![]() ![]() Economic leakages are an ongoing concern for PICs. Tourism development that is more likely to benefit PICs needs to be inclusive and linked with other sectors of the economy. Royal Agriculture & Fisheries Show, Tonga (Credit: Denis Tolkach) Thus, national workforce development plans that include not only technical, but also employability skills, are required. There are various tourism industry training and development programs available, but many are either outdated or do not meet the demands of the sector. Nevertheless, there is a labour shortage for tourism and hospitality in PICs and a mismatch between the qualifications and skills required by the sector. ![]() Tourism is labour intensive and relies on skills that can be rapidly developed for most jobs in the sector. In comparison to mining, cash crop agriculture, foreign aid and remittances, tourism, when done well, is an ideal mechanism for economic diversification. Tourism should be considered one of the few options for economic development in the region. Importantly, we argue that a focus on continuously increasing international tourist visitation is not a panacea for development in PICs. ![]() Low cost carriers and multilateral agreements (known as “open skies”) have largely remained unpopular among PIC policy makers.įlight routes to and from Fiji, Tonga and Cook Islands (Credit: Denis Tolkach) However, besides tourism, aviation in the Pacific is also an important civil service on account of the vast areas of ocean and great distances between countries. Many PICs have tried establishing national carriers, but these attempts have usually led to bankruptcy, given the relatively small markets in the region. In recent times, Fiji Airways has introduced more flights to/from Asia, not only for Chinese markets, but also toward better global connectedness (for example, through Singapore). Several PICs have managed to sustain national carriers, with Fiji Airways – formerly Air Pacific – a standout. Doubtless, considerable strategic effort is required if PICs are to optimise Chinese inbound visitation.Ī resort & residential estate development financed by Chinese investors in Fiji (Credit: Denis Tolkach)Īccessibility plays a vital role in attracting inbound visitation. Chinese visitation is evolving rapidly as increasing numbers of travellers gain international experience and deviate away from traditional modes of travel such as group tours. The Chinese market is still new for countries in the region, and there is a general lack of understanding of the needs of this market. In terms of tourism, Chinese enterprises play a vital role as investors in construction of hotels, while destination marketing organisations are engrossed in attracting more Chinese visitors. PICs understandably want to expand their international bilateral relations beyond the region, rather than continuously rely on relationships traditionally shaped by power inequalities and paternalism. However, this geopolitical context is changing rapidly and is most apparent due to the continued expansion of activities tied to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). As a result, the tendency is for foreign visitors to travel to former colonies or protectorates: Tahiti and New Caledonia are popular with French visitors, while the New Zealand market is vital to the Cook Islands. Many PICs were colonised and remain under the influence of foreign powers, namely Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, UK and USA. Idyllic small islands like those located in the Mamanucas, Fiji, is what many tourists in the PICs are after, but these are fragile environments (Credit: Denis Tolkach) PIC environments are generally characterised by fragility, especially to extreme climatic events and climate change – this is especially apparent for small coral atolls where economic options are severely limited. The basic attributes of Pacific island tourism remain largely unchanged: these revolve around spectacular and photogenic places located in generally pleasant climatic contexts, although not easily accessible. In turn, the way tourism is developed is expected to have long-lasting impacts, in a recently published paper we outline key themes that will define the nature of tourism development in the region. The development of tourism in PICs is largely governed by changing geopolitical, economic, socio-cultural and physical contexts. For some, such as Vanuatu, Fiji and the Cook Islands, tourism is one of the largest economic sectors, while for others, the aim is to increase visitor arrivals, and more importantly, visitor expenditure. Tourism has undoubtedly become one of the most important economic activities in Pacific island countries (PICs). ![]()
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