Building Data Confidence: Vanuatu Tourism Office Strengthens Skills through SPTO Training

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), in collaboration with the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) has completed a targeted capacity-building program to boost its readiness for handling future Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI) surveys and reports.

This follow-up and refresher training, requested by VTO, was designed to prepare staff for managing PTDI reports in 2026 and beyond. Delivered through a focused “train-the-trainer” approach, the sessions fostered a strong appreciation for the power of data-driven decision-making.

The intensive training covered everything from research survey methodologies and email data cleansing to hands-on practice with leading analysis tools like SPSS and NVivo. Participants also explored effective survey design using platforms like Survey Monkey, building key skills in data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Vanuatu is among 10 Pacific Island countries —the Cook Islands, Niue, PNG, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Kiribati, Timor Leste, and FSM-Yap under the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative funded by the New Zealand Government. PTDI continues to serve as an essential resource for tourism data across the Pacific through the bi-annual International Visitor Survey (IVS), an annual Business Confidence Index (BCI), and an annual Community Attitude Survey (CAS) report to strengthen regional tourism strategies.

One of the highlights of the training was a detailed review of the January–December 2024 International Visitor Survey (IVS) report. Staff worked with a real dataset of 200 responses and submission of draft mock reports, applying both quantitative and qualitative techniques.

Adela Issachar-Aru, SPTO Board Chair and Vanuatu Tourism Chief Executive Officer praised the coordination of the SPTO Team through the training delivered by the Research & Statistical team for their officials and acknowledged the resources and support provided to further equip their team members in strengthening data insights and intelligence as part of the recovery efforts of the Office.

Feedback from a post-training survey showed that staff found the sessions engaging, with hands-on exercises rated as especially useful. The use of real Vanuatu IVS data from July–December 2024 reinforced the importance of accurate data collection in shaping tourism strategies.

SPTO CEO Christopher Cocker thanked VTO for supporting the training and praised the initiative, noting: “This kind of targeted, practical training is essential for building local capacity. VTO is committed to using data as a tool to drive smarter, more sustainable tourism decisions.”

The mission in Vanuatu has been hailed as a success, with staff now better equipped to collect, analyze, and apply tourism data to guide the country’s future tourism development.