New Caledonia is open and ready for business as Smartraveller downgrades warning

New Caledonia is open and ready for business as Smartraveller downgrades warning
Edited by Travel Weekly


Eight months after the civil unrest, the South Pacific destination of New Caledonia has reopened and is ready to welcome Australian tourists.

Smartraveller has recently downgraded its travel advice to the destination following the removal of the nation’s curfew on the 2nd of December. The island is currently rated as amber – ‘exercise a high degree of caution’. For context, this is the same rating given to the UK and France.

Back in May 2024, Australians were warned to not travel to New Caledonia after protests and violence broke out ahead of a vote in the French National Assembly on changes to the New Caledonian constitution.

Several people died in the riots and the airport was shut for a number of days as rioters blocked the main highway with barricades.

Government urges Aussies to ‘reconsider’ plans to visit Noumea as New Caledonia death toll hits five

Before temporarily pausing tourism last year, New Caledonia welcomed a record amount of visitors from Australia, where it surpassed its pre-pandemic numbers, and the Australian market became the second-largest market after France.

“The lifting of the curfew in December was a huge relief for everyone in New Caledonia, and with the downgraded travel advice, we can again reassure Australians how safe it is to visit this little slice of paradise,” said Rebecca Marchal, account director for New Caledonia Tourism in Australia. “The changed travel advice and an increase in flight capacity means that Australian travellers can again experience the unique and rich culture of New Caledonia.”

The news of the updated travel advice was the final stepping stone in the recovery process following the announcement of the curfew being lifted, increased flights by the national carrier Aircalin and testimonies from suppliers of their readiness to welcome travellers again. After expanding flight services to New Caledonia in December to operate two flights per week from Sydney to Noumea, Aircalin has announced plans to increase services to three flights per week during peak school holidays in April, June, July, August, September and October 2025 from Sydney and Brisbane.

Saint Joseph Cathedral and the Moselle Bay in Noumea, New Caledonia.

Qantas has also announced operate three flights per week from Brisbane and three flights per week from Sydney to New Caledonia, in light of the increasing demand. These increased flight schedules by both Aircalin and Qantas during the school holidays in 2025 will provide greater flexibility and convenience for travellers.

Coinciding with the official reopening, the New Caledonia tourism board has launched a new campaign – ‘New Caledonia, a new chapter awaits’. The campaign represents a reinvigorated vision of New Caledonia as a destination that offers transformative, authentic, and meaningful travel experiences, focusing on positioning New Caledonia as a destination for renewal and connection, embracing sustainability as a core value, and, most importantly, rebuilding confidence by redefining New Caledonia as a safe, welcoming and easily accessible destination.

Alongside the ‘New Chapter’ campaign, the tourism board has also been running a digital initiative called ‘Eternal NewCal’, in which local operators encourage tourists to return to the country via a series of video messages.

 

Latest News

  • Famil

TravHost launches expert hosting service to transform industry famils

TravHost offers a pioneering service bridging the gap between media professionals, travel agents and tourism organisations, addressing the demand for exceptional famil hosts. Founded by seasoned travel media professionals Fiona Harper and Carolyne Jasinski, TravHost is poised to revolutionise the way tourism organisations and travel companies approach famils. With decades of experience in tourism and […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Travel Agents

Book big and bag a spot of the TTC Tour Brand’s Top Achievers’ Famil

TTC Tour Brands’ Top Achievers Famil incentive is back, rewarding top-selling agents with the chance to embark on an unforgettable trip to a destination that remains a secret – for now. Agents who have sold any Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Costsaver and Contiki, from 1 December 2024 to 14 March 2025, go into the […]

  • Business Travel
  • Conferences

New Zealand International Convention Centre to open in February 2026

The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) has announced it is opening its doors to New Zealand and world conferences and events in February 2026. The long-awaited NZICC is set to transform New Zealand’s conference and events industry, boosting visitation and the wider economy with its world-class facilities. Located in the heart of Auckland’s CBD, […]

  • Cruise
  • Events

AmaWaterways invites AU/NZ travel trade to An Evening with AmaWaterways events

AmaWaterways has announced the dates of its upcoming An Evening with AmaWaterways events for travel advisors, just over a year after it entered the Australian and New Zealand markets. Dedicated to travel advisors, the events will be held in six cities and will be hosted by AmaWaterways’ regional sales managers, plus feature a presentation from […]

  • Destinations
  • Tourism

Mooloolaba cruise season boosts Sunshine Coast tourism and trade

Mooloolaba is set to welcome a series of cruise ships through February and March 2025, significantly boosting local businesses and tourism to the Sunshine Coast. Their arrival is expected to create a vibrant atmosphere and provide a substantial economic uplift to the region. Viking Sky kicks off the season on Sunday 8 February, with 930 […]

  • Food & Beverage

Little Pete Brewing opens first of its kind open-air bar

Little Pete Brewing has opened a new open-air bar at 543 Step Rd, Langhorne Creek, a must-visit South Australia destination for a drink with a view. The first-of-its-kind open-air bar sits on 8ha, surrounded by vineyards and paddocks, with the Bremer River flowing nearby and framed by majestic ancient river red gums. “We always felt […]

  • Events

CENTREPIECE is set to make a splash at AIME 2025

CENTREPIECE is set to make a splash at AIME 2025 with a one-of-a-kind activation that showcases their world-class event capabilities to inspire event planners and decision-makers. CENTREPIECE is located in the heart of Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Victoria’s epicentre for live sports and entertainment and home to world-renowned venues including Rod Laver Arena, AAMI Park, […]

  • Destinations
  • Tourism

NYC Tourism + Conventions announces two exciting new events

NYC Tourism + Conventions has announced ‘NYC Off-Broadway Week 2025’ and ‘Value Family Activities’ events lined up for this year. NYC Off-Broadway Week 2025 2-for-1 ticket sales for this event have begun with this season’s program featuring 29 Off-Broadway performances, including 18 new participants. The twice-yearly program runs from 17 February through 9 March with […]

  • Events
  • Tourism

Jeju wins bid to host 2028 Asia-Pacific Microscopy Conference

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has successfully secured the 14th Asia-Pacific Microscopy Conference (APMC14) for Jeju in November 2028. This was achieved in partnership with the Korean Society of Microscopy, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Jeju Convention Bureau, and Jeju International Convention Center. Korea was selected as the final host after strong competition at the 13th […]

  • Cruise
  • Food & Beverage

Oceania Cruises sets new standard for onboard dining: one chef for every 10 guests

Oceania Cruises, renowned for The Finest Cuisine at Sea, has set a new standard for onboard dining with an exquisite new menu evolution in The Grand Dining Room. Launching on its newest 1,200-guest ship, Allura, in July 2025, the reimagined menus introduce over 270 brand-new recipes, from curated Signature Eggs Benedict breakfast selection to a chic French […]