SPTO Participates in the 7th Pacific Meteorological Council Meeting

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) attended the 7th Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC) and related meetings from 17–20 September at Warwick Le Lagon Resort, Port Vila, at the invitation of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). The event brought together key stakeholders to discuss climate, weather, and traditional knowledge to discuss the progress of the Pacific Meteorological Council’s work in the region as it relates to weather, climate, and early warning systems in the region.

SPTO’s Sustainable Tourism Manager, Christina Leala Gale, contributed to the session on Traditional Knowledge, highlighting the organisation’s development of the Pacific Cultural Tourism Guidelines, launched earlier this year. She emphasized the guidelines’ connection to the Regional Culture Strategy and the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy, while also advocating for prioritizing tourism in national weather and climate services.

The session explored how traditional weather prediction practices, food preservation, and biodiversity conservation are linked to Pacific heritage, enhancing tourism products and experiences.

SPTO also contributed feedback to the Pacific Meteorological Desk Partnership review and engaged in bilateral discussions with SPREP, partners, and countries including witnessing the advancement of regional efforts around the Weather-Ready Pacific. These engagements strengthened SPTO’s collaboration with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and other partners in the region.

SPTO’s participation highlights the vital role of SPTO in promoting strengthened collaboration between the NMHSs and the tourism sector, a critical component of resilience building.