Unlocking the Potential of Pacific Marine Tourism: Paving the Way Forward with Innovative Guidelines

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) are advancing efforts on a transformative journey to shape the future of marine tourism in the Pacific.

Commencing in Quarter 4 2023, the joint initiative saw the onboarding of TRC Tourism by SPREP to support the development of the Pacific Marine Tourism Guidelines and Code of Conduct.  The process kicked off with desktop research which has informed the stakeholder consultation process currently under way.

National consultations have been hosted for Fiji, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Palau and Papua New Guinea.  A public consultation was held on 22^nd March 2024 with contributions made by countries like French Polynesia, American Samoa, Samoa, Kiribati, Solomon Islands and others.

Aligned with the objectives of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework (PSTPF) particularly on Goal 4 on Healthy Islands and Oceans, these efforts also support the environmental sustainability criteria within the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Standard, underscoring the interdependence of tourism activity and ocean ecosystems.

Moreover, this initiative resonates deeply with the Pacific Islands Regional Marine Species Programme (PIRMSP) 2022-2026 and an array of other regional and national plans and programmes aimed at promoting the preservation of the Pacific Ocean environment and regulation of economic marine activities including tourism.

During the online consultation workshops, the following were explored:

• Current marine tourism management practices including permitting, licensing, regulation and monitoring, enforcement, and evaluation of industry performance and impacts. What is working, what is not working, what are the main challenges within the sector, and what is needed to overcome these challenges?
• Where there are existing national guidelines for marine tourism, how effective are they? How do they differ from international best practice guidelines? How could they be strengthened? Do they cover all required elements to support the delivery of best-practice marine tourism activities?
• To what extent does current marine tourism activity support and engage local communities and/or contribute to the protection of our oceans?
• Is the tourism sector engaged in conservation efforts? How can marine tourism activities be aligned with conservation efforts to protect marine biodiversity?
• How are coastal communities involved in decision-making processes regarding marine tourism development to ensure their interests and concerns are addressed? What could be done to improve their future involvement?

The Guidelines and Code of Conduct will serve as a significant resource, offering invaluable insights into the current landscape of marine tourism in the Pacific. Through thorough analysis and collaborative dialogue, we are laying the foundation for a vibrant, resilient, and sustainable future for Pacific marine tourism.

Tourism stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide further feedback once the Draft Guidelines are released.