Honourable Ministers & delegates visit VTO

Reported by Clifford Tari, student attaché:  On Wednesday morning 10th February, the VTO staff was busy getting ready to welcome to the office for the first time, the new Trade, Tourism & Business Development Minister, Hon. Sato Kilman who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Ni-Vanuatu Business, Hon. Dunstant Hilton, and five other government officials under the Tourism, Trade, and Ni-Vanuatu Business Ministries. As the delegates arrived at the office, flower leis were hung on each one to welcome them to VTO. The Ministers and their delegates were then ushered to the conference room, where staff joined them for some light refreshments, introductions, and an informal discussion on matters within the tourism industry and VTO. Annie Niatu, VTO General Manager, firstly thanked the Ministers and delegates for visiting and expressed the office’s anticipation to working closely with the government. Hon. Minister Sato Kilman replied with sincere gratitude and asked each of the VTO staff to also introduce themselves and tell the group what their job role was. After the introductions, the Hon.

Minister led a brainstorming session and asked any staff members to share views on issues that maybe affecting the office, and the overall industry. This caused a breakthrough of comments and suggestions tossed around the table, whereby the Ministers and delegates got involved in discussing how to rectify problems.

It was reassuring to witness Hon. Minister Kilman and Hon. Minister Dunstant showing great interest in working together towards solutions, and a request in particular which was the favourite topic raised by Joe Iautu, VTO’s Events and Trade Officer, was the need to upgrade outer islands bungalows to meet a standardized bungalows (rural) grading policy.

There was in depth discussions around the subject and in the end, it was agreed that it is a key aspect of indigenous tourism which the government will need to put effort into supporting financially. This would enable communities in the rural areas to earn cash, from the upgraded facilities and services that meet a tourist’s demand. After the productive and healthy meeting, around trays of fresh pineapples, paw paw, bananas, oranges, and lime juice, staff returned to their desks and the delegates did a quick tour around the office’s Marketing and Administration departments, before leaving.

The VTO would like to humbly thank Hon. Sato Kilman, Minister of Trade, Tourism & Business Development, Hon. Dunstant Hilton, Minister of Ni Vanuatu Business, Sam Blondell, First PA to Ni Vanuatu Business, Jack Lowane, Advisor to Trade Ministry,  Roy Pakoa songi, HRO, Ministry of Trade, Mary Navaika, Executive Officer, Ministry of Trade, and Marakon Alilee, Director General, Ministry of Trade for visiting.

We look forward to building and strengthening the relationship for the betterment of tourism in Vanuatu.