Pacific Tourism Organisation joins Pacific Voice at Ocean Business Leaders Summit

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), represented by its Division of Sustainable Tourism Manager, Christina Leala Gale, proudly joined the Pacific delegation at the Australia-Pacific Ocean Business Leaders Summit, held 11–12 June 2026 at the Cairns Convention Centre. Organised by Ocean Decade Australia with the support of the Government of Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC), and partners, the Summit convened over 400 delegates from across Australia and the Pacific.

Delegates included government leaders, industry representatives, academia, NGOs, First Nations groups, students, and international partners. The Pacific delegation, funded by OPOC and led by the Ocean Commissioner, showcased the region’s leadership in ocean stewardship, with SPTO joining Niue Ocean Wide, SPC, Government of Fiji, Pacific Community University, Micronesia Conservation Trust, H.E. Mona Ainuu, GLISPA, and a representative from Aotearoa.

SPTO’s participation underscored the critical role of tourism in global ocean dialogues, positioning the sector as a frontline industry in conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.

“Attending the Summit gave us a clearer understanding of how tourism can align with broader ocean governance frameworks,” said Christina Gale. “It reaffirmed that our sector is not just a beneficiary of ocean resources but a strategic partner in ensuring their protection.”

SPTO also benefited from discussions on climate security, with international frameworks and systemic interventions highlighted as essential for addressing existential threats. Gale noted, “Our Pacific Tourism Climate Action Plan, to be developed with the support of Griffith University, is a timely initiative to guide the tourism sector’s contribution to collective climate action. The ocean-climate-conservation nexus is critical in ensuring marine tourism continues to benefit our people, islands and ocean ecosystems.”

The Summit showcased innovative financing models such as Niue Ocean Wide and the Micronesia Conservation Trust, which demonstrated how community-focused approaches can secure trust and access to accessing funding. “Learning from these models helps us

explore how tourism can attract sustainable investment while ensuring that nature is valued as an asset, not a liability,” Gale reflected.

Equally important were the discussions on Indigenous voices and inclusivity, which emphasised blending traditional knowledge with modern science. Gale remarked, “Tourism must respect and embed cultural identity and community values. This is central to how we design experiences that are authentic, inclusive, and sustainable.”

Tourism’s role was strongly recognised as a frontline industry in the ocean economy. Opportunities to explore a Blue Tourism framework was a personal highlight to coordinate fragmented efforts and amplify tourism’s contribution to marine stewardship. “This is a space where SPTO can lead,” Gale affirmed. “We are already engaged in ocean-related initiatives, but the Summit showed us the importance of a strategic, coordinated approach.”

For SPTO, the Summit opened clear pathways to strengthen partnerships with OPOC and align tourism with regional ocean strategies and initiatives.

“The Summit was a turning point for us,” Gale concluded. “It gave SPTO the knowledge, partnerships, and momentum to position tourism as a champion of ocean stewardship. We now have a renewed drive to ensure that tourism contributes meaningfully to the resilience of our Blue Pacific. I acknowledge the leadership of Ocean Decade Australia, the Government of Australia, OPOC and all partners for providing this platform to dialogue and connect”