UnionPay International Signs On as Bronze Sponsor for SPTE 2026

The Pacific Tourism Organisation has welcomed UnionPay International as a Bronze Sponsor for the South Pacific Tourism Exchange 2026, to be held from 25–26 March at Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa.

Under the theme “Tourism that Connects: Culture, Climate, Community,” SPTE 2026 will bring together tourism operators from across the Pacific with international buyers, media, and industry stakeholders to strengthen market access, elevate Pacific storytelling, and advance sustainable tourism development. The event celebrates the Pacific as a shared ocean of cultures, traditions, and knowledge systems, while ensuring inclusive participation by Pacific Small Island States and territories.

As the region’s premier tourism marketplace, SPTE continues to attract strong engagement from both the public and private sectors. Partnerships such as this highlight the growing recognition among global brands of the Pacific’s tourism potential and the value of collaborating with regional platforms that connect destinations to international markets.

Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Tourism Organisation, Christopher Cocker, welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of private sector engagement in strengthening the tourism ecosystem across the Pacific. The private sector are the engines of our economies. SPTO is unique because we are great example of Public Private Partnership working successfully in the Pacific.

“SPTE thrives on collaboration, and we are pleased to welcome UnionPay International as a Bronze Sponsor for 2026. Strategic partnerships with global industry leaders help strengthen the infrastructure that supports tourism growth in our region. Financial connectivity is increasingly critical to the visitor experience, and this collaboration highlights how payment innovation can support a seamless travel journey across Pacific destinations. We encourage more private sector partners to join us in shaping an event that continues to expand opportunities for Pacific tourism businesses and communities.”

Regional Vice President for South Pacific at UnionPay International, Michelle Shao, reaffirmed the UnionPay’s commitment to advancing tourism connectivity as it returns for its second consecutive year as Bronze Sponsor of SPTE 2026.

“Returning to SPTE 2026, we are not merely a sponsor, we are a strategic partner in the Pacific’s narrative. Our mission is clear: to make every traveller’s journey as seamless as the ocean that connects us.  in remote islands to aligning with SPTE’s ‘Culture, Climate, Community’ theme through paperless, secure transactions, we are here to stay. We are embedding financial innovation into the Pacific Tourism ecosystem, ensuring every visitor’s experience is as effortless as it is unforgettable. Together, we’re building a region where tourism and payments do not just coexist – they thrive, sustainably and inclusively, for generations.”

As SPTO’s flagship annual tourism exchange, South Pacific Tourism Exchange 2026 will feature curated business-to-business meetings, media engagements, networking events, and destination showcases, creating valuable opportunities for Pacific tourism operators to build distribution partnerships and strengthen global market presence.

With strong interest already confirmed from sellers representing 17 Pacific Island countries and territories, alongside international buyers and media from key global markets, SPTE 2026 is expected to be one of the most inclusive and diverse exchanges to date, reinforcing its role as the Pacific’s premier platform for tourism trade and partnership.