Pacific Cohort Peer-to-Peer Session Advances Climate Action in Tourism

On August 22nd, the first Pacific Cohort Peer-to-Peer Exchange was held as part of the Climate Champion and Destination Management Training initiative. This session brought together 19 participants, including representatives from eight selected Pacific Island nations and the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO). The session focused on highlighting the role of climate action within the tourism sector and equipping participants with the tools to integrate a climate-conscious approach into their tourism planning and offerings.

Participants from the Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu, along with SPTO representatives, engaged in a series of activities designed to enhance their understanding and application of climate action in tourism. The session featured an elevator pitch on the importance of climate action, discussions on effective communication strategies, brainstorming on challenges and solutions for championing climate action and applying a climate lens to tourism planning.

This peer-to-peer exchange is a key component of the broader Climate Champion and Destination Management Training program, which SPTO is delivering in collaboration with the Travel Foundation, Expedia Group, and Regional Tourism New Zealand. The initiative, supported by the New Zealand Government, aligns with SPTO’s commitment to the 2030 Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework, particularly focusing on Goal 4 of the Pacific Sustainable Destination Standards.

The training program consists of three main components:

1. Online Training Course: This course provides guidance on climate literacy, action planning, and adaptation, with a focus on marketing and product development. Peer-to-peer sessions, like the one on August 22nd, provide support and reinforce learnings from the eight modules.
2. Immersive and Interactive Session: From July 30th to August 2nd, participants took part in a hands-on session in Rotorua, New Zealand, as part of the Te Ūnga Mai Professional Development Training. This immersive experience deepened their understanding of climate action within the broader context of destination management.
3. Coaching and Advisory Sessions: These ongoing sessions offer personalised support to help participants apply their knowledge to their respective destinations, develop actionable plans, and ensure the successful implementation of their climate action strategies.

As the training continues, participants will engage in additional peer-to-peer and coaching sessions, building on the foundation laid in the initial exchanges. The program is set to conclude at the end of November 2024, by which time participants will have refined their Climate Action Plans and be ready to lead their destinations in adopting sustainable and climate-conscious tourism practices.

This initiative reflects SPTO’s recognition of the need for climate champions in the tourism sector in the Pacific region and their potential to drive meaningful change in destination management. By empowering these leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective climate action, SPTO is advancing its mission to build resilience and accelerate climate action. The training is part of the global pilot of the Climate Champions, which has been rolled out in Europe, New Zealand and now the Pacific Islands.

Photo Caption: Participants from the region during the first Pacific Cohort Peer-to-peer Exchange as part of the Climate Champion and Destination Management Training