SPTO Division of Sustainable Tourism: July Update

Warm Pacific Greetings from the SPTO Division of Sustainable Tourism! We are excited to welcome you to another issue of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Newsbeat.

July has been an exceptionally busy month for our team as we commenced the Climate Champions and Destination Management Training Programme. This comprehensive initiative brings together National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) from eight Pacific destinations and SPTO staff, all working together to enhance their skills in these critical areas.

This month’s issue is a special edition highlighting key sustainable tourism initiatives led by the DST team at SPTO. We’re also featuring the Pacific cohort’s participation in the Te Unga Mai Professional Development Programme, held in Rotorua, New Zealand, from July 30th to August 2nd, 2024. This programme provided invaluable insights into destination management and sustainability practices, enriching our own national and regional efforts.

In this edition, we spotlight Simione Sevudredre, a cultural expert and founder of Sau Vaka Culture Consultancy. Simione has been instrumental in the development of the Pacific Cultural Tourism Guidelines and the Sustainable Tourism Assessment of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Pacific. We’re also excited to share that he is supporting the development of the e-learning modules for the Pacific Cultural Tourism Professional Certificate, a significant step forward in preserving and promoting our rich cultural heritage in tourism.

We also introduce you to our intern, Selma Christensen, all the way from Denmark. Selma has been assisting the team with the ongoing development of Geoparks in the Pacific, bringing fresh perspectives and energy to the project through research and project design.

This month’s must-read resource is the Climate Justice in Tourism report, recently published by the Travel Foundation. The report emphasises the importance of integrating climate justice into the travel and tourism industry, offering valuable insights for all stakeholders.

Be sure to check out our Sustainable News section, which uncovers the latest sustainable tourism developments from around the Pacific region in July 2024. Also, our Key Announcements section is packed with important updates related to sustainable tourism and destination management.

If you have any sustainable tourism stories or queries, we’d love to hear from you. Your journey can inspire others in the Pacific region!

Stay tuned, stay sustainable, and thank you for being part of our journey towards a more sustainable tourism future.

Warm regards,

The SPTO Division of Sustainable Tourism Team