Pacific Tourism Organisation Hosts Tourism and Waste Sectors to Accelerate Plastic Phase-out and Close Implementation Gaps

The Fiji Sustainable Tourism Workshop commenced today at the Convention Centre, Tanoa International Hotel, bringing together government leaders, tourism operators, development partners, and community representatives to accelerate coordinated action on phasing out single-use plastics (SUPs) across the tourism sector.

Hosted by the Pacific Tourism Organisation in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) through the Australian Government-funded Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), the workshop underscores the growing importance of regional collaboration in addressing one of the Pacific’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Opening the workshop, Christopher Cocker emphasized the strategic alignment between national and regional frameworks, noting that the initiative directly advances Goal 4 of both Fiji’s National Sustainable Tourism Framework and the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework. “Tourism is not only part of the problem—we are a powerful part of the solution,” he stated. “This is a critical step toward eliminating unsafe and unsustainable plastics from our tourism value chain.”

Cocker further highlighted that the workshop operationalizes the Pacific Marine Litter Action Plan, positioning tourism at the forefront of environmental stewardship. He called for strengthened regional partnerships to bridge policy and implementation, urging stakeholders to work collectively across supply chains to drive measurable change.

Acknowledging the role of partners, he noted that collaboration with SPREP, the Australian Government, and UNIDO is enabling the transition toward a circular economy, where plastics are managed as resources rather than waste. He also recognized national leadership from Fiji’s Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Environment in advancing standards and regulatory frameworks that will underpin long-term impact.

SPREPs Seiuli Dwayne Bentley reinforced the urgency of collective action, warning that “the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution is severely impacting life as we know it.” He added that growing plastic pollution, particularly in coastal and island communities, demands immediate and coordinated regional responses.

The workshop is equipping stakeholders with practical tools, standards, and certification mechanisms to support the phase-out of SUPs, while also identifying sustainable substitutes and alternatives and addressing implementation gaps. Discussions are further exploring opportunities for

local communities to participate in producing sustainable substitutes, strengthening inclusive economic pathways.

Over the next two days, participants will engage with technical partners and certification bodies to bridge the gap between policy and practice, while contributing to baseline data collection efforts critical for unlocking future investment and scaling solutions across the region.

Tourism remains a cornerstone of Pacific economies. As momentum builds, stakeholders are united in advancing a shared objective: a resilient, competitive, and environmentally sustainable tourism sector—driven by strong regional partnerships and a collective commitment to a plastic-free Pacific