What we do
SPTOs three core strategic priorities
Marketing the Region
To market our unique Pacific region to achieve sustainable tourism growth.
Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development
To encourage and support sustainable tourism development in the Pacific through the coordination of targeted awareness and outreach, ingraining the principles of sustainable tourism planning and the development of strategic partnerships.
Research and Statistics
To ensure timely and quality statistics and research, through collaborative partnerships, are readily available to all tourism stakeholders for decision and policy-making.
Linked to this are four innovative partnerships:
- Cruise and Yachting Sector Development
To develop sustainable cruise and yachting tourism in the Pacific.
- Supporting and Promoting Investment and Product Development
To support investment in sustainable tourism products in the Pacific.
- Improving Air Access and Route Development
To support access improvements and expansion of Pacific air services.
- Developing and Empowering Our Pacific People’s Capacity
To contribute to the strengthening of tourism human resource development by improving its quality, access and coordination across the region.



The Executive Office is responsible for the management of the organisation and achievement of the organisational objectives, through the development and implementation of the Strategic Plan and Annual Divisional Work Plans. The Executive Office is also responsible for growing the SPTO country membership base and increasing the organisation’s funding base, advocacy, stakeholder management, and Board and corporate communications.
Goal: To contribute to the strengthening of tourism HRD by improving its quality, access and coordination across the region.
Key Responsibilities
The role of the Executive Office is to work closely with staff and members to:
- SPTO’s MFAT Project – Through a large, transformative project funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), SPTO is building the capacity of all of the Pacific Islands on digital marketing and digital skills.
- Drive the overall management and implementation of the Strategic Plan 2020-2024;
- Oversee overall institutional support and funding;
- Commit to achieving targets for the three priority areas and innovative partnerships; and
- Implement robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning process to assess progress and guide decision-making
Key Functions
- Advocacy
- Strategic Management
- Human Resource Management
- Stakeholder Communications
- Partnership Development
- Governance and Reporting
- Membership Management

The division’s role is to market our unique Pacific region to achieve sustainable tourism growth. It serves as the face of SPTO, coordinating and producing all materials representing it. The division works closely with trade partners, development partners, creative agencies, and/or the community. Such collaborations are critical to the success of the Marketing division and SPTO as a whole.
Goal: To market our unique Pacific region to achieve sustainable tourism growth
Key Functions
- Building Digital capability of SPTO and its member countries
- Cruise & yachting sector development
- Tourism Human Resource Development through regional partnerships
- Pacific Brand Management
- Marketing Planning
- Trade show coordination
- Marketing the region in key long haul, short haul and emerging markets
- Creating awareness of Pacific niche market products
- Managing the Pacific Storytelling Specialist Programme
- Managing the Industry Membership Programme
- Strengthening the Trade & Tourism Promotion Programme in partnership with SPTO Korea
- Providing technical assistance to its members
- Partnering with research agencies to strengthen SPTO’s Data-driven Marketing efforts.

The Division is responsible for effective planning, policy development and strategic decision-making depending up on a relevant and reliable evidence -base. Timely and quality statistical information, market intelligence, and targeted research are critically needed at national and regional levels to provide this evidence base.
Goal: To ensure timely and quality statistics and research, through collaborative partnerships, are readily available to all tourism stakeholders for decision and policy making
Key Functions
- Tourism Statistics
- Tourism Resource Centre
- Research Publications
- Ad hoc research
- Planning and Policy Support
- HRD Liaison and NTO Attachment
- Project Design and Development
- Technical Assistance

This Division is responsible for encouraging and supporting sustainable tourism development in the Pacific through the coordination of targeted awareness and outreach, ingraining the principles of sustainable tourism planning, and the development of strategic partnerships
Goal: To encourage and support sustainable tourism development in the Pacific through the coordination of targeted awareness and outreach, ingraining the principles of sustainable tourism planning, and the development of strategic partnerships
Key Functions
- Capacity Building
- Technical Assistance on Sustainable Tourism issues through SPTO Partnerships
- Advisory Capacity on National Plans & Policies relative to Sustainable Tourism Development

The Finance and Corporate Services Division is responsible for profiling the support services function for SPTO, including accounting, ICT, and human resources.
Goal: To contribute to the strengthening of tourism human resource development by improving its quality, access, and coordination across the region.
Key Functions
- Accounts and Audit
- Internal HRD
- Board Papers/Logistics
- Asset Management
- ICT Support Management
