Pacific Tourism Organisation Concludes Successful Board and Council of Tourism Ministers Meetings, Advancing Strategic Vision for the Region

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the SPTO Board Meeting and the 33rd Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting, which concluded with key resolutions that will shape the future of Pacific tourism. With a focus on sustainability, tourism and aviation, economic resilience, and innovation, these gatherings reaffirmed SPTO’s commitment to fostering a responsible and inclusive tourism sector across the Pacific region.

In opening the Council of Tourism Ministers meeting, Council Chairman and Fijis Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Viliame Gavoka commended SPTO’s representation of the region in world trade shows, its flagship event SPTE and using advanced digital platforms to amplify the Pacific’s presence on the world stage to share our unique stories and captivating destinations with a global audience.

The Council Chair emphasised the important relationship between tourism and aviation as foundational to addressing one of our shared challenges of connectivity.  And commended SPTO in addressing the connection between tourism and aviation as a Strategic Focus Area in the new SPTO 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, expressing gratitude to the Board of Directors for reviewing the papers and offering recommendations for the Minister’s endorsement, while also encouraging a spirit of regionalism in the discussions.

Key outcomes from the meetings include the report and presentation by KPMG on the SPTO’s Proposed Membership Restructure. Both the Council and Board noted the KPMG report with regards to the Government Membership Category which requires further consideration by the Secretariat and to liaise with member countries, with the outcome to be reported at the May 2025 Board Meeting. The Directors and Council approved the recommendations of the SPTO’s Proposed Membership Restructure report by KPMG with regards to the Industry Membership Programme and Development Partner Categories.

However on the proposed SPTOs Government Membership fee structure, the Council endorsed an 8.5% increase on the existing members fees, as of 1^st January, 2026, as recommended by the Board of Directors.

In addition, the Council endorsed SPTOs 2025-2029 Strategic Plan with its six key strategic focus areas, which will officially begin a transitional phase in 2025, setting a foundation to drive strategic growth, tourism and aviation, increase partnership initiatives, and enhance sustainable tourism practices in the Pacific. In alignment with this, the Board and Council welcomed updates on environmental sustainability projects, including newly launched guidelines for Responsible Marine Wildlife Viewing, standards for phasing out single-use plastics, and environmental audit guidelines for accommodations. These tools will support SPTO members in prioritizing environmental health and resilience across tourism operations.

Other highlights from the meeting included the official launch of SPTO’s Digital Measurement and Benchmarking Dashboard, funded by the New Zealand Government, and set to provide critical insights to enhance tourism management and growth metrics across the region. Furthermore, the Council’s high level discussions with development partners proved productive on improved partnership and coordination in supporting SPTO’s new Strategic Plan moving forward.

The Council of Ministers concluded with strong support for SPTO’s participation at the upcoming UNFCCC COP29 Tourism Thematic Day on the 20^th November in Baku, Azerbaijan, and endorsed the Pacific leadership on climate action in tourism statement to be read out at the Tourism Thematic day by the SPTO CEO on behalf of the SPTO member countries. The Council also approved the 2025 Annual Work Plan and Budget, highlighting an optimistic financial outlook for SPTO as it continues to deliver high-impact programs and initiatives across the Pacific.