Forging a Sustainable Future: SPTO and SPREP Partner to Power SPTE 2025

Reimagining tourism in the Pacific so that it becomes a driver for environmental protection, cultural preservation, and long-term resilience, the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) welcomes the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme’s (SPREP), Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP) as a Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) strategic partner of the 2025 South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE). This partnership reflects a united vision to elevate Pacific tourism through sustainability, resilience, and regional cooperation.

This timely partnership marks a unified commitment to rebuilding and reimagining the Pacific tourism landscape, with sustainability, resilience, and regional collaboration at its core. Taking place on May 9–10 at the Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa, SPTE 2025 will bring together buyers, sellers, and media from around the globe to connect with the richness and diversity of Pacific Island destinations.

“SPTE 2025 is more than a marketplace – it’s a movement,” said SPTO Chief Executive Officer Christopher Cocker. “Our partnership with SPREP through POLP underscores the importance of sustainability and unity as we explore the Pacific’s hidden gems. Together, we are building a tourism future that celebrates our unique identities while embracing our shared vision for growth, inclusion, and environmental responsibility.”

Following the success of past exchanges in Christchurch (2023) and Denarau (2024), this year’s event is set to break new ground with broader participation from global tourism markets and a deeper emphasis on the Pacific’s commitment to regenerative tourism.

SPREP Director General Sefanaia Nawadra highlighted the value of linking tourism to environmental resilience. “Through the POLP project, SPREP is proud to partner with SPTO at SPTE 2025 to ensure that Pacific tourism continues its recovery with sustainability at its heart. As we collectively confront the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, responsible tourism offers a pathway to economic recovery that also safeguards our islands, cultures, and communities.”

With the theme “Unity in Diversity: Exploring the Pacific’s Hidden Gems,” SPTE 2025 celebrates both the uniqueness of each Pacific nation and the strength found in regional collaboration. The partnership between SPTO and SPREP stands as a symbol of this unity—where tourism recovery is rooted in cultural pride, environmental care, and shared prosperity.