Vanuatu saw an estimated $34 million Australian dollars injected into its economy last year from cruise tourism, with an estimated further $18 million in indirect economic benefits, according to a recent study.
The study, jointly funded by Carnival Australia, the Australian Government and World Bank Group member IFC, shows the cruise industry also provides more than 3000 employment opportunities to the Pacific island nation.
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister the Honourary Joe Natuman announced the results of the study at a press conference in Apia today, alongside Australian Foreign Affairs Minister the Honourary Julie Bishop, World Bank Group vice president Rachel Kyte and Carnival Australia’s CEO Anne Sherry.
“There are twice as many visitors arriving in Vanuatu by ship rather than by air, but until now we have had no real data validating the importance of cruise tourism on the country’s economic growth and job creation,” Natuman said.
“Based on this report’s recommendations, we can further grow the industry and provide more business and employment opportunities for our people.”
Julie Bishop said the private sector is a major catalyst for development, with Australia committed to strengthening business links within the region.
”The study will help determine future areas of focus under the Australian Government’s partnership with Carnival Australia to enhance the economic opportunities tourism can bring to countries in the Pacific,” Bishop said.
According to the Assessment of the Economic Impact of Cruise Tourism in Vanuatu, each cruise ship arriving in Vanuatu brings $257,000 worth of direct benefits to a range of businesses and organisations.
Through IFC, the World Bank Group has also been working to attract more tourists to the Pacific nations of Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, with cruise tourism a vital aspect of the employment landscape in the islands.
“We hope that other Pacific countries such as Samoa and Tonga can make use of this Vanuatu study and sustainably grow their tourism industry,” Kyte said.
Cruise arrivals to Vanuatu have grown by about 15% annually for the past 10 years, with two thirds of all visitors to the country now arriving by cruise ship.
“We stand ready to work with other governments and communities in the region to identify the next steps to open up new destinations to cruise ship visits,” Sherry said.
