Pacific Insider
There's no time like 'island time'…

100,000 people will have ‘met’ Jake Numanga this year. According to Cook Islands Tourism that’s how many international arrivals there will be. Jake meets every flight and entertains playing his ukulele – he’s been doing this for years so millions of people have met Jake. Australian visitors will be up thanks to the weekly direct [...]

The last night’s stunning smorgasbord dinner at Vanuatu’s Tok Tok was held poolside at the Warwick Le Lagon – firebreathers and fireworks were part of the celebrations and the ‘theme’ was white (so some of the suntans looked even more stunning!). Warwick International Hotels president, Richard Chiu, announced the group’s focus on the Pacific will [...]

After several months of hosting the crew of TV’s Survivor (Samoa), Aggie Grey’s Lagoon Beach Resort & Spa is back to normal and has thrown a terrific special out to get the word out. For just AUD$629 per person (twin share), this is the deal – 5 night’s accommodation in a Deluxe Ocean View Room, [...]

Tourism in Vanuatu has been given a boost, with the country’s Minister of Finance, Moana Carcasses announcing that the government will increase the tourism budget from 136 million vatu (AU$1.5 million) to 200 million vatu (AU$2.1 million). He also announced at Tok Tok that the international airport will be upgraded to host wide body aircraft [...]

I first met Mereana Taruia in the Cook Islands at a travel expo in 2004 and she taught me how to wear a tidy sarong. I found out today that she is again back with Cook Island Tourism as Sales & Marketing Manager – and how did I find out? She dropped me an email [...]

Qantas has apologised for offending anyone with its ‘racist’ publicity stunt. To win two platinum tickets to the Wallabies vs All Blacks game, people had to tweet how they would show support for the Wallabies. A couple of guys promised to dress like Fijian-born star Radike Samo – wearing footy gear, an afro wig and [...]

Oh! And the Insider’s favourite travel agency, Small Guide Travel, also picked up an Award (see post below). Chatting with Tony Pittar, Chairman of the Vanuatu Hotels and Resorts Association, and he said that a fear of earthquakes is putting off potential visitors to Vanuatu. Media coverage of earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand has [...]

It is the annual Tok Tok Tourism Expo in Vanuatu (being held at the Warwick Le Lagon resort). Last night was the special dinner for attending travel wholesalers, held at La Tentation Restaurant. Air Vanuatu and the Vanuatu Hotels & Resorts Association presented valued agents with awards to say ‘tank yu tumas’ for promoting Vanuatu [...]

Kiwi pro-golfer, Nick Gillespie, cruised to an easy win the Tusker Vanuatu Golf Open.  Before teeing off there was a 7.1 earthquake but that didn’t distract the 23-year-old. He scored 22 under and was 8 shots ahead of the shared second place getters, Australians Brad McIntosh and Edward Stedman (14 under).

Just a quick post about dress etiquette in the Pacific.  Clothing and swimwear-wise, within your resort, pretty much anything goes (topless bathing only for men though!) but when out and about, a little modesty will be appreciated.  One handy article to pack or purchase is a sarong – they are lightweight, can double as a [...]