30 July 2020

Fiji COVID-19 Business Survey: Tourism Focus

The report, Fiji COVID-19 Business Survey: Tourism Focus, was produced jointly by IFC’s Tourism Advisory and Creating Markets Advisory teams. It contains the findings of a business survey conducted with over 3,500 businesses by IFC and the Fijian Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transportation.
30 July 2020

SPTO and the Travel Foundation launch Partnership with Discussion on Recovery and Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many challenges for the tourism industry globally and across the Pacific region. As part of its efforts in ensuring effective stakeholder engagement in the recovery process, the SPTO has partnered with the Travel Foundation to explore viable options for recovery and resilience. The partnership has three key focus areas which include; 1) Stakeholder Engagement and having a “Shared Agenda”, 2) Destination Development and Management and 3) Capacity and Workforce Development. The Partnership was launched via a webinar in early July through an interactive talanoa session with stakeholders from across the sector.
30 July 2020

Women and Youth Turning to Tree-based Enterprises for Livelihoods in Mount Elgon, Uganda

Incomes and access to high-quality tree-planting material have improved through nurseries run by women and youth, thanks to an Australian-funded project.   In the Mount Elgon region, women and youth comprise a critical labour force for farming. However, they also bear the costly burden of inefficient land-management practices and unpredictable weather. Consequently, agricultural production and incomes are low and food insecurity is high. In addition, limited practical knowledge and inadequate supply of quality tree-planting material hinder adoption of agroforestry among female and young farmers in the region, according to a study to understand factors limiting or facilitating uptake of agroforestry technologies in the region. ‘Empowering youth and women to expand and effectively run sustainable tree-based ventures and increase their understanding of the many benefits and opportunities of trees are essential prerequisites to overcoming the various natural resources’ management and livelihoods’ challenges within the fragile Mount Elgon ecosystem,’ remarked Hillary Agaba, director of research at Uganda’s National Forestry Resources Research Institute.
18 June 2020

Pacific Tourism Organisation puts smart recovery front and centre in multi-year partnership with the Travel Foundation

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), which represents 20 Pacific Island governments and also enlists a large private sector membership base, has partnered with international tourism NGO, the Travel Foundation, to help the region’s tourism sector to “rebuild better”.
6 April 2020

Striking lack of progress on environmental SDGs in Asia-Pacific, reveals new UN report

There is overwhelming evidence that the Asia-Pacific region needs to accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and substantially reverse current negative trends, especially those which are depleting and degrading its environmental resources, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).