A Partnership Arrangement was signed between Vanuatu’s Minister of Tourism, Trade, Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business (MTTCNVB), Hon. Matai Seremaiah Nawalu and the President of New Caledonia Tourism, Hon. Michael Forrest, who is also the President of the New Caledonia Tourism Board of Directors. The signing ceremony took place at the office of the Vanuatu Ministry of Tourism, Trade, Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business in Port-Vila on Friday, 25th November 2022.
The two countries took the opportunity to formalise the memorandum , while all regional Ministers were in the country to attend the Pacific Community Leaders Forum that week.
The Partnership Arrangement is an affirmation for the two countries’ National Tourism Offices to engage in joint cooperation for targeted marketing and promotional activities for the betterment of the tourism industry in each of the respective countries.
Minister. Matai Seremaiah Nawalu, thanked his counterpart, Hon. Michael Forrest for his efforts in envisioning a closer working relationship between the two countries in the area of tourism development and he wishes to see both countries prosper by securing additional business opportunities for economic growth using tourism as that vehicle for facilitating other trade and commerce opportunities.
In response, Hon. Michael Forrest, thanked the Hon. Minister for MTTCNVB and government delegates present and extended his gratitude and appreciation.
“We are close brother countries and I believe there are many opportunities to work together, on several levels to assist the people of Melanesia and Vanuatu specifically,” stated the President of New Caledonia Tourism.
Pictured left to right: CEO of VTO, Adela Issachar Aru, Director General of MTTCNVB Jimmy Rantes, first PA for MTTCNB – Jackson Lessa, Acting Director of DoT, William Naviti.
The two countries share a common history and culture as well as a long-standing friendship and this new partnership effectively paves way for a joint cooperation plans to be drawn up as soon as possible, to allow the VTO and NCT to intensify their partnership on targeted joint marketing and promotional activities in key source international tourism markets.
“We are honoured this afternoon to see this partnership arrangement endorsed by both Minister’s this afternoon to benefit the Vanuatu Tourism Office and New Caledonia Tourism in their work towards seeing the growth of tourism in the region,” says Chief Executive Officer, Adela Issachar Aru in her official welcome remarks.
A traditional kava ceremony and light refreshments followed to seal off the signed formalities.
