Pacific Tourism Organisation and TRC Tourism to develop Pacific Sustainable Tourism Criteria

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is pleased to announce that it will be working with TRC Tourism to develop the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Criteria, under the New Zealand government funded Pacific Digital Tourism Transformation Project.

Inspired by the renewed vision of SPTO’S Strategic Plan 2020-2024, “The Pacific Islands to be empowered by and benefitting from Sustainable Tourism”, SPTO and TRC Tourism collaborated in 2021 to develop the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework (PSTPF) which was endorsed by the Council of Tourism Ministers in October 2021.

Through its recognition of the importance of shifting towards tourism that supports prosperous and resilient economies, Goal 1 of the PSTPF essentially lays the groundwork for the development of the criteria. Goal 1 also underscores the need for the establishment of enabling legislation and policies in advancing support and guidance for destinations on how to become more sustainable.

As such, without reinventing the wheel, the Sustainable Tourism Criteria for the Pacific will draw inspiration and guidance from the globally recognised sustainable tourism criteria set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). It will also account for existing national standards and accreditation programmes such as those in the Cook Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Niue, Tonga and Solomon Islands amongst others.

In acknowledging this important body of work SPTO CEO Christopher Cocker noted the need for destinations to embrace sustainable tourism as the way of the future.

“Sustainable tourism development is now more important than ever as we begin to plan tourism recovery in our region. We need to build back in a manner that accounts for sustainability, resilience, inclusivity and prosperity for all of tourism’s diverse stakeholders”.

“Through the development of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Criteria we can ensure that our member countries make real progress towards the aspirations of the PSTPF”, he said.

The inclusion of all stakeholders from the public and private sectors, civil society and communities, academia and the research community, regional and international organisations as well as donors and development partners is paramount in the work ahead.  It is envisaged that a draft Sustainable Tourism Criteria will be completed in September, for initial consideration by SPTO’s Board of Directors and Council of Tourism Ministers who will be meeting in the Cook Islands from 31^st October – 4^th November.