Tourism Industry In The Pacific To Benefit From Renewable Energy And Energy Efficient Options

The South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH will enter into a partnership to collaborate on strengthening tourism in the Pacific region.
The long-term objective is to advise the tourism industry, in particular the hotel sector, on renewable energy and energy efficiency options.
Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Suva today, GIZ Programme Director, Dr. Wulf Killmann and SPTO Board Chair, Papalii Matatamalii Sonja Hunter expressed their excitement about this new collaboration.
“Through this partnership, SPTO will seek out opportunities to organise workshops and seminars in collaboration with GIZ so we can provide our tourism industry stakeholders with an understanding of best practices for renewable energy solutions and energy efficiency,” Ms. Hunter said.
Dr. Killmann said GIZ through the SPC/GIZ Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Islands Region (CCCPIR) Programme was looking forward to collaborating with the SPTO and the region’s tourism industry.
Director General of the Pacific Community (SPC), Dr. Colin Tukuitonga, welcomed the collaboration and looks forward to enhancing climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in the tourism sector.
The next step in this partnership will be to consult SPC through this SPC/GIZ programme and SPTO’s own partnership.
“Tourism is a major income earner for Pacific Island countries and provides livelihoods for many Pacific Islanders. With climate change affecting communities across the Pacific without prejudice – promoting energy efficiency and substituting fossil fuel generation with innovative solutions contributes to reducing emissions and mitigates against climate change,” he said.
Ms. Hunter further added that the private sector is very important to SPTO because of their role as drivers and engines of our Pacific economies.  We want to ensure that our tourism industry stakeholders are fully equipped with the right resources and best practices to enable them to become energy efficient.
“There is so much that our members can be doing to save energy and to utilise power saving initiatives so we are really pleased to be able to sign this agreement today and to start this important partnership.
The MOU outlines the partnership where both parties seek to share, enhance and complement each others strength, expertise and resources in addressing the areas of cooperation.
Ms. Hunter highlighted the significance of the partnership as SPTO seeks to advance national, regional and global efforts in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“For SPTO, this is a positive step forward in celebrating 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, as we strive to ensure that our tourism businesses are viable, our environment is protected and our culture is intact,” she added.
SPTO recognises that climate change is one of the biggest threats to developing tourism in the Pacific and joint efforts presented by the MOU to reduce energy consumption and consider renewable energy options is a step in the right direction for the region.
ENDS
Established in 1983 as the Tourism Council of the South Pacific, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is the mandated organisation representing Tourism in the region. Its 18 Government members are American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and the People’s Republic of China. In addition to government members, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation enlists a private sector membership base.About SPTO
For more information:
SPTO, Alisi Lutu, E: alutu@spto.org  PH: +679 3304177
GIZ, Josephine Prasad, E: josephine.prasad@giz.de PH: +679 9922098