proven very popular since launch in the beginning of the year. Guests have been raving about the experience that combines the famous Mele Cascades, waterfalls and the amazing underwater world of Mele Bay. Hotel pick up and drive to the Mele cascades takes 15 minutes, followed by an opportunity to cool off in the natural springs and walk amongst the tropical gardens. Lunch is served at the riverside café, and a short time, guests are welcomed on the beach and paddle their glass bottom kayak to a small sand island, for a swim and snorkel at their leisure in the underwater paradise. Guests have frequently sighted resident dolphins & turtles and continue to provide feedback on these, including an enjoyable Kayaking, Buggy & Brunch Tour which blends the excitement of driving your own buggy, and ultimate freedom of paddling your own glass bottom sea kayak. For more information, feel free to contact Kayaking Vanuatu on info@kayakingvanuatu.com

VTO undergoes 2 days workshop retreat

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:25:23 +0100

On 2nd and 3rd June, VTO staff members came together at The Melanesian for a 2 days workshop to discuss a 3 years planning for VTO including, new vision, current and new activities, corporate culture featuring qualities of a good team and workplace discussing personal qualities, physical environment, learning environment, VTO work plan, leadership qualities & career opportunities, reviewed job descriptions, and Individual Development Plan. Though the workshop only ran for 2 days under the direction of Annie Niatu and Alison Allcock, all staff members agreed that it has been an overwhelmingly satisfying end result, and they are all looking forward to adapting into the new creative and electronic developments that are fast approaching inline with the new branding.

PACINET2010 Conference - Next Generation Internet: Security And Governance

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 03:08:28 +0100

PacInet Media Release, 11th June 2010: Vanuatu won the bid to host PACINET2010 in Papua New Guinea Last Year 2009. PacINET is a regional conference organize by Pacific Island Chapter for Internet Society (PICISOC) for practitioners, developers, researchers and those interested in Information and Communications Technology (or ICT) from all sectors to exchange information on the system design, enabling technologies, and anecdotal experiences related to the use of Information and Communications Technology in the Pacific Islands. It has evolved to become the Pacific's largest regular Information and Communications Technology conference. This year's conference will happen in September 13th to 17th at the Universityof the South Pacific's (USP), Emalus Campus. The Theme will center on "Next Generation Internet: Security and Governance

PacINET conference is composed of several types of contributions including Paper Presentations, Demonstrations, Tutorials and Workshops, Panel Discussions and Invited Talks. Traditionally PacINET was a technical conference, but due to member requests (and to cater for the different member groups present at every conference), from the 2007 conference onwards, PacINET was split into dedicated technical and non-technical streams. This was deemed to better serve member needs and travel/work schedules. Typically, there are various sub-themes centered around the general conference theme and presentations are made on topics of interest to ICT in the Pacific including (but not limited to):

•    Client-Server Computing
•    Computer Applications
•    Database Systems
•    e-Government
•    eHealth
•    Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing
•    ICT for Development
•    ICT Policy
•    Internet Security
•    Open Source Systems
•    Networking and Routing
•    Protocols and Standards
•    Risk Management
•    Rural/Remote Telecommunications
•    VoIP and Convergence

The ground work and preparation for the conference is under taken by a local committee comprises of volunteers of IT community. Most of which serve in various important sectors such as the Financial Sector, Education, Government, NGO’s and Telecommunications Industry.

Strategically this is an important conference that will inspire ICT capacity building. Our young and aspiring IT people will be able to meet and communicate with experts from the region and the world. It is a well known fact in the Pacific region that, 'Opportunity' is a defining factor in the people's progress. In the spirit of opening up opportunity, the conference's admission will be free. Hopefully as the preparation unfolds we hope to broadcast the excitement to our young people not only on Efate but on other Islands who are ambitious and aspiring do work in the IT world and join the rank of IT professional in Vanuatu who are directing their energy towards issues of equity which by far characterize the 80% of our population.

Fest Napuan Music Association launches new logo, theme and dates

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:46:08 +0100

Fest’Napuan 2010 : “Women In Music”
20-24 October 2010, Port Vila, Vanuatu
The Fest’Napuan Association is pleased to announce the logo, theme and dates for the Fest’Napuan 2010. Fest’Napuan 2010 will have the special theme of “Women in music”. Reflecting this theme, this year’s logo features a woman playing a bass guitar. The dates for Fest’Napuan 2010 are 20th to 24th October. As usual, the first day (the 20th) is the Fest’Nalenga, which features string band music, the next three days (21st-23rd) are Fest’Napuan proper, which showcases local and regional popular contemporary music, and the last day (24th) is Zion Fest which celebrates gospel and religious music. With a fantastic line-up of both local and International artists performing, Fest’Napuan is one of the premier events in the Pacific and one of the only independent, free events of its kind. Many artists from around the Pacific region are joined by top rating Australian and New Zealand bands – featuring a line-up of about 30. With this regional exposure, new opportunities to partner with media and sponsors have been developed also bringing the event into the homes of many thousands of listeners around the world, both through live radio broadcasts and live internet streaming from the event itself.

The Fest’Napuan Association is proud to be partnering again this year with Digicel, the regional telecommunications company, as the event’s main official sponsor.

The Fest’Napuan is also proud to be hosting again this year the winner of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Pacific Break” competition, for the best unsigned artist in the Pacific region.

Gender Bias in the Music Industry
The broader music industry in Vanuatu suffers from an extreme gender bias. There are very few women in any of the bands over the entire five days of the event. There are no female music producers, and very few volunteers involved in the organisation and production of the event. The Fest’Napuan Association (the charitable association which is responsible for the event) has several female members who are the highest profile women in the music industry. Apart from a few women who manage their own music careers, and women who sit on management committees for bands, there are no female music managers and certainly no full-time professional female music managers. It is fair to say that the music industry in Vanuatu is dominated by men.

Fest’Napuan 2010 – Women in Music
This year Fest’Napuan has initiated the Women in Music Project. For only the second time in it’s 15 year history, the event will have an official “theme”. In acknowledging the gender imbalance in the industry, the Fest’Napuan Association has decided to theme the event as Women in Music to encourage greater participation by young women and to provide a safe and attractive atmosphere to facilitate this.

A group of women have formed a Sub-Committee to the larger Fest’Napuan Organising Committee. This Sub-Committee is called the “Women In Music” (WIM) Committee. The Committee will be responsible for providing the guidance and direction for Fest’Napuan volunteers to ensure the effective implementation of the project.

Broadly the project aims to encourage greater participation by young women in the music industry and to provide a safe and attractive atmosphere to facilitate this.

More specifically, WIM will:
a)    Provide the framework for an Event’s Management Intern student from Southern Cross University in Australia to come and coordinate the project activities below;
b)    Engage a Local Counterpart to work with the Intern student;
c)    Assist Fest’Napuan to organize and set up a series for workshops and master-classes, leading up to Fest’Napuan and during Fest’Napuan week. Themes will focus on issues affecting women in society, in general, and music. Music workshops will be created for young ni-Vanuatu Women to engage and interact with the Australian Women as role models and mentors. These will happen at Grass roots and industry level;
d)    Launch the Pacific Women’s Music Network Alliance which will eventually connect to Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and other Pacific Islands;
e)    Host a Social Forum and Academic Symposium with a focus on gender issues in the music industry;
f)    Seek funding from various sources for the activities listed above.

As part of this project, WIM will also be:
•    bringing in international women artists to perform from around the Pacific;
•    require all local participating artists to have at least two women in the band;
•    bringing in two women’s kastom groups from Aneityum to perform;
•    forming an all-woman supergroup of prominent local women artists to perform.

As the Vanuatu Cultural Centre’s annual women cultural fieldworkers’ workshop will be coinciding with the Fest’Napuan, women fieldworkers will be involved in additional activities around the event.

Confirmed overseas artists
1.    Iaai Tradi (Ouvea, Nouvelle-Caledonie)
2.    SINGAOT SISTA (Australia & NZ) featuring Emma Donovan, Merenia, Georgia Corowa, Ajak Kwai and Ngaiire.
3.    Paula Fuga (Hawaii)
4.    Elena Baravilala (Fiji)
5.    III Kings (Solomon Islands)
6.    Tabura (Australia/West Papua)
7.    La Chorale de Tenane Zion Fest (Mare, Nouvelle-Caledonie)

Prominent local women artists to perform include Vanessa Quai. For more information, contact Ralph Regenvanu email ralph.regenvanu@vanuatuculture.org Phone +678 7745001.