Launch of the Republic of the Marshall Islands High-Level Sustainable Tourism Policy & Development Strategy

On World Tourism Day, September 27, 2025, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) will celebrate a major milestone with the official launch of its High-Level Sustainable Tourism Policy & Development Strategy—an innovative framework aimed at guiding tourism growth in alignment with national development priorities and regional goals in the Pacific.

This new strategy is more than just a policy—it’s a commitment to a future where tourism benefits communities, protects the environment, and respects Marshallese culture. Developed by the RMI Office of Commerce, Investment & Tourism (OCIT) in partnership with the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), the strategy aligns with RMI National Strategic Plan 2020–2030, RMI Agenda 2030, and the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework (PSTPF).

In a nation deeply vulnerable to climate change, this alignment ensures that tourism contributes meaningfully to sustainable, inclusive, and resilient national development. The strategy emphasizes a holistic approach to tourism development, prioritising balanced growth that safeguards the Marshall Islands’ natural and cultural assets while driving economic progress.

It places community empowerment at its core, ensuring that local voices and livelihoods shape tourism planning and benefit directly from its outcomes. By promoting responsible practices, the strategy encourages low-impact, culturally respectful visitor experiences that preserve the integrity of Marshallese heritage.

Supporting the strategy is a strong commitment to policy cohesion—establishing a unified national framework that enhances cross-sector collaboration and aligns tourism with the Marshall Islands’ broader development goals. For tourism operators and stakeholders, this translates into clearer direction, stronger partnerships, and a shared vision for sustainable success.

The strategy was built through meaningful collaboration, shaped by a comprehensive consultation workshop that engaged tourism stakeholders, community representatives, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. This inclusive process ensured that diverse perspectives were embedded in the framework, fostering shared ownership and reinforcing its relevance to those who live, work, and invest in the Marshall Islands’ tourism sector.

The launch of this strategy signals a new era for tourism in the Marshall Islands—one where growth is guided by purpose, and every visitor journey contributes to a greater good.

ENDS.

Source: Office of Commerce, Investment & Tourism (OCIT), Republic of the Marshall Islands

Photo Credits: Office of Commerce, Investment & Tourism (OCIT), Republic of the Marshall Islands