Monday 30th September 2013 Issue 30 Inside: News from the office

VTO Out n About Industry News Trade & Media

Events & Festivals Entertainment

Website updates continue this week The Vanuatu Tourism Office webmaster Ms Alcina Charlie, is continuously cross checking all accommodation and activities listed on the website and has temporarily suspended products that have not renewed their registration with their associations, for 2013-2014. VTO is asking all products listed in www.vanuatu.travel who have not renewed their membership, to contact chairpersons of their tourism association to make sure that they re-affiliate in order to avoid removal. Bungalow owners must contact their provincial product development officers or the Department of Tourism on phone 26020 to confirm their bungalow’s status.

News from the office

Publisher: VTO. Host : Issuu.com. Design & Cover: David Kirkland. Images: VHRA, ESTA, Miss Vanuatu committee, Nabanga tours, Mark Remedy, Welkam Magazine. © All rights reserved. This electronic magazine may not be reproduced in any form, in whole, or part, without the consent of the publisher. The VTO can not be held liable for any information contained in the advertisements. COPYRIGHT: VANUATU TOURISM OFFICE. Vanuatu Tourism Office, PO Box 209, Port Vila, Vanuatu. Ph (678) 22515 / 22685. Email tourism@vanuatu.travel. Web www.vanuatu.travel

Miss Vanuatu in south Korea

Vanuatu’s very own Miss Valerie Martinez, left on Sunday 13th October to compete in the Miss Asia Pacific Beauty Pagent in south Korea, accompanied by the Vice Chair-Lady of the Miss Vanuatu committee, Mrs Beverly Stafford. Her departure came after a beautiful send-off and drive through town and its outskirts which saw many people waving to Miss Vanuatu wishing her good luck and a safe trip, on Saturday. Miss Asia Pacific Beauty contest will be held on 30th of October 2013, and Vanuatu will participating for the very first time competing with over 100 contestants from around the world. Ms Valerie is currently undergoing special training and coaching to prepare herself for the event and the VTO is proud to have her be the ambassador to let the world “Discover What Matters” for Vanuatu. The committee thanks GRD Holdings Vanuatu Ltd – Mr James Kang for being the major sponsor, the Vanuatu Tourism Office, Air Vanuatu, QBE Insurance – Ms Valerie Martinez’s employer, the Vanuatu Government, Midas Consultancy for being the official partners in this event, and a very special thanks is extended to the father of Miss Vanuatu, Mr. Clement Martinez including Mr Korikalo, partner of Miss Vanuatu who have both provided great support. The committee wishes to also acknowledge the Fashion Place, Grand Hotel, Head Hunter Hair & Beauty Salon, IG Media, and Lewetao Cultural Group for creating a stunning album that earned Miss Vanuatu a place in the contest. The Miss Vanuatu Committee and the Vanuatu Tourism Office we would like to wish Miss Vanuatu 2013, a successful event competing as the Tourism Ambassador face for Vanuatu in the pageant. Photo: The publisher apologizes for Miss Vanuatu’s photo in the last issue because it didn’t have IGmedia @Valery Lebeau.

VTO thanks media student Charlie Sikal The Vanuatu Tourism Office would like to acknowledge Mr Charlie Sikal for having worked with VTO’s Marketing Department, in the area of media and especially assisting the Communications officer produce and release Island Nius, in the past two months. Mr Sikal has finished his final week at the VTO and the office Management and staff would like to wish Mr Sikal all the best in his journalism studies and career in media.

A night of feasting & dancing at Ekasup By Charlie Sikal, media student attachee: On Friday last week, I was joined by over 30 guests to go to Ekasup cultural village for a spectacular Melaneisan Feast including witnessing great cultural dancing and performances by the local bamboo band. I was picked up downstairs at VTO’s Visitor Info Centre and in a few minutes arrived at the village entrance. Read more.

Scooting underwater is here!

This afternoon, Thursday 17th October 2013, a few staffers of the VTO are off on an underwater adventure, with VTOA’s newest member, the Vanuatu Underwater Scooter. Located along seafront and operated by Big Blue, the company runs every day and offers single and double under water scooters. For more information, call +678 27518, email contact@underwater-scooters.com. Visit www.underwater-scooters.com

Shots during Miss Vanuatu’s farewell send off and drive through Vila town and outskirts last weekend! Her reception by the general public including visitors, was simply beautiful, and was well reciprocated by Miss Valerie with her winning smile.

VTO Staff Out & About “Focus on untapped

possibilities” - Hunter SPTO October 16, 2013: A total of 30 delegates representing public and private sector from South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) member countries met today at a Regional Tourism Strategy Stakeholder Consultation Workshop at the Samoa Conventional Centre in Apia, Samoa. Mr Allan Kalfabun, VTO Marketing Manager, attended the workshop, which focused on deliberations from participants and consultants to formulate a framework for a Pacific Regional Tourism Strategy for 2014 to 2018. Read more.

Marketing heads meet to formulate regional plan SPTO October 15, 2013: Fourteen Heads of Marketing representatives from National Tourism Offices in the Pacific meet in a Regional Tourism Marketing Workshop this week on Tuesday 15th October, at the TATTE Samoa Conventional Centre in Apia, Samoa. Mr Allan Kalfabun VTO Marketing Manager, attended the workshop, which focuses to facilitate the contribution and discussion of ideas, suggestions and recommendation of programs and activities that will result in the drafting of a regional marketing plan. This plan will be formulated to address the needs of each South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) member state. Read more.

Air Vanuatu adds to fleet with Twin Otter, ATR planned for 2014 15 October 2013: Air Vanuatu has purchased an additional aircraft a Twin Otter DHC6-300, Chief Executive Office Joseph Laloyer has announced. The aircraft, purchased in Alaska, will begin operations before the busy Christmas/New Year period and will significantly increase capacity in the domestic market. It is currently in Hawaii, enroute from Alaska and expected to arrive in Vanuatu by the weekend. “Twin Otters are very reliable aircraft, they are considered to be the workhorse of the Pacific, so we’re thrilled to finally have secured this plane. We have been searching for some time for suitable aircraft – with low hours and well matched to our conditions.

I’m pleased to say this aircraft meets those requirements,” Mr. Laloyer said. Read more.

Local Industry

Local Industry

Ni-Vanuatu Trainee Chefs open the Origin Culinary Arts & Hospitality Show! For release 16th October: There is amazing local talent hiding in the kitchens of Vanuatu, and they will be the opening feature of their industry’s event of the year. APTC and INTV are training a diverse mix of students, and are excited about having their students competing on the opening day of the Origin Culinary Arts & Hospitality Show. Aaron Dixon, Cookery Trainer of APTC says “It is important for the students to have a positive introduction into the world of competitive cookery, and be inspired to take on further challenges ensuring the future of the culinary scene in Vanuatu will continue to prosper.” Read more.

Origin Culinary Arts & Hospitality Show is heating up!

For immediate release: Port Vila, Vanuatu, 11th October 2013 Exciting times are ahead for the competitors of the Origin Culinary Arts & Hospitality Show. The organizers have locked down the competition schedule and Chefs, Bar Staff, Baristas, Wait Staff and Housekeepers are out there practicing their skills to take on their mates in a fun, exciting and pressure competition. The showground between Chantillys and Moorings is being decked out in banners to let everyone know where the hottest competition is going to be on 21st – 25th October. Read more.

Real Pasifik likely to elevate standard of Salon Culinaire

competition even higher Robert Oliver and Zoomslide, the New Zealand production company responsible for bringing new food television series Real Pasifik to the world, are heading back to the Iririki Resort in Vanuatu to be part of the esteemed Salon Culinaire competition. Read more.

Outer islands yachting an important Niche for Vanuatu

A Vanuatu Yachting Guide Presentation took place on Wednesday 09th October 2013 at the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) conference room. For the last five months Anne & Eric Simmons (professional underwater photographers & tourism and yachting passionate) sailed on their yacht to over thirty islands in Vanuatu with an aim to improve the accessibility and desirability of Vanuatu, as a destination for yachting tourism. The adventure bore a mission to create a yachting guide that includes recommendations for yachting tourism products and their development, a mission that was assigned by the VTO and was able to be implemented by the Simmons, thanks to the New-Zealand Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) program. Read more.

Dobbin meets interesting people and places in Vanuatu!

Source On The Road Again: Travelling, eating and drinking with Winsor Dobbin: You meet the most interesting people in Vanuatu. It was a couple of years ago now, but we met Chief Dani Rusa (at least that's what he said his name was, communication was not easy) at the Sunday morning market in Luganville, the major town on the Vanuatu island of Espiritu Santo. A wizened but still wiry and proud old man with a long white beard and twinkling eyes, he told us he had walked two days to reach Luganville from his home village that was deep in the mountains and had no road access. Read more.

Trade & Media New Dive Instructors in Vanuatu

More story about the new PADI Instructors in Vanuatu, following last week’s feature, is now live on PADI Asia Pacific’s media sites at the following links:

PADI Oceania Facebook PADI Pros’ Oceania Blog Regional News – Worldwide VTO thanks Ms Jo West, Co-ordinator, Marketing & Business Development Manager for PADI Asia Pacific for sharing the links and help promote the destination.

Aussie Cricketers Brett Lee and Dom Thornely lap it up at Trees and Fishes!

Source Oceanblue.com: It’s been a busy month of celebs fishing with OceanBlue, first NBA star Jared Jeffries christened our first live on board expedition and more recently Aussie cricketers Brett Lee and Dom Thornely spent a week of fast fishing and indulgence at Trees and Fishes. Accompanied by good friend Josh Batterson, the guys managed their first dogtooth and GT’s as well as wahoo, red bass, jobfish and yellowfin. “Having spent one of our best weeks fishing at the majestic Trees & Fishes retreat we were blown away by the service and tranquil surrounds the retreat has to offer. Ocean Blue Fishing delivered a range of options for us, we managed to get into some GT’s, Wahoo and the elusive Dogtooth tuna. A compulsory stop at the fads each day sent our Shimano gear into a frenzy as the yellow fin come screaming through, some of the best fun you can have on their amazing Edgewater 32’ boats. The staff are first class and having spent so much time on the playing field, our trip made us feel like we were in heaven. The food is simply amazing with only the freshest catch on the nutritious menu all under a log fire setting, amazing sunsets, glass of red and a few tunes. Where else would you rather be!” – Brett Lee & Dom Thornely.

Events & Festivals Old time favorite Black Revolution

performs this afternoon! By Elton Barley: Music lovers of the 80’s and all who know and at one time had a cassette of Black Revolution blasting on their walkman’s head phones or cassette player’s speakers will witness this year the comeback of this old time favourites, Black Revolution in Fest Napuan. The family band from Emae began their musical journey in 1983 with the likes of Jean Baptist Carlot and Moses Stevens. Influence greatly by the Black Brothers, with their native language of Emae incorporated into their lyrics the band came up with the album Taim Mi Mitim Yu with the cover song as a hit. This year the band will be the curtain raiser for Fest Napuan, promising its fans something different from the normal style and flavour of music they had been hearing and watching in Fest Napuan. Songstress, Alcina Charlie explains with excitement what the band was for her. “Black Revolution is an inspiration to me when I was in Central school and on to Malapoa College. Their music is so mellow and always soothing” says Mrs. Charlie. Black Revolution is affiliated with VanuWespa studios. The band will be the first performance of the Fest Napuan event which is on tonight, 17th of October at 5pm. Come and enjoy the legends!

Click on below screen shot to view and download full festival program

Events & Festivals