PACIFIC 2030

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
POLICY FRAMEWORK

April 2021

The Pacific 2030 Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework has been preparedby TRC Tourism for the Pacific Tourism Organisation with assistance fromthe New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the United
Nations Development Program.
Disclaimer
Any representation, statement, opinion or advice, expressed or implied inthis document is made in good faith but on the basis that TRC Tourism Pty.
Ltd., directors, employees and associated entities are not liable for any
damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to
taking or not taking action in respect of any representation, statement oradvice referred to in this document.
Images: Photo Gallery – Pacific Tourism Organisation(southpacificislands.travel)

www.trctourism.com

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORKi

CONTENTS
CONTENTS

ii

Foreword

iv

Executive Summary

1

Introduction

4

Sustainable Tourism and the Pacific5

The Pacific Sustainable Tourism Framework

9

Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Framework

42

Implementation and Action Plan

46

APPENDIX 1 – Supporting Resources

51

APPENDIX 2 – Action Plans for SPTO Partners

53

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORKii

GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS
Capacity development

The process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources thatorganisations and communities need to survive, adapt, and thrive in the Pacific.

Circular economy

A circular economy is a systemic approach to economic development designed to benefit businesses,
society, and the environment. In contrast to the ‘take-make-waste’ linear model, a circular economy isregenerative by design and aims to gradually decouple growth from the consumption of finite resources.

Community

In the context of this report, a community is defined as a group of individuals that share some common
characteristics. Assuming that a group of residents are a community if they share physical proximity or
geography with delineated boundaries.

Creative Industries

UNESCO define creative industries as those that combine the creation, production andcommercialisation of contents which are intangible and cultural in nature; these contents are typicallyprotected by copyright and they can take the form of a good or a service.

Environmental Impact
Assessment

A tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decisionmaking. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, findways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present
the predictions and options to decision-makers.

Social inclusion

Social inclusion is the process of improving the terms on which individuals and groups take part insociety – improving the ability, opportunity and dignity of those disadvantaged on the basis of theiridentity.

Stakeholders

A stakeholder in the context of this Framework refers to a member of the community who has thepower and legitimacy to influence other stakeholders within the community through a series ofinteractions which shape different elements of tourism development.

Sustainable
development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development requires the elimination of institutional
fragmentation ensuring that environmental, social, and economic concerns are integrated throughout
decision-making processes and development that is fair, equitable and just.

Sustainable
Development Goals(SDGs)The Sustainable Development Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a
"blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all". The SDGs were set in 2015 by theUnited Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030.

Tourism Value Chain

The tourism value chain is a sequence of primary and support activities that are strategically essential forthe functioning of the tourism sector. Key activities of the tourism value chain include policy-making andintegrated planning; product development, promotion and marketing; distribution and sales; educationand training and destination operations and services.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORKACRONYMS
CROP
Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific
GSTC
Global Sustainable Tourism Council
NGO
Non-government organisation
NSO
National Statistics Office
NTO
National Tourism Organisation
SPTO
Pacific Tourism Organisation
SMEs
Small Medium Enterprises
UNESCAP United Nations Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
UNDP
United Nations Development Program
UNWTO United Nations World Tourism Organisation

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework reflects thecollective vision, goals and objectives of international and regional
agencies, national governments, industry, community organisations
and development partners. We would like to thank all SPTO
members and partners who contributed to the development of the
Framework. Quotes from SPTO members and partners have beenused throughout the document to reflect the aspirations andpriorities expressed during the Framework’s development. These
contributions are acknowledged and valued. The Framework has
been produced with the financial assistance of the New Zealand
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the United Nations
Development Program.

USEFUL RESOURCES
There are many useful sources of information that support theimplementation of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework.
They have been included in Appendix 1 for ongoing reference.

iii

Foreword
Tourism is no doubt at the crossroads as the Covid-19 pandemic continues tohave profound impacts on the sector globally. The Pacific is amongst thehardest hit regions setting a bleak outlook for the future which is compounded
by a myriad of issues that are synonymous to our small island economies
including social, political, economic and environmental challenges.
Nevertheless, the pandemic has also presented the opportunity for the region
to reset and reflect on a more sustainable approach to tourism. The PacificTourism Organisation (SPTO) plays a central role in supporting and effecting
this process as the regional organisation mandated for tourism marketing anddevelopment in the Pacific.
The Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework sets the foundation for thesector to recover sustainably. As we journey towards 2030, the remaining 9
years of the global Sustainable Development Agenda will be imperative for us
all in ensuring the realization of our vision “We are empowered by andbenefitting from tourism that is resilient, prosperous and inclusive. It
improves the wellbeing of our communities and protects, restores andpromotes our cultures, islands and ocean ecosystems”. This can only beachieved by Governments, operators, development partners, communities
and all stakeholders working together.
The Framework provides the roadmap for advancing the important priorities
identified by our Member Countries, private sector, civil society, development
partners, regional and international organisations in propelling our vaka
(canoe) forward during these challenging times. It calls on urgent action andsupport from all stakeholders and provides an opportunity for engagement at
national and regional level regardless of where you are on your sustainability
journey. The Framework does not prescribe solutions, rather it offers a rangeof policy options and actions for consideration.

On behalf of SPTO, I would like to thank all stakeholders who contributed tothe development of the Framework. The leadership and guidance of ourMember Countries, the Board Sub Committee for Sustainable Tourism andResearch and the Regional Working Group enabled a smooth and inclusive
process. I also would like to acknowledge the funding support from the United
Nations Development Programme and the New Zealand Government formaking this possible. As we set sail into the implementation phase, I call on
development partners, Governments, international financial institutions,regional and international agencies to come forward and contribute to thework ahead. Tourism has the potential to bring about positive change to thelives of our people and the quality of our environment that will be enjoyed bygenerations to come.

Thank you and God Bless!

Christopher Roy Cocker
Chief Executive Officer
Pacific Tourism Organisation

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Executive Summary
The Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework sets out the vision, policies and actions needed totransform tourism to make it more sustainable and provide greater benefits to the communities of the Pacific.
Tourism is an economic powerhouse and one of the main pillars sustaining
growth and development in the Pacific. It is the major driver of economic
growth, foreign exchange earnings and employment and contributes to theachievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across the region. Thispotential can only be realised by transforming to a model of tourism that isprosperous, inclusive and resilient and supports sustainable recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic and other natural disasters. The transformation to abetter tourism future begins with the implementation of the PacificSustainable Tourism Policy Framework.

The Framework calls on all partners and stakeholders to co-ordinate andcollaborate to advance this vision for sustainable tourism through a series ofpolicies and actions that focus on:

The Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework reflects the aspirations of
the SPTO and its members, the tourism industry, civil society organisations,regional organisations and global development partners. The shared vision is:

The Framework has been designed to cater for countries that are welladvanced in developing and implementing sustainable tourism practices aswell as for the countries that are in the early stages of sustainable tourism
development.

By 2030 we are empowered by, and benefittingfrom tourism that is resilient, prosperous andinclusive. It improves the wellbeing of ourcommunities and protects, restores and promotes
our cultures, islands and ocean ecosystems.

•
•
•
•
•
•

supporting prosperous and resilient economies
empowering communities
amplifying and promoting culture
accelerating climate action
protecting ecosystems
building resilience.

To ensure that tourism in the Pacific continues to be a driver of economic andcommunity wellbeing, all partners are required to implement the policies andactions in the Framework to build a resilient tourism industry, fit for thechallenges and opportunities the Pacific faces between now and 2030.

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1AT A GLANCE
Sustainable tourism is no longer optional – it is now anurgent imperative for every country in the Pacific.
We want tourism to be resilient, prosperous, and inclusive. For this to happen
we need to ensure:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

We are united as a region and work together to advance sustainable
tourism through partnerships and collaboration
We prioritise green investments to support tourism growth and work with
our partners to mobilise resources
We offer our visitors high quality, authentic, accessible and sustainable
experiences that reflect our own country’s uniquenessWe create enabling legislation and policies for tourism businesses toadopt sustainable tourism practices
Our islands and oceans are protected and enhanced, and our cultures
remain strong
Our communities are empowered by tourism and benefit from it. We
protect the vulnerable and provide opportunities for young people andwomen
Together we build resilience to climate change and transition to a low
emission, resource efficient sector
We invite visitors and our partners to contribute to our efforts to maketourism to the Pacific more sustainable.

The policies and actions contained within the Pacific Sustainable Tourism
Policy Framework will help us to achieve our vision and these outcomes.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK2

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Introduction

Through tourism we promote living inharmony with nature andcommunities. We need to be the best
stewards of our environment andmanage development in sync with thelaws of nature - finding, respecting
and maintaining the balance.

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Sustainable Tourism and the PacificAs a major contributor to economic development, tourism in the Pacific will need to transform to be resilient,prosperous and more inclusive. It needs to improve the wellbeing of our communities, strengthen our cultural
identity, and protect and restore our lands and oceans.
Tourism is an economic powerhouse and one of the main pillars sustaining growthand development in the Pacific. Prior to COVID-19 the scale of visitor growth insome Pacific countries outstripped their capacity to respond in a way that enabled
the economic and social opportunities that tourism can bring to be fully realised.
The environmental pressures tourism created were not always adequately managedwith pressure placed on infrastructure and resources, the wellbeing of local
communities affected and fragile island ecosystems irreversibly impacted. The
region is among the world’s most vulnerable to the effects of climate change,
natural disasters and global events1 accelerating the need for mitigation strategies,
crisis management and resilience.
It is now accepted that sustainable development practices that protect theenvironment and bring socio-economic benefits to the people of the Pacific,
including those in rural and marginalised communities, must be at the centre of
tourism planning and development.
The COVID–19 pandemic has forced the region to consider a more sustainableapproach to tourism that is economically resilient, environmentally sustainable andsocially inclusive. The SPTO, its members and partners will transition to this newmodel of tourism over the next ten years. The Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy
Framework sets out the SPTO’s aspirations for sustainable tourism. It includes thevision, goals and priorities that will contribute to a better tourism future.

The Framework supports the Pacific’s global, regional and national commitments,
including the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Paris Agreement– Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA)
Pathway (2014) and the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy. The Framework enables the
Pacific Tourism Organisation’s corporate vision: “Our Pacific Islands’ empoweredand benefitting from sustainable tourism”.
Responsibility for the implementation of the Framework does not reside with one
organisation or sector, but rather requires partnership and collaboration withstakeholders across Government, industry, civil society organisations, development
partners and the community. The policies and actions apply to all tourism
stakeholders. The Framework has been designed to cater for countries that are welladvanced in sustainable tourism practices as well as for countries who are in theearly stages of planning and implementation.
Implementing the policies and actions within this Framework will enable the SPTO
and its partners to:• contribute to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals• demonstrate their commitment to sustainable tourism and their role as anagent of change• lead by example, driving action at a national level, sharing knowledge, andcatalysing collaborative action throughout the sector• measure progress in accordance with the performance indicators stated undereach goal.

1 SPTO Strategic Plan 2020 – 2024, IBIDPACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

5\

Who is the Framework For?
Successful implementation of this Framework requires support,
commitment, and ownership by the SPTO, national tourism
organisations, regional organisations, civil society organisations,
tourism industry, international partners, community and visitors.
It requires regional coordination, collaboration through the PacificSustainable Tourism Leadership Summit (PSTLS), the SPTO and theCouncil of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP).

How will the success of the
Framework be measured?
The success of the framework will be measured by key
performance indicators under each goal and as outlined in the
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework.

PARTNER

IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PACIFIC SUSTAINABLE
TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORKCOUNCIL OF TOURISMMINISTERSThe Council is the governing body of SPTO and its purpose is to monitor andreview SPTO policies, strategies, work programme activities, budgets and provide
guidance and advice.

THE PACIFIC TOURISM
ORGANISATION (SPTO)

Regional co-ordination of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework andimplementation through strong partnerships with the Ministers of Tourism,
international partners, regional and national tourism organisations, tourism
industry partners and community leaders.

REGIONAL CO-ORDINATINGORGANISATIONS (CROP)

Vertical and horizontal integration of sustainable tourism programs acrossregional strategies and programs.

NATIONAL TOURISM
ORGANISATIONS

Implementation of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework throughenabling legislation, sustainable tourism policy and planning, tourism standards,
regulation, infrastructure development and marketing.

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS

Financial and technical assistance to support implementation of the PacificSustainable Tourism Policy Framework.

TOURISM INDUSTRY

Sustainable tourism product development and operation, quality service provisionand meeting sustainable tourism standards.

CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS
AND LOCAL COMMUNITY

Active engagement and empowerment in planning and development of tourism,
capacity building and provision of expertise. Engaging in planning and decisions on
tourism at a local level, representing and communicating local community
interests, interacting with tourists to mutual benefit and receiving income fromtourist spending.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING
BODIESCapacity building and training, knowledge gathering and dissemination, specificadvice and expertise supporting policy and strategy development.

TOURISTS

Behaving responsibly towards the environment and local communities in travel
choice and actions in response to sustainable tourism codes and pledges.

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\Twelve Aims for Sustainable Tourism
The UNWTO and UNEP have identified twelve aims for sustainable tourism relevant to the Pacific:2
ECONOMIC VIABILITYLOCAL PROSPERITYEMPLOYMENT QUALITY

SOCIAL EQUITY

To ensure the viability andcompetitiveness of tourism
destinations and enterprises, so thatthey can continue to prosper anddeliver benefits in the long term.

To maximise the contribution of
tourism to the prosperity of the hostdestination, including the proportion ofvisitor spending that is retained locally.

To strengthen the number and qualityof local jobs created and supported by
tourism, including the level of pay,
conditions of service and availability to
all without discrimination by gender,
race, disability or in other ways.

To seek a widespread distribution of
economic and social benefits fromtourism throughout the recipient
community, including improving
opportunities, income and services
available to the poor.

VISITOR FULFILMENT

LOCAL CONTROLCOMMUNITY WELLBEING

CULTURAL RICHNESSTo provide a safe, satisfying andfulfilling experience for visitors,
available to all without discrimination
by gender, race, disability or in otherways.

To engage and empower local
communities in planning and decision
making about the management andfuture development of tourism in theirarea, in consultation with otherstakeholders.

To maintain and strengthen the qualityof life in local communities, including
social structures and access toresources, amenities and life support
systems, avoiding any form of social
degradation or exploitation.

To respect and enhance the historic
heritage, authentic culture, traditions
and distinctiveness of hostcommunities.

PHYSICAL INTEGRITYBIOLOGICAL DIVERSITYRESOURCE EFFICIENCYENVIRONMENTAL PURITY

To maintain and enhance the quality oflandscapes, both urban and rural, andavoid the physical and visualdegradation of the environment.

To support the conservation of naturalareas, habitats and wildlife, andminimise damage to them.

To minimise the use of scarce and nonrenewable resources in thedevelopment and operation of tourism
facilities and services.

To minimise the pollution of air, waterand land and the generation of waste
by tourism enterprises and visitors.

2 UNWTO and UNEP, 2005

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\Tourism-related targets in the
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable tourism is tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, socialand environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment andhost communities.
Sustainable tourism is a major contributor to economic development, underscoring the need forenvironmentally responsible, socially equitable and culturally acceptable development. Tourism
is specifically referenced in the targets of Goals 8, 12 and 14, on inclusive and sustainableeconomic development, sustainable consumption and production, and sustainable use ofoceans and marine resources, respectively. Tourism is also a cross cutting sector andcontributes to the achievement of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Global Standards for
Sustainable Tourism
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council has developed
global baseline standards for sustainability in travel andtourism. The standards are the result of a worldwide effort
to develop a common language about sustainability intourism. They are arranged in four pillars:
1. Sustainable management
2. Socio-economic impacts
3. Cultural impacts
4. Environmental impacts (including resource consumption
and landscape/biodiversity conservation).
Application of the standards helps destinations and industry
contribute towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. Several Pacific countries have alreadyadopted the standards as a step toward more sustainable
tourism.

Tourism

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK
http://tourism4sdgs.org

8The Pacific Sustainable
Tourism Framework

We are at the crossroads – weneed a paradigm shift – we needto go back to Pacific values
because sustainability is at theheart of our belief system.

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Guiding Principles
These guiding principles underpin the Framework and a commitment to them by all partners will facilitate
progress toward sustainable tourism in the Pacific.
RESPONSIBLE RECOVERYMUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITYREGIONAL LEADERSHIPCOUNTRY SOLUTIONS

To respect and protect our naturalenvironment, as well as the social andcultural authenticity of ourcommunities, we need to manage for
economic growth in the context ofsustainable tourism, particularly in thecontext of post COVID-19 recovery. It
is not one priority over the other - it isboth priorities together.

Sustainable tourism is the
responsibility of all partners and thereis shared accountability for common
challenges and opportunities toadvance tourism that is moresustainable.

The Council of Tourism Ministers will bring
together decision makers and stakeholders
and elevate the development ofsustainable tourism to be a regional
priority for environmental, socio-culturaland economic development.

To be effective and sustainable,
sustainable tourism solutions must be
enacted at the national level. Strategic
regional cooperation and coordination
will add value to and support national
solutions.

INTEGRATED APPROACHGLOBAL AND REGIONAL
COOPERATIONRESILIENCECAPACITY BUILDING

We will focus our efforts to diversify andstrengthen the resilience of the tourism
economy, to better prepare for future
shocks, to address long standing structural
weaknesses, and encourage the digital andlow carbon transformations that will beessential to shift to stronger, fairer andmore sustainable models of tourism
development.

Sustainable tourism requires support
from people with the appropriate skills
across government, industry andcommunity. We will direct our efforts toimproving knowledge and skills in topics
related to the sustainability of tourism,and strengthening the availability andquality of training to meet these needs.
We will focus on strategies that benefit
women and young people.

Tourism requires a multi-sectoral
approach involving vertical integration
between regional, sub-regional,
national, and community levels andhorizontal integration between
tourism and various sectors including
environment, economic development,
culture and heritage, transportation
and access.

Global frameworks and advice offeredby the UNWTO, GSTC, UNESCO andothers will inform our approach. At aregional level, the SPTO and its
partners will provide guidance tosupport the implementation of the
Framework through capacity building,information sharing and resource
mobilisation so that we can advance
together.

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10COMMUNITYENGAGEMENT AND
EMPOWERMENTEngaging and empowering our local
communities to engage effectively intourism planning and management
will result in better outcomes for us
all.

MEASURING SUSTAINABLE
TOURISM
Sustainability in tourism is ourpriority, and we must make measuring
it a priority also. Availability of
tourism data and the need for
improvement in how it is collected,
together with the use of establishedprocesses for understanding the valueof the sector through supply anddemand side measures and the use ofnational accounts is critical to our
success.

SUSTAINABLE FINANCING
We will work with our development
partners and international financeinstitutions to build understanding about
the need to obtain sustainable and green
financing mechanisms to support
sustainable tourism development and toprovide accessible funding for small to
medium enterprises.

MONITORING, EVALUATION
AND LEARNING
Regular and systematic assessment of ourprogress in implementing the PacificSustainable Tourism Policy Framework
through monitoring, evaluating andlearning will inform our decision making
and progress toward more sustainable
tourism.

Sustainable tourism is aboutdeveloping and monitoring tourism
development and undertaking
activities in a responsible mannerso as not to harm our environment
and to ensure long term viability
and preservation so our future
generations can also benefit.

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GOAL 1

Prosperous Economies
Tourism supports prosperous and resilient economies
OUTCOMES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Government, industry and community collaborate to make tourism moresustainable.
Sustainable, secure and equitable funding streams support recovery andgrowth, particularly for small to medium enterprises.
The reliability of tourism as a source of income and prosperity has
strengthened.
The value of tourism grows faster than the volume of visitors.
The benefits of tourism are shared with the broader community.
The skill level and capability of the industry’s workforce has grown.
Youth, women and local communities are actively participating in tourism.
The diversity and quality of experiences, products and services has improved.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR GOAL 1:
Visitor numbers and expenditure•

International, domestic, air/cruise, purpose of visit, length of stay, population(density and intensity). International and domestic visitor expenditure(accommodation, food, activities, and other).

Business Demographics••

Number and size of businesses and employment (by gender).
Number of businesses offering accessible facilities (accommodation).

Income from tourism• Output, value added, contribution to GDP.

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Priority 1. Establish Enabling Legislation and Policies
Effective Governance

Human Capital and Capacity Development

Advancing sustainable tourism requires the ability and institutional capacity tointegrate multiple policy areas and establish the necessary legislative
arrangements, policies and guidelines to support government, industry andcommunity and protect the natural and cultural assets on which tourism depends.

Investment in people and capacity building is critical to sustainable tourism anddelivering quality visitor experiences. This includes attracting and retaining askilled workforce and building the capability to improve business practices andprofitability. Human resource planning should include:

Without discounting the important roles played by private sector enterprises,
there is a clear need for governments to take a leading role if significant progress
is to be achieved in making tourism more sustainable. Coordination andcooperation across government and between sectors is vital and requires
structures and processes to support it. The private sector and host communities
should be centrally engaged in the planning, development and management of
tourism, together with other stakeholders and partners. This level of coordination requires effective governance structures.

•
•
•
•

Sustainable Tourism Policy and Standards•

A sustainable and successful tourism sector must be guided by well formed,
agreed, and implemented policies and standards that provide direction for thedevelopment and management of sustainable tourism, supported by necessary
legislation and regulations.

•creating and increasing employment in the tourism sector in line with
forecast market growth and the expected future development of tourism inthe country
retaining skilled workers within the sector and within the country andincreasing opportunities for full time, year-round jobs
ensuring flexibility in the labour market and managing labour migration tocope with seasonality and fluctuations in demand
outlining policies, actions and incentives to encourage employment of local
residents with particular focus on women, young people, minority anddisadvantaged groups
promoting tourism and hospitality as a valid profession with recognised
career paths and enhancing career progression and opportunities
building capacity in crisis planning, business continuity and resilience as wellas sustainable business operations and digital technology.

Development of a Pacific standard for sustainable tourism, based on the Global
Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) standards and adapted to reflect local issues
across the region will support the sector.

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Digital Transformation

POLICIES

Digitalisation brings significant potential benefits to the tourism sector. Harnessing
innovation and digital technology provide tourism with opportunities to improve
inclusiveness, local community empowerment and efficient resource management,
amongst other objectives within the wider sustainable development agenda.
Implementation of the SPTO Digital Strategy will enable the tourism sector toremain competitive in a rapidly changing context.

•

Monitoring the Sustainability of Tourism
Monitoring progress towards sustainable tourism involves taking measurements ofenvironmental, social and economic conditions using selected indicators andbaseline criteria. The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in collaboration with
the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) is developing a Statistical Frameworkfor Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (SF-MST). The SF-MST is an organising
structure for integrating statistics on the economic, environmental and social
dimensions of sustainable tourism.
The Pacific Tourism Statistics Strategy (PTSS) contextualises this work and thePacific’s response to the SDG’s. It provides a monitoring plan to measure progress
made at regional level while also supporting national level advancement within the
sector.

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Tourism will be used as an engine for inclusive growth, to create quality jobs,
business and regional development opportunities, mitigate the negative
impacts on local communities, and disperse the benefits to communities.
The planning and development of a sustainable tourism sector will involve theprivate and public sector at regional and national level with defined
responsibilities, oversight, and implementation capability for the managementof environmental, economic, social, and cultural issues.
The Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit will advance sustainable
tourism in the Pacific through commitment to and implementation of the
Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework. The development,
implementation and monitoring phases of the Framework will benefit fromongoing dialogue between government, industry, development partners
community and civil society (including social partners and academic
institutions).
National legislative and policy frameworks for sustainable and inclusive growth
are required to enhance attractiveness and competitiveness, support SMEs andlocal development, and manage growing demand in a sustainable and inclusive
manner.
Countries will aim to provide an environment to encourage the creation andgrowth of small-scale tourism businesses, stimulate innovative productdevelopment, generate quality employment, support local communities, andintegrate SMEs into global value chains.
The development and implementation of a Pacific Region Sustainable Tourism
Standard will support the public and private sectors to advance their efforts
toward sustainability and will be guided by the Global Sustainable Tourism
Council standard for destinations, hotels and operators.
Capacity building for government, industry and community across the entire
tourism delivery process will establish an informed and capable sector and will
include crisis planning and business continuity, digital skills enhancement,
customer service and sustainability standards and tailoring experiences.
The monitoring and evaluation of efforts toward sustainable tourism will be
undertaken in the context of the Pacific Tourism Statistics Strategy.

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ACTIONS
SPTO
1.1 Co-ordinate the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit to develop
the Pacific Tourism Sustainability Commitment - a statement ofcommitment to the implementation of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism
Policy Framework.
1.2 Develop a Pacific Region Sustainable Tourism Standard in partnership with
the UNWTO, GSTC and other partners. Develop the standard to become a
Pacific Sustainable Tourism Quality Assurance scheme/brand for visitors.
1.3 Develop training and technical assistance to support the improvement ofexisting national standards, development of certification programs and coordinate the training of national assessors in countries where standards andaccreditation programs exist.
1.4 Strengthen partnerships with agencies and networks such as the United
Nations World Tourism Organisation, UNESCO, Global Sustainable Tourism
Council, Pacific Asia Travel Association, University of the South Pacific andother training providers to support capacity building and informationexchange in destination planning, crisis planning and business continuity,
digital skills enhancement, customer service and sustainability standards.
1.5 Work with partners to implement the SPTO Digital Strategy and facilitate
increased digital infrastructure for tourism businesses and visitors acrossthe Pacific.
1.6 Collate and report on regional progress toward advancing sustainable
tourism across the region using environmental, economic, social, cultural
indicators recommended by the Pacific Tourism Statistics Strategy. Reporton progress of the implementation of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy
Framework in regional and SDG reporting.
1.7 Work with CROP agencies to amplify the importance of sustainable tourism
in regional economic, cultural and environmental strategies and programs.

1.8

1.9

1.10

1.11

1.12
1.13

1.14

NATIONAL PARTNERS
Strengthen inter-ministerial structures to coordinate the tourism-related
investment actions of different policy areas, such as innovation,transport and environment, as well as different levels of government.
Review and strengthen national tourism legislation, policy and plans, tocreate a supportive framework for the advancement of sustainable
tourism.
Establish clear roles and responsibilities of government, industry,
community and development partners in supporting sustainable tourism
initiatives.
Assess the tourism industry human resource development requirements
in consultation with industry and community and develop strategies toaddress gaps.
Support capacity building to facilitate uptake of digital technologies andstrengthen capacity to participate in new and emerging digital platforms.
Support accessibility and affordability of digital technologies, tools andsolutions for tourism SMEs, including initial investment and ongoingcosts.
Monitor progress towards sustainable tourism outcomes consistent with
the Pacific Tourism Statistics Strategy and the Pacific Sustainable Tourism
Policy Framework.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK16INDUSTRY PARTNERS
1.15 Contribute to the regional and national forums on economic, social,and environmental sustainability issues as they relate to tourism.
1.16 Develop human resource development policies and strategies that
seek to ensure equal employment, training opportunities,
occupational safety, and fair wages for staff and include specificactions to maintain local staff and facilitate their career progression.
1.17 Align business practice to national tourism standards andcertification programs.
1.18 Embed digital technology in all elements of business practice where
relevant.
1.19 Implement visitor awareness and engagement programs to support
sustainable tourism.
1.20 Support and monitor progress towards national sustainable tourism
outcomes.

1.21
1.22
1.23

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
Integrate sustainable tourism objectives into development
strategies and funding agreements.
Contribute to the regional and national forums on economic, social,and environmental sustainability issues as they relate to tourism.
Align financial support and incentives to programs and activities
that encourage sustainable tourism outcomes.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

17

Priority 2. Create Unique Destinations Supported by Quality Experiences
Unique Destination Positioning
Defining and articulating a distinctive brand for each country in the Pacific is vitalto their individual competitiveness and to that of the wider region. Destination
positioning will enable each country to identify its enduring characteristics thatdifferentiate it from other destinations in the Pacific.

The quality of tourism products and services can be supported by having
effective systems for setting, inspecting and reporting quality standards, such as
hotel classification systems or tour guide standards and licensing. These systems
in turn can point to where investment is needed and encourage businesses to
respond.

From the consumer perspective, the desire for authentic high-quality
experiences will continue to grow and demand for quality experiences, products
and services that reflect local culture will increase. The growth in demandpresents an opportunity to target high value markets and to foster awareness forresponsible tourism.

Destinations also need to be accessible to all visitors, regardless of age andability. This inclusiveness needs to be embedded in the destination’s offering andclearly visible.

There is a significant opportunity for the joint marketing and promotion of the
Pacific Region, to support multi-destination visits, including through cruise
tourism, and stimulate repeat visits to the region, by highlighting the distinctive
features and attractions of each destination. This will also support industry
resiliency.

Quality Experience Offering
Countries will need to review the supply and quality of their experience offering,
including activities, attractions, supporting infrastructure, services and amenities
and their destination positioning and branding, to generate demand and enable
the country and region to return to pre-COVID-19 performance. This will need to
be informed by and understanding of the changing needs and interests ofvisitors.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

Digitalisation
Digitalisation is changing the way people live, work, and travel, and has created
new opportunities for tourism businesses to compete in global markets. It
enables tourism SMEs to access new markets, develop new tourism products andservices, adopt new business models and processes, upgrade their position in
global tourism value chains and integrate into digital ecosystems.
Implementation of the SPTO Digital Strategy will enable the tourism sector toremain competitive in a rapidly changing context.

Visitor Codes
To promote awareness and encourage visitors to travel responsibly, somecountries have developed behaviour codes, such as Niue’s Code of Responsible
Behaviour for Visitors. These codes are shared with visitors (usually online andon the ground at places like airports, visitor centres, hotels and car rental
agencies), where visitors are asked to commit to being responsible travellers
while in the destination. In general, these pledges ask travellers and locals topromise to behave a certain way to protect the natural resources and beauty of aplace and show respect to the local community and culture.

18

POLICIES
•

•
•
•

•

•
•

Each country should have a destination positioning and development strategy
based on its comparative advantages to improve market competitiveness,
identify unique growth opportunities to increase yield, ensure the ongoingprotection of the unique environmental and cultural values and act as acatalyst for investment.
Regional and national sustainable tourism standards should be incorporated
into business licensing systems and supported by periodic inspection,
feedback and improvement systems.
Visitor surveys on the experience quality, including perceptions of warmth of
welcome, service levels, and environmental quality, as well as suggestions for
improvements should be implemented by each country.
Marketing strategies should accurately reflect the destination positioning andthe products and services available to visitors and promote sustainability
efforts. Messaging should encourage visitors to travel responsibly bysupporting the protection of natural and cultural heritage, contributing to thewellbeing and prosperity of local communities and fostering increased
environmental stewardship.
The digital transformation of micro and small businesses will enable better
promotion and greater competitiveness. Implementation of the SPTO Digital
Strategy will be the primary mechanism to build capacity to support thistransformation.
Capacity building for the tourism industry on service quality and sustainable
tourism is an essential component of destination development and should be
provided by regional and national organisations.
Where appropriate, sites, facilities and services should be made accessible toall, including persons with disabilities and others who have specific accessrequirements.

ACTIONS
1.24

1.25
1.26

1.27

SPTO
Undertake regional destination differentiation research to support
destination positioning and destination development strategies formember countries.
Develop Sustainable Destination Planning and Management
Guidelines for the Pacific.
Embed responsible tourism as a key pillar of the region’s tourism
promotion and leverage the regional brand of Ours is Yours andpresent a positive futures narrative to position the Pacific as asustainable tourism destination.
Develop and promote a Pacific Pledge for Responsible Travel for
visitors that can be adopted by member countries.

NATIONAL PARTNERS
1.28 Review, establish and strengthen destination positioning and marketing
to reflect the country’s unique point of difference involving industry,
community and other stakeholders.
1.29 Undertake destination development planning to identify theexperiences, products and services that will deliver on the destination
positioning, in partnership with industry, community and otherstakeholders. Use market segmentation, ongoing monitoring ofcompetitor practices, industry performance, and market trends toinform destination development and management.
1.30 Establish or strengthen a minimum quality/sustainable tourism
standard and monitoring/certification system, for accommodation andtour operators.

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19

NATIONAL PARTNERS
1.31 Develop systems to monitor and publicly report visitor satisfaction with
the quality and sustainability of the destination experience and respondto feedback.
1.32 Build awareness of responsible tourism through marketing andpromotion and implementation of the Pacific Pledge for Responsible
Travel.
1.33 Focus on cross-sector value chain development bringing together
communities and SMEs to expand the diversity and quality of tourism
experiences, products and services e.g., local food producers, creativeand cultural representatives.
1.34 Provide capacity building support to industry on product development,
pricing and marketing particularly for high value experiences thatshowcase the natural and cultural heritage of the destinations.
1.35 Consider the needs of people with access requirements (e.g.,physical/mobility, hearing, vision or cognitive), and adopt universal
design principles to ensure all people can enjoy a range of experiences
while holidaying within the destination.
1.36 Deliver capacity building opportunities for industry to support the useof digital technology to improve business competitiveness.

1.37
1.38

1.39

1.40

1.41

1.42

INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Contribute to the development and implementation of destination
positioning.
Align experiences, products, services with destination positioning andensure marketing and promotion is consistent with the destination
brand.
Consider ways to diversify products and services to provide authentic
experiences for the high value traveller and to support domestic
activities and inter-island visitors.
Promote the importance of responsible travel to visitors by supplying
local products and services, providing information on responsible
travel behaviour and adopting sustainable tourism business practices.
Where possible, adopt universal design principles to ensure all people
can enjoy a range of experiences while holidaying within thedestination.
Align business activities with national quality and sustainable tourism
standards.

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
1.43 Support investment and facilitate funding to support:• capacity building to support destination planning and better businesspractice• the development of destination development strategies• market research to support destination development and marketing• the development of high-quality, accessible, experiences, products andservices.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

20

Priority 3. Mobilise Sustainable Tourism Investment
Investment and financing have an important role to play in supporting the
POLICIES
transition to low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive tourism
development in the Pacific. Investment and financing for sustainable tourism
development does not necessarily require the creation of new instruments, butrather better connecting tourism projects with available green and otherfinancing instruments and making financial flows consistent with a pathway
towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.

The ongoing context for tourism investment will partly be set by a framework ofnational policies and international agreements (Priority 1). Investment andfinance also need to be part of a carefully planned and sequenced destination
planning and development strategy (Priority 2).
A fundamental requirement, not only for new investment but also for therecovery and successful operation of tourism enterprises, is for the overallbusiness environment in the country to be conducive to efficiency, newdevelopments and green investment promotion.
The nature and application of regulations relating to new investment andbusiness operations (e.g., licensing requirements) is particularly important. Given
the propensity of most tourism enterprises to be SMEs, the nature andapplication of regulations should be at the right level so that they do not prevent
entry to the sector but, equally, ensure that tourism enterprises have sufficientquality and professionalism to support sustainable tourism business practices.

•
•
•

•
•
•
•

Pacific countries will need to shift toward investment and financing practices
to support sustainable tourism.
Incentivise the transition towards low carbon, climate resilient investments
and encourage more responsible business practices in tourism throughaccess to finance for sustainable tourism investment projects.
Green investors should be actively targeted and supported for sustainable
tourism investment to support tourism businesses with sustainable project
proposals in the start-up and early stages, as well as businesses willing toincorporate sustainable practices in their daily operations.
Environmental and social criteria should be integrated in tourism investment
facilitation and promotion activities.
Tourism businesses need to be better informed about the business case for
adopting sustainable practices and encouraged to consider the impact of
their actions on the environment.
Identify and share knowledge about approaches to increase theeffectiveness of investment in managing growing tourism demand in asustainable and inclusive manner.
Investment in sustainable tourism infrastructure to protect and promote thenatural and cultural/creative capital of Pacific countries and support thedevelopment and delivery of high-quality experiences for both intra-region,
domestic and international markets is required.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK21

ACTIONS
SPTO
1.44 Offer guidance to NTOs and industry on transitioning to a green, lowemission and climate-resilient tourism economy.
1.45 Review the extent of investment in tourism across the region to
identify sustainable tourism investment gaps and facilitate access togreen financing instruments for tourism projects.

1.46
1.47

1.48

1.49
1.50
1.51
1.52

NATIONAL PARTNERS
Review priorities for tourism investment and actively target green
investors.
Provide an enabling environment for sustainable tourism investment
by coordinating actions across different policy areas, including
tourism, environment and innovation, and across different levels ofgovernment.
Strengthen the capacity of public agents dealing with tourism
sustainability, and other stakeholders, to ensure that investment andfinancing contribute to sustainable tourism development by, forexample, integrating biodiversity concerns into tourism policies.
Where feasible facilitate access to finance through small businessgrants and subsidised loans to incentivise businesses.
Promote public private partnerships to finance sustainableinfrastructure investments and renovations.
Devise risk-sharing mechanisms to foster private sector participationin the financing of sustainable tourism development.
Build understanding with industry about the business case for
adopting sustainable practices and improve local awareness andknowledge of the connection between competitiveness andsustainability.

1.53

1.54
1.55
1.56

1.57

1.58

1.59

NATIONAL PARTNERS
Provide capacity building programs for industry for sustainablebusiness practices that include human resources, health and safety,
financial management, operating ethically, sustainable supply chains,product diversification, marketing, crisis and risk planning.

INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Invest in sustainable tourism infrastructure.
Cluster firms in a local community, to generate the necessary volume
of finance for sustainable tourism projects.
Bring tourism-related businesses together to borrow collectively to
alleviate the issue of fragmentation and low volumes that increase
the cost of credit, along with raising awareness and providing training
in entrepreneurial management to maximise the potential of loans.

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
Mobilise finances to support transition towards low carbon, climate
resilient investments and encourage more responsible businesspractices in tourism through access to finance for sustainable tourism
investment projects.
Facilitate investment in tourism infrastructure that has a tangiblesocial, cultural and environmental outcome in terms of both planningand investment and support cross cutting participation and capacity
development.
Identify and share knowledge about green investment opportunities
and the effectiveness of investment in managing growing tourism
demand in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

22

There is a difference when visitors
come to the Pacific compared to Bali or
the Caribbean. We cannot compete on
price but we can compete on our
beautiful environment and our culture– this is our point of difference. We
need to protect both.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

23

\GOAL 2Thriving and Inclusive Communities
Tourism supports the empowerment andwellbeing of Pacific communities
OUTCOMES:
1.
2.
3.

Tourism is a driver of equality, employment and opportunity for a broader
section of the community, in particular for women and young people.
Communities are engaged in the tourism decision-making and planning
processes.
Local communities who choose to be supportive of tourism are enjoying
hosting visitors with culture and traditional life retained and respected.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR GOAL 2:
Business Demographics••

Number of businesses and employment
Employment (by gender), income (by gender)

Accommodation• Number and location of accommodation businesses, number of beds, number ofbusinesses offering accessible facilities, occupancy rates.
Community and Visitor Perceptions• Local community perceptions, visitor perceptions

Priority 4. Strengthen Social Inclusion

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

24

Priority 4. Strengthen Social Inclusion
The role of tourism to empower the wellbeing of communities in the Pacific isformally recognised by several agreements and strategies. The Small Island
Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway
reinforces the need to ensure local communities gain optimal benefits fromtourism, and enhances employment for women, youth, and people withdisabilities, and establishes tourism support initiatives based on community
participation. There is also a focus on gender equality and supporting
opportunities for women and young people in the tourism sector and isincluded in the AL -ULA Framework for Inclusive Community Development
Through Tourism, developed by UNWTO.

POLICIES••

The rights and needs of everyone, irrespective of their gender, age, raceor ability, need to be fully recognised in tourism development andpromote socio-economic inclusion and safeguard the vulnerable from
exploitation. These rights and needs should be reflected in codes ofconduct for government and industry involved in the tourism sector.
Local communities’ aspirations, concerns and satisfaction with tourism are
regularly monitored, recorded and publicly reported in a timely manner.

Local community involvement in tourism development and delivery is
recognised as a mechanism to safeguard them from threats to their traditional
values, structures and wellbeing from unwanted change brought by tourism.
Community sentiment surveys are a simple way of understanding how thecommunity feels about tourism and their desire to be a host community.
Direct and indirect engagement in tourism can strengthen the capacity ofdisadvantaged communities to achieve sustainable development in all
spheres, through exposure to new ideas and gaining experience in practicalskills such as good business practice.
Opportunities may come from the supply of food, cultural handicrafts,
knowledge sharing/storytelling and guiding. Benefits can be gained byinitiatives to organise the sellers, improve quality and strengthen links toestablished businesses. Joint ventures between established private sectorbusinesses and community initiatives can prove to be a particularly successful
approach.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

25

ACTIONS
SPTO
2.1 Promote the involvement of youth, women and minority groups, andtheir representatives in the development of tourism policies anddestination development strategies.
2.2 Develop a regional approach to voluntary giving/support programs fortourism which businesses and visitors can contribute across the Pacific.
2.3 Prepare a regional guideline to support SPTO members to measurecommunity sentiment about tourism.

2.9

2.10

2.11
NATIONAL PARTNERS
2.4 Prioritise the inclusion of communities especially youth, women andminority groups, and their representatives in co-leading the processes ofconsultation and decision-making for planning, developing andmanaging tourism.
2.5 Ensure legislative and policy frameworks support the prevention ofworker exploitation, harassment, protection of children, as well asworking conditions with corresponding action/commitment by industry.
2.6 Understand community acceptance of tourism activity by capturingcommunity views as part of tourism policy and destination
development.
2.7 Identify local champions/leaders within communities to support
consultation and engagement on issues relating to tourism and to act asa voice for the community.
2.8 Reduce legal, policy and practical barriers for women and incentivise
female leadership and involvement in tourism.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

2.12
2.13

INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Develop human resource development policies and strategies that
seek to ensure equal employment, training opportunities,
occupational safety, and fair wages for staff and include specificactions to maintain local staff and facilitate their career progression.
Establish links with community groups that support vulnerable or
marginalised people within the community to develop training
pathways that can lead to employment.
Identify opportunities for women and youth and other
underrepresented segments of the community to develop tourism
enterprises with a focus on cultural and creative tourism.

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
Invest in infrastructure stimulated by tourism which benefits local
communities, directly or through support to other sectors.
Mobilise funding for capacity building designed to meet the needs ofcommunities and support their involvement in the tourism sector.

26

\In the Pacific, sustainable tourism
means joining together traditionaland formal economies, of local
experience and global expertise, ofrural and urban, of individuals and of
big business to ensure a low impact,high value tourism industry.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

27

Priority 5. Repurpose Tourism to Deliver Greater Benefit to Pacific Communities
The establishment of businesses within local communities, either as individual
small enterprises or as community-based tourism initiatives, can provide
direct and indirect benefits and potential opportunities for up-scaling. These
initiatives need to be fostered in the right business environment, which
requires:
•
•
•
•
•

feasibility assessment and realistic business planning
good access to markets and effective promotionaccess to helpful capacity building and training
access to appropriate funding, possibly through microfinance tailored totourism
regulations and standards that are achievable by small enterprises.

POLICIES•••

Tourism supports local communities and the development of enterpriseconsistent with the Destination Management Plan.
Tourism industry promotes fair-trade principles that support products andservices locally sourced and made in Pacific communities.
Businesses and visitors are provided with opportunities to contribute toand advance sustainability outcomes in the destination.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORKACTIONS
2.14

2.15

2.16

2.17

SPTO
Facilitate direct support from larger tourism
operators/accommodation providers to local communities via
community based/micro enterprises.
Support innovation and entrepreneurship through capacity building
in product development and business establishment for SMEs andcommunities.
Improve the value created by cruise tourism through thedevelopment of Sustainable Cruise Tourism Development Guidelines
for use by SPTO members.
Promote and share opportunities for the tourism industry andvisitors to contribute to sustainable tourism initiatives across the
Pacific.

28

2.18

2.19

2.20

2.21

2.22

NATIONAL PARTNERS
Review and identify tourism infrastructure priorities to support
travel to regional areas/remote areas, in particular transportation
and accommodation requirements including underutilised
infrastructure that could be repurposed for tourism use and support
local communities.
Establish and foster links between larger tourism
operators/accommodation providers and community based/microenterprises to channel direct support to local communities withparticular focus on the agriculture sectors, creative and cultural
sectors, local knowledge /guiding and eco-tourism.
Encourage and support innovation and entrepreneurship at
individual community levels through community consultation andcapacity building.
Partner with the cruise industry to ensure local businesses havemore direct access to the cruise market to disperse the economic
benefits.
Support the establishment of businesses either as individual small
enterprises or as community-based tourism initiatives and focus on
capacity building, training, linking aligned businesses and facilitationof market access to provide goods and services throughout the value
chain. Capacity building should include business planning, effective
promotion, funding support, regulations and standards forsustainable tourism.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

2.23

2.24

2.25

2.26
2.27

INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Support the design and delivery of locally made products to meet theneeds of visitors including support for access to markets and fairtrade.
Develop and market tailored products and packages specifically forthe cruise sector that support local communities and promote howpassengers can support sustainable practices and community
benefits.
Develop purchasing policies that support locally sourced and madegoods and services.

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
Invest in infrastructure stimulated by tourism which benefits local
communities, directly or through support to other sectors.
Target support through capacity building programs or financial
assistance mechanisms which are designed to meet the needs of local
communities and support their involvement in the tourism sector.

29

GOAL 3
Visible and Valued Cultures
Our Pacific cultures are vibrant, visible and valued as coreelements of our tourism offering and the benefits of
tourism support the prosperity of our people.
OUTCOMES:
1.

2.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

National legislation, strategies and policies relating to tourism amplify
the value of culture and creative industries and their importance to local
livelihoods.
Cultural heritage, arts and languages are protected and benefitting fromtourism and respected as an integral component of economic,
environmental, social and spiritual wellbeing.
Cultural and creative industries are valued and promoted as key pillars of
the Pacific’s tourism offering.
Women and young people are engaged in the cultural and creative
industries to preserve traditional and cultural knowledge.
Tourism supports and promotes authentic, fair and ethical trade.
Stories about our culture and our people are a central pillar of tourism
marketing.
The diversity and quality of tourism products and experiences areenhanced by cultural and creative tourism.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR GOAL 3:
Businesses involved in cultural activities•

Number, employment and revenue

Visitors (international and domestic)• Cultural activities, cultural expenditure

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

30

Priority 6. Protect and Promote Our Cultures and Enable Prosperous Cultural andCreative Industries
Cultural immersion has become a principal motivation for travel, with tourists
seeking to engage with new cultures. Cultural tourism includes visiting
heritage sites and experiencing various forms of living culture, including music,
arts, gastronomy, handicrafts, and local traditions. Intangible cultural heritageis embodied in stories, practices, expressions, knowledge, and skills, as well as
in associated objects and cultural spaces, that communities and individuals
recognise as part of their cultural heritage.3
The development and promotion of cultural tourism can serve as a viable way
to derive socio-economic benefits, while respecting the socio-culturalauthenticity of the host community. With the right intervention and support
it can bring benefits by raising awareness and generating income, thereby
helping to safeguard both tangible and intangible heritage. Investment in theprotection and promotion of culture is a critical component of sustainable
tourism in the Pacific as it underpins the region’s offering and is an integral
part of the visitor experience.

POLICIES
•
•

•
•
•
•

Each country should have a legislative and policy framework to protect
and promote its tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Tourism plans and actions should involve tourism stakeholders and local
communities and include the generation and use of tourism income tosupport cultural preservation, protection and promotion and local
livelihoods.
National accreditation schemes should ensure the protection of culturaland creative industries and their intellectual property rights and support
the promotion of locally produced goods.
Each country will provide guidelines for appropriate visitor behaviour tosupport cultural values developed in consultation with local communities.
Culturally appropriate storytelling and interpretation information should
be provided at natural and cultural sites and developed in collaboration
with local host communities.
Each destination will have a framework that protects the intellectual
property rights of communities and creative enterprises.

3 “ UNWTO Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage (2012)

31
PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORKACTIONS
SPTO
3.1 Support the coordination of actions contained in the Regional Culture
Strategy that are relevant and promote awareness and dialogue on therole of cultural and creative industries in sustainable tourism
development.
3.2 Develop a Cultural and Creative Tourism Framework Agreement
between SPTO and the Pacific Council of Arts and Culture to protect andpromote the Pacific’s creative industries and build understanding about
the cultural and creative industries and their role in supporting tourism.
3.3 Strengthen links between the SPTO members, CROP, UNESCO and its
national focal points to support cultural tourism in the Pacific.
3.4 Share best practices, guidelines and standards on heritage protection
and preservation, storytelling and interpretation.

3.5
3.6
3.7
•
•
•
•
3.8

3.9
3.10
3.11

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORKNATIONAL PARTNERS
Ensure legislative and policy frameworks provide adequate protectionof tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Strengthen the importance of protection and promotion of cultural
heritage in policies and plans relating to tourism.
Engage in capacity building for SMEs and communities to build
understanding about:protecting and promoting culture and the importance of authenticity
promoting the involvement of local communities in storytelling,
cultural interpretation and events
protecting cultural heritage sites and the importance of involving local
communities in their management.
opportunities for cultural tourism product development.
Adopt and promote national accreditation schemes to ensure theprotection of cultural and creative industries and intellectual property
rights.
Support the promotion of locally crafted goods through official
outlets and licenced retailers.
Promote opportunities for young people to engage in the cultural andcreative industries to preserve traditional and cultural knowledge.
Support destination management plans for cultural heritage sites andfacilitate using income (entrance fees) for preservation anddevelopment of the sites.

32

3.12
3.13
3.14
3.15

3.16
3.17

INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Ensure operational compliance with measures to protect, preserveand promote cultural heritage and creative industries.
Involve local art/craft, artists and cultural producers in product andservice delivery.
Ensure copyright and intellectual property rights are observed andnecessary permissions are obtained.
Ensure legislative compliance with the use of cultural artefacts.

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
Invest in capacity building programs or financial assistance to support
cultural tourism growth and the protection of cultural integrity.
Mobilise funding to strengthen linkages between the creative andcultural tourism sector with the tourism value chain (quality, quantity
and reliability of supply).

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

We must have the mindset to prioritisesustainability in everything we do.
The tourism industry will recover but we needto incorporate and adapt to change. We need toget back to the basic teachings/learnings...
The values of life... everything starts withoneself... respect, integrity, commitment,
responsibility, etc and share this with ourchildren, students, communities and all
stakeholders.

33

GOAL 4

Healthy Islands and Oceans
Tourism accelerates climate action, protects ourbiodiversity and supports resilience.
OUTCOMES:
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.

Climate and disaster resilience is embedded in the planning,development and operation of tourism.
The industry is supporting and enabling the Pacific’s transition to a low
emissions economy.
Visitors and the industry are contributing to protecting and restoring
the Pacific’s natural environment.
Visitors have greater awareness of the vulnerability of the Pacific’s
biodiversity and the importance of following best practice guidelines toprotect it.
Stories about the protection of our islands, people and history are at
the heart of Pacific tourism.
Tourism enterprises embed sustainability practices in day-to-day
operations.
The sustainability of tourism is measured and monitored.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR GOAL 4:
Environmental Flows - Industry• Electricity use, water use, solid waste generation and GHG emissions
Land and Marine Condition• Number and extent of protected areas
Business Demographics• Number of businesses participating in biodiversity protection programs• Number of businesses certified in sustainable tourism practices• Number of visitors participating in nature tourism and biodiversity protection
activities

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

34

Priority 7. Protect Our Islands, Coastal and Ocean Ecosystems
Climate change is the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security andwellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific. The ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus
requires the protection of all, without priority. A decline in ocean/marine habitat
health and species abundance directly affects communities, food security andlivelihood options for many in the region. Strengthened education and behaviourchange efforts towards the protection of the environment by and for the tourism
industry is required.
The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent reinforces the prioritisation ofocean and climate change considerations in all regional and national policies andplans, both public and private.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognises tourism as an important
issue for biodiversity, as a positive force for conservation but also as a source ofvarious negative impacts if not effectively managed and routinely monitored.
Tourism can support these initiatives through sustainable use, conservation andmanagement of biodiversity in the following ways:••••

promoting the economic value of biodiversity conservation
promoting conservation by raising awareness among the local communityand visitors
generating additional funds for conservation from developing tourism
products that support the protection and conservation of biodiversity
building capacity of employees in the tourism sector to act as champions forbiodiversity conservation and environmental protection in their enterpriseand community.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORKPOLICIES
•

•

•

•
•
•
•

The value and importance of the protection and conservation of biodiversity
to tourism should be recognised by tourism policies and strategies and theyshould contain specific actions relating to the tourism industry’s role incontributing to their conservation and sustainable use.
Planning and development control tools such as Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environment Assessments should be adopted
to ensure that the environmental effects of major projects and development
proposals are fully investigated, understood and taken into account before
decisions are made on whether they should proceed.
Tourism businesses should be supported to promote and undertake
biodiversity management and conservation actions and the tourism sector
must prioritise and contribute to biodiversity conservation and regeneration
efforts.
Blue carbon protection and restoration initiatives for climate mitigation andadaptation have the potential to support sustainable tourism and should be
included in destination planning.
Destination planning (Priority 2) should include measures to strengthen
natural disaster response and risk reduction strategies for tourism businesses.
The tourism sector should be encouraged to act as champions for biodiversity
conservation and environmental protection in their enterprise andcommunity.
The establishment and management of marine and terrestrial conservation
areas is critical to the biodiversity protection and tourism should be manages
sustainably in these areas.

35

ACTIONS
4.1

4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5

4.6

4.7
4.8

SPTO
Support implementation of regional strategies to strengthen the link
between biodiversity conservation and disaster management and riskplanning.
Advocate for investment for blue carbon protection and restoration
initiatives for climate mitigation and adaptation.
Coordinate carbon offset projects that enhance the biodiversity
conservation priorities of each nation and that support tourism.
Include biodiversity conservation as a key outcome in destination
planning guidelines (refer Priority 2).
Promote the use of Environmental Impact Assessment: Guidelines for
Coastal Tourism Development in Pacific Island Countries and Strategic
Environmental Assessments in tourism planning.
Support capacity building for NTOs to improve their contribution to
the management of biodiversity conservation, the generation and useof tourism income to support conservation and managing tourism
activities in island and ocean environments.
Develop region wide tour operator guidelines for island and ocean
environments that can be adapted by each country.
Provide guidelines for visitors to undertake responsible behaviour inecologically important areas.

NATIONAL PARTNERS
4.9

4.10
4.11
4.12

4.13

4.14
4.15
4.16

Strengthen actions that support biodiversity conservation in tourism
policy, destination plans and strategy/master plans and include fiscal
incentives where possible.
Strengthen the policy and planning approach to tourism in integrated
coastal zones and marine protected areas.
Ensure ecologically important areas have management plans that
address tourism activities and involve local stakeholders.
Review and improve capacity and skills for planning and managing
tourism for biodiversity outcomes and ensure all tourism
development and operations minimise their impact on biodiversity
values.
Develop a licensing program for tourism operators using sensitive andecologically important areas with income generated from theprogram to return to conservation activities.
Enable industry operators to support effective monitoring,
management and conservation of sites.
Provide guidelines for visitors to undertake responsible behaviour inecologically important areas.
Build capacity within the tourism sector to promote the importance of
biodiversity and act as champions for biodiversity conservation andenvironmental protection in their enterprise and community.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK36INDUSTRY PARTNERS
4.17 Support and contribute to biodiversity conservation in protectedareas and areas of high biodiversity value.
4.18 Adhere to guidelines for the management and promotion of visits andactivities in terrestrial and marine areas to minimise adverse impacts
and maximise visitor fulfilment.
4.19 Raise awareness and provide opportunities for visitors to be involved
in, and to support local biodiversity conservation and environmental
management initiatives.

4.20
4.21
4.22
4.23

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
Mobilise investment for blue carbon protection and restoration
initiatives for climate mitigation and adaptation.
Support natural disaster response and risk reduction strategies fortourism.
Support carbon offset projects that enhance the biodiversity
conservation priorities of each nation and that support tourism.
Support the establishment and management of conservation areas
through capacity building and strengthening of stakeholder networks.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

37

Priority 8. Build resilience to Climate Change and Transition to a Low Emission, Resource
Efficient Sector
Climate Change
Climate change presents the single greatest threat to the livelihood, security andwellbeing of the Pacific and its peoples, as declared by Forum Leaders in the
Kainaki II Declaration and Boe Declaration.
The Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP) and the PacificResilience Partnership (PRP) is an integrated approach to address climate change
adaptation and mitigation, and disaster risk management. The Pacific Resilience
Facility (PRF) provides communities with access to finance to ensure that existing
and/or new community-level projects consider and prepare for the increasing
threats of climate induced and other natural hazard disaster risks. The PacificClimate Change Centre (PCCC) is a centre of excellence for climate change actionin the region with a focus on bringing together partnerships to realise PacificCountries’ and Territories’ priority climate change responses and to build capacity
within the Blue Pacific region.

Low Carbon, Resource Efficiency
Tourism contributes to greenhouse gas emissions through waste generation,
fossil fuels used in a range of activities including accommodation and thetransport sector. The development of low emission infrastructure to support
tourism investment is critical for the region, and appropriate mitigation andadaptation measures to respond to climatic events will be crucial to sustain thisindustry. Carbon emissions by the aviation industry is a critical issue for the Pacificand airlines servicing the region will need to be encouraged to ensure theirenvironmental policies allow for carbon offset programmes that support climatechange mitigation programmes in the Pacific.
Waste management and pollution control remains one of the most pressing
environmental issues facing the Pacific region. As the region continues to rely
increasingly less on locally sourced food products and rapidly acquires increasing
quantities of consumer goods, the quantities of waste, ranging from plastic
packaging through to used motor vehicles, is rapidly escalating across the region.
Cleaner Pacific 2025: Pacific Regional Waste and Pollution Management Strategy
2016–20254 is a comprehensive long-term strategy for integrated sustainablewaste management and pollution prevention and control in the Pacific region
until 2025. The most effective control measures remain prevention and avoiding
waste generation.
Countries can use a range of policy tools to shift the behaviour and consumption
and production patterns of the tourism sector into a more sustainable direction.
This includes tools to phase out undesirable products and behaviours, and tools
to expand the market for more sustainable products or to provide incentives formore sustainable behaviour. To integrate sustainable consumption patterns into
tourism policies, it is crucial that tourism policies encompass are range of
instruments to make sustainable consumption and production actionable.

4 Cleaner Pacific 2025: Pacific Regional Waste and Pollution Management Strategy 2016–2025, SPREP, 2016.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK38

POLICIES
•

•

•

•

All tourism activity must comply with sound sustainability principles andstandards in the way it is developed and operated. This applies to building
location, design, use of materials, use of energy and water, waste
management and sourcing of supplies.
To manage tourism’s contribution and adaptation to climate change,
governments need to set a helpful regulatory context, facilitating andinspiring better decision-making, creating market demandthrough sustainable public procurement, and supporting research andinnovation.
The tourism sector is encouraged to commit to reducing and continuously
improving its use of energy, water and other non-renewable and emissions
generating resources used to transport and deliver services and experiences
to visitors throughout the entire tourism value chain according to the context
of their destination.
The tourism sector is encouraged to reducing the volume of plastics, food andother forms of solid waste and sewerage waste generated in delivering
tourism services and experiences.

ACTIONS
4.24

4.25

4.26

4.27
4.28

SPTO
Support the implementation of regional strategies associated withresource management and emissions reduction and adoption of Pacificsustainable tourism standards to improve resource efficiency. This
includes strengthening and expanding the Pacific Tourism Waste Action
Initiative to become the overarching framework for the tourism industry
to support the implementation of the Cleaner Pacific 2025 Strategy.
Provide technical capacity building in climate change in relation totourism planning, development and operations and sustainableproduction and consumption.
Share best practices/guidelines in coastal protection, low carbon
development, renewable energy and energy efficiency, water supply andmanagement and addressing impacts of climate change and tourism
development in general.
Provide information and facilitate access to green financing for climate
adaptation and carbon emissions reduction.
Leverage partnerships with other organisations and partners forrenewable energy support and low or zero emissions technology.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

39

4.29
4.30

4.31
4.32
4.33
4.34
4.35
4.36

4.37

4.38

NATIONAL PARTNERSWork on the adoption of measures such as the establishment ofcarbon neutral transport systems.
Encourage behavioural changes at a business level to support the useof clean energy (through fiscal policy incentives) such as solar power,
wind energy and biofuels in tourism activities.
Support capacity building in recycling, waste separation andrepurposing, particularly for the accommodation sector.
Strengthen coverage of climate change in the country’s tourism policy
and destination development strategy.
Develop and implement policies and actions in climate change
mitigation and adaptation.
Support the implementation of Energy Management Plans in hotels.
Develop visitor education programs to foster sustainable behaviour
and environmental stewardship.
The need to support the tourism industry to reduce consumption andproduction of resources is identified in the relevant destination andindividual site and resource management strategies and action plans(refer Priority 2).
Provide industry with guidelines for efficient resource use, financial
incentives to invest in clean technologies, sustainability
certification/accreditation programs, industry awards and preferential
marketing incentives to encourage and support industry to transition
to more sustainable operations.
Foster collaboration between stakeholders in the value chain toadvance towards a circular economy for plastics and food supply.

4.39

4.40
4.41

4.42

4.43
4.44

INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Actively promote commitment and actions towards efficient use ofresources, transition to renewable energy and carbon reduction andwaste elimination and management initiatives (particularly forplastics and food waste) and sustainable procurement practices.
Encourage visitors to be conservative in their use of natural resources
and implement strategies to support them to do so.
Review supply chain and identify opportunities to incorporate more
locally grown or produced items in product, service and experiencedelivery.
Undertake training and awareness programs, access resources and be
involved in knowledge sharing and other practical initiatives designed
to educate and support tourism enterprises to reduce energy andwater use and to tackle plastic pollution, food waste and otherregionally significant waste management challenges.
Participate in sustainability certification programs.
Collaborate with other industry members to improve capacity topurchase green technologies (e.g. group buying).

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
4.45 Foster sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives by financing green
technology and clean energy investments such as solar power, windenergy and biofuels in tourism activities.
4.46 Mobilise funding for green investments and to support the industry totransition to more sustainable operating practices.
4.47 Mobile financing to stimulate low-emissions technologies and climate
resilient development.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

40

Sustainability must no longer be aniche part of tourism but must be the
new norm for every part of our sector.
UNWTO, 2020

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

41

\Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Framework
The purpose of the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Framework (MELF) isto provide a consistent approach to the monitoring and evaluation of the
Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework, so that sufficient data andinformation is captured to review the progress of the SPTO and its partners
and to inform decision making and ensure learning leads to the Framework’s
improvement.

Performance Indicators

The MELF provides advice and a suggested plan for how routine monitoringand periodic evaluation and learning should be carried out for the Framework.
It identifies the evidence that will be generated to enable:

The PTSS provides an overarching framework for the development andmanagement of tourism statistics in the Pacific to aid planning, governanceand decision-making for sustainable tourism. It includes an agreed set of core
indicators on sustainable tourism for countries to produce on a regular basis
which will support the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework, nationaland regional strategic plans and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.

•
•
•
•
•

accountability to SPTO, and its partners
program performance and management decision-making for SPTO and its
partners
learning and continuous improvement to ensure effective program
deliverystronger understanding of good sustainable tourism practice across the
Pacific
communications to promote the value of sustainable tourism efforts.

The MELF covers the initial five years of the Framework. It will be regularly
reviewed and updated to reflect changes as the Framework adapts and the
SPTO and its members learn how to best monitor and evaluate the transition
toward sustainable tourism in the Pacific.

The performance indicators for the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy
Framework are informed by the UNWTO’s Measuring the Sustainability ofTourism Framework (SF-MST) and the Pacific Tourism Statistics Strategy(PTSS). The diagram on the following page presents an overview of theframework for measuring sustainable tourism.5

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Monitoring is a continuing function that aims primarily to provide the SPTO
and its partners with early indications of progress, or lack thereof, in theachievement of results relating to specific policies and actions contained in the
Framework. Evaluation is a selective exercise that attempts to assess progresssystematically and objectively towards and the achievement of an outcome.
Learning involves reflecting on the lessons learned from the implementationof policies and actions. Lessons learned can reveal “good practices” thatsuggest how and why different policies and actions work in different situations
and provides valuable information that needs to be documented.

5 Measuring Sustainable Tourism and the Statistical Framework (SF-MST), UNWTO

42
PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORKThe suggested performance indicators for the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy
Framework are included in the Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism diagram.
They are based on how progress might be best measured for each goal based on
the availability of existing data sources and an analysis of available resources for
SPTO members.
The indicators are intended to be unambiguous so that different countries canmeasure it and get similarly reliable results.

Annual Review
Implementation of the MELF will require an annual regional synthesis ofnational reports by the SPTO and reporting to the Annual Tourism Ministers’
Forum (Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit). The SPTO team will
prepare the analysis for the event by:••••analysing regional evidence of progress against the performance indicators
to identify trends and possible areas of risk
identifying issues that would benefit discussion on program improvement;
feed into the key themes and messages for the SPTO reporting
sharing learning across the SPTO members and partners on sustainable
tourism actions to strengthening collaboration and partnerships
coordinating discussions with development partners to demonstrate thatinvesting in sustainable tourism initiatives in the Pacific bears results.

Mid-Term Evaluation – 2025
It is recommended that the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework be
subject to a participative mid-term review in 2025 coordinated by SPTO, withthe active involvement of Pacific island countries and other stakeholders. The
main purpose of the mid-term review is to verify and evaluate the relevance ofFramework’s policies and recommended actions to advance sustainable tourism
in the Pacific. The mid-term review shall also identify necessary corrective
actions and strategic recommendations for the second half of the strategy
period (2026–2030).

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43

Sustainable Tourism Themes, Indicators and Data Sources6

GOAL 1PROSPEROUS ECONOMIESGOAL 2
THRIVING AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIESSUSTAINABLE TOURISM INDICATORS
Visitor numbers

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INDICATORSBusiness Demographics for Tourism

•
•
•
•
•
•

International
Domestic
Air/cruise
Purpose of visit
Length of stay
Population (tourism density and intensity)

Sources•

Passenger cards and Airline/ Cruise Ship Manifests (Customs/
Immigration)
IVS and DVS (NTO)
Demographic Data (NSO)••
Visitor expenditure••

International
Domestic

Sources•

IVS and DVS (NTO)• Foreign exchange data (Central Bank)
Income•••OutputValue added
Contribution to GDP

Sources•••No. of businesses
Employment

Sources• Business Register (NSO or Taxation Ministry)
Accommodation Industry

•
•
•
•
•
•

No. of businesses
No. of beds
No. of beds with accessible infrastructure
Occupancy rate
Employment (by gender)
Income (by gender)

Sources•

Business Register (NSO or Taxation Ministry)• Survey of Accommodation Businesses (NSO)
Community and visitor perceptions of tourism••

Local community perceptions
Visitor perceptions

Sources•

Community Surveys (NSO)• IVS and DVS (NTO)
Tourism income distribution•

National Accounts, TSA (NSO)

Local and International broken down by gender, age, ethnicity, averagesalary, education level

Sources••Household Income and Expenditure Surveys, Population Census (NSO)
National Accounts (NSO)

6 Pacific Tourism Statistics Strategy, SPTO 2021

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

44

GOAL 3
VISIBLE AND VALUED CULTURESGOAL 4HEALTHY ISLANDS AND OCEANSSUSTAINABLE TOURISM INDICATORSBusinesses involved in cultural activities

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INDICATORS
Environmental Flows for accommodation businesses•••

No. of businesses
Employment
Revenue

Source••••Electricity use
Water use
Solid waste generation
GHG emissions

Visitors (international and domestic)

Sources• Billing data from Utility Businesses• SEEA Accounts (NSO)
Land and Marine Condition••

Source•Business Register (NSO or Taxation Ministry)

Cultural activities
Cultural expenditure

Sources• IVS and DVS (NTO)
Community perceptions of tourism•

Local community perceptions

Source•Community Surveys (NSO)••

No. and extent of protected areas
SPREP Pacific Islands Protected Area Portal

Disaster events•

No. of disaster events

Sources• Environment Surveys (Environment/ Climate Change Ministry)
Visitors (international and domestic)

•
•
•
•

Nature tourism
Marine protection
Business Demographics
Businesses certified in sustainable tourism practices

Sources••

IVS and DVS (NTO)
Business Register (NSO or Taxation Ministry)

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

45

Implementation and Action Plan
The Framework calls on regional agencies, national governments, industry,businesses, civil society organisations, communities and development
partners to co-ordinate and collaborate to advance the actions identified in
the Action Plan.
The successful implementation of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy
Framework will require significant financial and technical resources at bothnational and regional levels, mobilisation of which will require collaboration
between Pacific island countries and development partners.
The proposed Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit is expected toenhance resource mobilisation efforts by providing a forum that facilitates
dialogue on sustainable needs and priorities; promotes networking between
Pacific island countries, development partners, civil society organisations,
CROP and the private sector; and disseminates information on new andexisting funding opportunities.

Some of the suggested resource mobilisation strategies for the Framework
include:•mainstreaming sustainable tourism considerations into other priority
development areas, such as economic development and investment inclimate change, waste management, culture and biodiversity
conservation. Not only will this open up new funding avenues, it will also
improve cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder engagement•

formal adoption of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework by
the SPTO and at the national level and incorporation of relevant policies
and strategic actions and activities into cross sector strategies, andnational and corporate work programmes and budgets•

leveraging available national funding allocations for tourism management.
The capacity of national governments to implement incremental
improvements to tourism planning and development through national
funding allocations should not be underestimated. Every effort should bemade to leverage such national project funding allocations to secure
additional external co-financing to expand the scale and extent of planned
projects.

A summary table of actions identified for the SPTO is presented in this section.
A summary table of actions for the SPTO’s members, industry anddevelopment partners is presented in Appendix 2. These tables can be used byeach organisation as a guide to advance the implementation of the PacificSustainable Tourism Policy Framework within the context of their own
priorities and resources.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

46

SPTO
GOALS

ACTIONSGOAL 1PROSPEROUS
ECONOMIESPRIORITY 1. Establish Enabling Legislation and Policies
1.1 Co-ordinate the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit to develop the Pacific Tourism
Sustainability Commitment - a statement of commitment to implement the PacificSustainable Tourism Policy Framework.
1.2 Develop a Pacific Region Sustainable Tourism Standard in partnership with the UNWTO, GSTC
and other partners. Develop the standard to become a Pacific Sustainable Tourism Quality
Assurance scheme/brand for visitors.
1.3 Develop training and technical assistance to support the improvement of existing national
standards, development of certification programs and co-ordinate the training of national
assessors in countries where standards and accreditation programs exist.
1.4 Strengthen partnerships with agencies and networks such as the United Nations World
Tourism Organisation, UNESCO, Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Pacific Asia Travel
Association, University of the South Pacific and other training providers to support capacity
building and information exchange in destination planning, crisis planning and business
continuity, digital skills enhancement; customer service and sustainability standards
1.5 Work with partners to implement the Pacific Digital Strategy and facilitate increased digital
infrastructure for tourism businesses and visitors across the Pacific.
1.6

1.7

2021 - 2024 2024 - 2027 2027 - 2030

Collate and report on regional progress toward advancing sustainable tourism across theregion using environmental, economic, social, cultural indicators recommended by the PacificTourism Statistics Strategy. Report on progress of the implementation of the PacificSustainable Tourism Policy Framework in regional and SDG reporting.
Work with CROP agencies to amplify the importance of sustainable tourism in regional
economic, cultural and environmental strategies and programs.

PRIORITY 2. Create Unique Destinations Supported by Quality Experiences
1.24 Undertake regional destination differentiation research to support destination positioning
and destination development strategies for member countries.
1.25 Develop Sustainable Destination Planning and Management Guidelines for the Pacific

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

47

GOALSACTIONS

2021 - 2024 2024 - 2027 2027 - 2030

1.26 Embed responsible tourism as a key pillar of the region’s tourism promotion and leverage theregional brand of Ours is Yours and present a positive futures narrative to position the Pacificas a sustainable tourism destination.
1.27 Develop and promote a Pacific Pledge for Responsible Travel for visitors that can be adopted
by member countries.
PRIORITY 3. Mobilise Sustainable Tourism Investment
1.44 Support the transition to a green, low-emission and climate-resilient tourism economy, andoffer guidance to NTOs and industry.
1.45 Review the extent of investment in tourism across the region to identify sustainable tourism
investment gaps and facilitate access to green financing instruments for tourism projects.
PRIORITY 4. Strengthen Social Inclusion
2.1 Promote the involvement of youth, women and minority groups, and their representatives inthe development of tourism policies and destination development strategies.

GOAL 2
THRIVING AND
INCLUSIVECOMMUNITIES

2.2

Develop a regional approach to voluntary giving/support programs for tourism whichbusinesses and visitors can contribute across the Pacific.

2.3

Prepare a regional guideline to support SPTO members to measure community sentiment
about tourism.

PRIORITY 5. Repurpose Tourism to Deliver Greater Benefit to Pacific Communities
2.15 Facilitate direct support from larger tourism operators/accommodation providers to local
communities via community based/micro enterprises
2.16 Support innovation and entrepreneurship through capacity building in product development
and business establishment for SMEs and communities.
2.17 Improve the value created by cruise tourism through the development of Sustainable Cruise
Tourism Development Guidelines for use by SPTO members.

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48

GOALSGOAL 3
VISIBLE AND
VALUED CULTURESACTIONS

2021 - 2024 2024 - 2027 2027 - 2030

PRIORITY 6. Protect and Promote Our Cultures and Enable Prosperous Cultural and Creative Industries
3.1 Support the coordination of actions contained in the Regional Cultural Strategy that are
relevant and promote awareness and dialogue on the role of cultural and creative industries
in sustainable tourism development.
3.2 Develop a Cultural and Creative Tourism Framework Agreement between SPTO and thePacific Council of Arts and Culture to protect and promote the Pacific’s creative industries andbuild understanding about the cultural and creative industries and their role in supporting
tourism.
3.3 Strengthen links between the SPTO members, CROP, UNESCO and its national focal points to
support cultural tourism in the Pacific.
3.4

Share best practices, guidelines and standards on heritage protection and preservation,
storytelling and interpretation.

PRIORITY 7. Protect Our Islands, Coastal and Ocean Ecosystems
4.1 Support implementation of regional strategies to strengthen the link between biodiversity
conservation and disaster management and risk planning.

GOAL 4HEALTHY ISLANDSAND OCEANS

4.2

Advocate for investment for blue carbon protection and restoration initiatives for climate
mitigation and adaptation.

4.3

Coordinate carbon offset projects that enhance the biodiversity conservation priorities ofeach nation and that support tourism.

4.4

Include biodiversity conservation as a key outcome in destination planning guidelines (refer
Priority 2).

4.5

Promote the use of Environmental Impact Assessment: Guidelines for Coastal Tourism
Development in Pacific Island Countries and Territories and Strategic Environmental
Assessments in tourism planning.
Support capacity building for NTOs to improve their contribution to the management of
biodiversity conservation, the generation and use of tourism income to support conservationand managing tourism activities in island and ocean environments.

4.6

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49

GOALSACTIONS
4.7

2021 - 2024 2024 - 2027 2027 - 2030

Provide guidelines for visitors to undertake responsible behaviour in ecologically important
areas

PRIORITY 8. Build resilience to Climate Change and Transition to a Low Emission, Resource Efficient Sector
4.24 Support the implementation of regional strategies associated with resource management andemissions reduction and adoption of Pacific sustainable tourism standards to improve
resource efficiency. This includes strengthening and expanding the Pacific Tourism Waste
Action Initiative to become the overarching framework for the tourism industry to support
the implementation of the Cleaner Pacific 2025 Strategy.
4.25 Provide technical capacity building in climate change in relation to tourism planning,development and operations and sustainable production and consumption.
4.26 Share best practices/guidelines in coastal protection, low carbon development, renewableenergy and energy efficiency, water supply and management and addressing impacts ofclimate change and tourism development in general.
4.27 Provide information and facilitate access to green financing for climate adaptation and carbon
emissions reduction.
4.28 Leverage partnerships with other organisations and partners for renewable energy support
and low or zero emissions technology.

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK50APPENDIX 1 – Supporting Resources
Sustainable Tourism, Sustainable Development and Environmental
Management Portals
UNWTO One Planet Sustainable Tourism Network
Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Centre of Excellence (COE) for the Sustainable Development of Small Island
Developing States (SIDS)
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
Global Sustainable Tourism Council
Destination Criteria
Hotel and Accommodation Criteria
Tour Operator Criteria
Training
Accredited Certifiers
COVID Recovery
SPTO Covid 19 Recovery Strategy and NTO Needs Assessment Report
UNWTO One Planet Vision For A Responsible Recovery Of The Tourism Sector
UNWTO Inclusive Recovery Guide – Sociocultural Impacts of Covid-19, Issue I:
Persons with Disabilities
UNWTO Inclusive Recovery Guide – Sociocultural Impacts of Covid-19, Issue 2:
Cultural Tourism
UNWTO Inclusive Recovery Guide – Sociocultural Impacts of Covid-19, Issue 3:
Women in tourism
United Nations Policy Brief: COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism

Governance
SPTO Strategic Plan
Pacific Roadmap for Sustainable Development
UNWTO Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals – Journey to 2030
Stakeholder Engagement and the 2030 Agenda: A Practical Guide
UNWTO Tourism For Development Volume I: Key Areas for Action
UNWTO Tourism For Development Volume II: Good Practices
UNWTO Making Tourism More Sustainable, A Guide for Policymakers
UNWTO Guidelines for Institutional Strengthening of Destination Management
Organizations
UNWTO Practical guide to the management of tourist destinations (document
requires purchasing)
UNWTO Practical Guidelines for Integrated Quality Management in Tourism
Destinations – Concepts, Implementation and Tools for Destination
Management Organizations
UNWTO Baseline Report on the Integration of Sustainable Consumption and
Production Patterns into Tourism Policies
Pacific Tourism Statistics Report
Measuring Sustainable Tourism and the statistical framework (SF-MST)
Destination Marketing, Product Development
UNWTO Sustainable Cruise Tourism Development Strategies – Tackling
Challenges in Itinerary Design in South-East Asia
UNWTO Handbook on Destination Branding (document requires purchasing)
UNWTO Handbook on Tourism Product Development (document requires
purchasing)
UNWTO Handbook on E-Marketing for Tourism Destinations (document
requires purchasing)
UNWTO’s Destination management organization recommendations andprinciples

PACIFIC 2030 | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY FRAMEWORK

51

Accessible Tourism

Accessible Tourism

UNWTO Accessible Tourism for All: An Opportunity within Our Reach
UNWTO Manual on Accessible Tourism for All – Public-Private Partnerships andGood Practices
UNWTO Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Best
Practices – Module I: Accessible Tourism – Definition and Context
UNWTO Recommendations on Accessible Information in Tourism
Environmental Management

Waste and Pollution Management Strategy
Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter
SPTO PTWAISIDS Waste Management Outlook
GlobalGlobal Tourism Plastics Initiative
Regulating Plastics in Pacific Island Countries: a guide for policymakers andlegislative drafters
Recommendations for the Tourism Sector to Continue Taking Action on Plastic
Pollution During COVID Recovery
Energy Efficiency
UNWTO Key Energy Efficiency Technologies Database for SME Hotels
UNWTO Hotel Energy Solutions

UNWTO Baseline Report on the Integration of Sustainable Consumption and
Production Patterns into Tourism Policies
Climate Change
Paris Agreement
Kainaki II Declaration (regional climate change leaders declaration)
UNESCO: World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate
UNWTO Climate Change and Tourism – Responding to Global Challenges
SPREP Pacific Environment and Climate Change Outlook
SPREP Mainstreaming Climate Change into development in the Pacific
SPREP The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Program
Biodiversity
Regional
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
Pacific Invasive Learning Network
GlobalIUCN Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning andManagement
UNWTO Tourism and Biodiversity – Achieving Common Goals Towards
Sustainability
UNWTO Practical Guide for the Development of Biodiversity-Based Tourism
Products
UNWTO Tourism Congestion Management at Natural and Cultural Sites
Waste Management
Regional
Cleaner Pacific 2025: Pacific Regional

Social Inclusion
UNWTO AlUla Framework for Inclusive Community Development throughTourism
UNWTO Recommendations on Tourism and Rural Development – A Guide to
Making Tourism an Effective Tool for Rural Development
UNWTO Manual on Tourism and Poverty Alleviation: Practical Steps for
Destinations
UNWTO Tourism and Poverty Alleviation: Recommendations for Action
CultureRegional
Pacific Regional Culture Strategy
Cultural Etiquette in the Pacific
GlobalUNWTO Recommendations on Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism
UNWTO Guidelines for the Development of Gastronomy Tourism
UNWTO Tourism at World Heritage Cultural Sites
UNWTO Communicating Heritage – A Handbook for the Tourism Sector

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APPENDIX 2 – Action Plans for SPTO Partners

NATIONAL PARTNERSGOALSGOAL 1PROSPEROUS
ECONOMIESACTIONS

2021 - 2024 2024 - 2027 2027 - 2030

PRIORITY 1. Establish Enabling Legislation and Policies
1.8 Strengthen inter-ministerial structures to coordinate the tourism-related investment actions ofdifferent policy areas, such as innovation, transport and environment, as well as different levels ofgovernment.
1.9 Review and strengthen national tourism legislation, policy and plans, to create a supportive
framework for the advancement of sustainable tourism.
1.10 Establish clear roles and responsibilities of government, industry, community and development
partners in supporting sustainable tourism initiatives.
1.11 Assess the tourism industry human resource development requirements in consultation withindustry and community and develop strategies to address gaps.
1.12 Support capacity building to facilitate uptake of digital technologies and strengthen capacity toparticipate in new and emerging digital platforms.
1.13 Support accessibility and affordability of digital technologies, tools and solutions for tourism SMEs,
including initial investment and ongoing costs.
1.14 Monitor progress towards sustainable tourism outcomes consistent with the Pacific Tourism
Statistics Strategy and the specified indicators in tourism policies and plans.
PRIORITY 2. Create Unique Destinations Supported by Quality Experiences
1.28 Review, establish and strengthen destination positioning and marketing to reflect the county’s
unique point of difference involving industry, community and other stakeholders.
1.29 Undertake destination development planning to identify the experiences, products and services thatwill deliver on the destination positioning, in partnership with industry, community and otherstakeholders. Use market segmentation, ongoing monitoring of competitor practices, industry
performance, and market trends to inform destination development and management.
1.30 Establish or strengthen a minimum quality/sustainable tourism standard andmonitoring/certification system, for accommodation and tour operators.
1.31 Develop systems to monitor and publicly report visitor satisfaction with the quality andsustainability of the destination experience and respond to feedback.
1.32 Build awareness of responsible tourism through marketing and promotion and implementation of
the Pacific Pledge for Responsible Travel.

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1.13 Focus on cross-sector value chain development bringing together communities and SMEs to expand
the diversity and quality of tourism experiences, products and services e.g., local food producers,
creative and cultural representatives.
1.34 Provide capacity building support to industry on product development, pricing and marketing
particularly for high value experiences that showcase the natural and cultural heritage of thedestinations.
1.35 Consider the needs of people with access requirements (e.g., physical/mobility, hearing, vision or
cognitive), and adopt universal design principles to ensure all people can enjoy a range ofexperiences while holidaying within the destination.
1.36 Deliver capacity building opportunities for industry to support the use of digital technology to
improve business competitiveness.
PRIORITY 3. Mobilise Sustainable Tourism Investment
1.46 Review priorities for tourism investment and actively target green investors.
1.47 Provide an enabling environment for sustainable tourism investment by coordinating actions acrossdifferent policy areas, including tourism, environment and innovation, and across different levels ofgovernment.
1.48 Strengthen the capacity of public agents dealing with tourism sustainability, and other stakeholders,to ensure that investment and financing contribute to sustainable tourism development by, forexample, integrating biodiversity concerns into tourism policies.
1.49 Where feasible facilitate access to finance through small business grants and subsidised loans to
incentivise businesses.
1.50 Promote public private partnerships to finance sustainable infrastructure investments andrenovations.
1.51 Devise risk-sharing mechanisms to foster private sector participation in the financing of sustainable
tourism development.
1.52 Build understanding with industry about the business case for adopting sustainable practices andimprove local awareness and knowledge of the connection between competitiveness andsustainability.
1.53 Provide capacity building programs for industry for sustainable business practices that include
human resources, health and safety, financial management, operating ethically, sustainable supply
chains, product diversification, marketing, crisis and risk planning.

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PRIORITY 4. Strengthen Social Inclusion
2.6 Prioritise the inclusion of communities especially youth, women and minority groups, and theirrepresentatives in co-leading the processes of consultation and decision-making for planning,developing and managing tourism.
2.7 Ensure legislative and policy frameworks support the prevention of worker exploitation,harassment, protection of children, as well as working conditions with corresponding
action/commitment by industry.
2.8 Understand community acceptance of tourism activity by capturing community views as part of
tourism policy and destination development.
2.9 Identify local champions/leaders within communities to support consultation and engagement on
issues relating to tourism and to act as a voice for the community.
2.10 Reduce legal, policy and practical barriers for women and incentivise female leadership andinvolvement in tourism.

GOAL 2
THRIVING AND
INCLUSIVECOMMUNITIESPRIORITY 5. Repurpose Tourism to Deliver Greater Benefit to Pacific Communities
2.18 Review and identify tourism infrastructure priorities to support travel to regional areas/remoteareas, in particular transportation and accommodation requirements including underutilised
infrastructure that could be repurposed for tourism use and support local communities.
2.19 Establish and foster links between larger tourism operators/accommodation providers andcommunity based/micro enterprises to channel direct support to local communities with particularfocus on the agriculture sectors, creative and cultural sectors, local knowledge /guiding and ecotourism.
2.20 Encourage and support innovation and entrepreneurship at individual community levels throughcommunity consultation and capacity building.
2.21 Partner with the cruise industry to support sustainable cruise tourism ensuring local businesses havemore direct access to the cruise market and disperse the economic benefits.
2.22 Support the establishment of businesses either as individual small enterprises or as communitybased tourism initiatives and focus on capacity building, training, linking aligned businesses andfacilitation of market access to provide goods and services throughout the value chain. Capacity
building should include business planning, effective promotion, funding support, regulations andstandards for sustainable tourism.

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GOALSGOAL 3
VISIBLE AND
VALUEDCULTURESGOAL 4HEALTHYISLANDS AND
OCEANSACTIONS

2021 - 2024 2024 - 2027 2027 - 2030

PRIORITY 6. Protect and Promote Our Cultures and Enable Prosperous Cultural and Creative Industries
2.5 Ensure legislative and policy frameworks provide adequate protection of tangible and intangible
cultural heritage.
3.6 Strengthen the importance of protection and promotion of cultural heritage in policies and plans
relating to tourism.
3.7 Engage in capacity building for SMEs and communities to build understanding about:• Protecting and promoting culture and the importance of authenticity• Promoting the involvement of local communities in storytelling, cultural interpretation and events• Protecting cultural heritage sites and the importance of involving local communities in their
management
5
3.8 Adopt and promote national accreditation schemes to ensure the protection of cultural and creative
industries and intellectual property rights.
3.9 Support the promotion of locally crafted goods through official outlets and licenced retailers.
3.10 Promote opportunities for young people to engage in the cultural and creative industries topreserve traditional and cultural knowledge.
3.11 Support destination management plans for cultural heritage sites and facilitate using income(entrance fees) for preservation and development of the sites.
PRIORITY 7. Protect Our Islands, Coastal and Ocean Ecosystems
4.9 Strengthen actions that support biodiversity conservation in tourism policy, destination plans andstrategy/master plans and include fiscal incentives where possible.
4.10 Strengthen the policy and planning approach to tourism in integrated coastal zones and marine
protected areas.
4.11 Ensure ecologically important areas have management plans that address tourism activities andinvolve local stakeholders.
4.12 Review and improve capacity and skills for planning and managing tourism for biodiversity outcomesand ensure all tourism development and operations minimise their impact on biodiversity values.
4.13 Develop a licensing program for tourism operators using sensitive and ecologically important areas
with income generated from the program to return to conservation activities.
4.14 Enable industry operators to support effective monitoring, management and conservation of sites.
4.15 Provide guidelines for visitors to undertake responsible behaviour in ecologically important areas.

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4.16 Build capacity within the tourism sector to promote the importance of biodiversity and act aschampions for biodiversity conservation and environmental protection in their enterprise andcommunity.
PRIORITY 8. Build resilience to Climate Change and Transition to a Low Emission, Resource Efficient Sector
4.29 Work on the adoption of measures such as the establishment of carbon neutral transport systems.
4.30 Encourage behavioural changes at a business level to support the use of clean energy (through fiscal
policy incentives) such as solar power, wind energy and biofuels in tourism activities.
4.31 Support capacity building in recycling, waste separation and repurposing, particularly for theaccommodation sector.
4.32 Strengthen coverage of climate change the country’s tourism policy and destination development
strategy.
4.33 Support the implementation of Energy Management Plans in hotels.
4.34 Develop visitor education programs exist to foster sustainable behaviour and environmental
stewardship.
4.35 The need to support the tourism industry to reduce consumption and production of resources is
identified in the relevant destination and individual site and resource management strategies andaction plans (refer Priority 2).
4.36 Foster collaboration between stakeholders in the value chain to advance towards a circular
economy for plastics and food supply.

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INDUSTRY PARTNERSGOALSGOAL 1PROSPEROUS
ECONOMIESACTIONS

2021 - 2024 2024 - 2027 2027 - 2030

PRIORITY 1. Establish Enabling Legislation and Policies
1.15
Contribute to the regional and national forums on economic, social, and environmental
sustainability issues as they relate to tourism.
1.16
Develop human resource development policies and strategies that seek to ensure equal
employment, training opportunities, occupational safety, and fair wages for staff and include
specific actions to maintain local staff and facilitate their career progression.
1.17
Align business practice to national tourism standards and certification programs.
1.18
Embed digital technology in all elements of business practice where relevant.
1.19
Implement visitor awareness and engagement programs to support sustainable tourism.
1.20
Support and monitor progress towards national sustainable tourism outcomes.
PRIORITY 2. Create Unique Destinations Supported by Quality Experiences
1.37
Contribute to the development and implementation of destination positioning.
1.38
Align experiences, products, services with destination positioning and ensure marketing andpromotion is consistent with the destination brand.
1.39
Consider ways to diversify products, services provide authentic experiences for the high value
traveller and to support domestic activities and inter-island visitors.
1.40
Promote the importance of responsible travel to visitors by supplying local products and services,
providing information on responsible travel behaviour and adopting sustainable tourism businesspractices.
1.41
Where possible adopt universal design principles to ensure all people can enjoy a range ofexperiences while holidaying within the destination.
1.42
Align business activities with national quality and sustainable tourism standards.
PRIORITY 3. Mobilise Sustainable Tourism Investment
1.54
Invest in sustainable tourism infrastructure and partner with other operators to generate thenecessary volume of finance for sustainable tourism projects.
1.55
Cluster firms in a local community, to generate the necessary volume of finance for sustainable
tourism projects.
1.56
Bring tourism-related businesses together to borrow collectively to alleviate the issue offragmentation and low volumes that increase the cost of credit, along with raising awareness andproviding training in entrepreneurial management to maximise the potential of loans.

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GOALSGOAL 2
THRIVING AND
INCLUSIVECOMMUNITIESGOAL 3
VISIBLE AND
VALUEDCULTURESGOAL 4HEALTHYISLANDS AND
OCEANSACTIONS

2021 - 2024 2024 - 2027 2027 - 2030

PRIORITY 4. Strengthen Social Inclusion
2.9
Develop human resource development policies and strategies that seek to ensure equal
employment, training opportunities, occupational safety, and fair wages for staff and include
specific actions to maintain local staff and facilitate their career progression.
2.10
Establish links with community groups that support vulnerable or marginalised people within thecommunity to develop training pathways that can lead to employment.
2.11
Identify opportunities for women and youth and other underrepresented segments of thecommunity to develop tourism enterprises with a focus on cultural and creative tourism.
PRIORITY 5. Repurpose Tourism to Deliver Greater Benefit to Pacific Communities
2.23
Support the design and delivery of locally made products to meet the needs of visitors including
support for access to markets and fair trade.
2.24
Develop and market tailored products and packages specifically for the cruise sector that support
local communities and promote how passengers can support sustainable practices andcommunity benefits.
2.25
Develop purchasing policies that support locally owned, grown, sourced and made goods andservices.
PRIORITY 6. Protect and Promote Our Cultures and Enable Prosperous Cultural and Creative Industries
3.12
Ensure operational compliance with measures to protect, preserve and promote cultural
heritage and creative industries.
3.13
Involve local art/ craft, artists and cultural producers in product and service delivery.
3.14
Ensure copyright and intellectual property rights are observed and necessary permissions are
obtained.
3.15
Ensure legislative compliance with the use of cultural artefacts.
PRIORITY 7. Protect Our Islands, Coastal and Ocean Ecosystems
4.17
Support and contribute to biodiversity conservation in protected areas and areas of highbiodiversity value.
4.18
Adhere to guidelines for the management and promotion of visits and activities in terrestrial andmarine areas to minimise adverse impacts and maximise visitor fulfilment.
4.19
Raise awareness and provide opportunities for visitors to be involved in, and to support local
biodiversity conservation and environmental management initiatives.

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PRIORITY 8. Build resilience to Climate Change and Transition to a Low Emission, Resource Efficient Sector
4.39
Promote commitment and actions towards efficient use of resources, transition to renewableenergy and carbon reduction and waste elimination and management initiatives (particularly forplastics and food waste) and sustainable procurement practices.
4.40
Encourage visitors to be conservative in their use of natural resources and implement strategies
to support them to do so.
4.41
Review supply chain and identify opportunities to incorporate more locally grown or produced
items in product, service and experience delivery.
4.42
Undertake training and awareness programs, access resources and be involved in knowledge
sharing and other practical initiatives designed to educate and support tourism enterprises toreduce energy and water use and to tackle plastic pollution, food waste and other regionallysignificant waste management challenges.
4.43
Participate in sustainability certification programs.
4.44
Collaborate with other industry members to improve capacity to purchase green technologies(e.g. group buying).

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DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSGOALSGOAL 1PROSPEROUS
ECONOMIESGOAL 2
THRIVING AND
INCLUSIVECOMMUNITIESACTIONS

2021 - 2024 2024 - 2027 2027 - 2030

PRIORITY 1. Establish Enabling Legislation and Policies
1.21
Integrate sustainable tourism objectives into development strategies and funding agreements.
1.22
Contribute to the regional and national forums on economic, social, and environmental
sustainability issues as they relate to tourism.
1.23
Align financial support and incentives to program and activities that encourage sustainable tourism
outcomes.
PRIORITY 2. Create Unique Destinations Supported by Quality Experiences
1.43
Support investment and facilitate funding for:•capacity building to support destination planning and better business practice.
•
the development of destination development strategies.
•
market research to support destination development and marketing.
•the development of high-quality, accessible, experiences, products and services.
PRIORITY 3. Mobilise Sustainable Tourism Investment
1.57
Mobilise finances to support transition towards low carbon, climate resilient investments andencourage more responsible business practices in tourism through access to finance forsustainable tourism investment projects.
1.58
Facilitate investment in tourism infrastructure that has a tangible social, cultural andenvironmental outcome in terms of both planning and investment and support cross cutting
participation and capacity development.
1.59
Identify and share knowledge about green investment opportunities and the effectiveness ofinvestment in managing growing tourism demand in a sustainable and inclusive manner.
PRIORITY 4. Strengthen Social Inclusion
2.12
Invest in infrastructure stimulated by tourism which benefits local communities, directly or
through support to other sectors.
2.13
Mobilise funding for capacity building designed to meet the needs of communities and support
their involvement in the tourism sector.
PRIORITY 5. Repurpose Tourism to Deliver Greater Benefit to Pacific Communities
2.26
Invest in infrastructure stimulated by tourism which benefits local communities, directly or
through support to other sectors.

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2.27

GOAL 3
VISIBLE AND
VALUEDCULTURESGOAL 4HEALTHYISLANDS AND
OCEANS

Target support through capacity building programs or financial assistance mechanisms which aredesigned to meet the needs of local communities and support their involvement in the tourism
sector.
PRIORITY 6. Protect and Promote Our Cultures and Enable Prosperous Cultural and Creative Industries
3.16
Invest in capacity building programs and provide financial assistance to support cultural tourism
growth and the protection of cultural integrity.
3.17
Mobilise funding to strengthen linkages between the creative and cultural tourism sector with thetourism value chain (quality, quantity and reliability of supply).
PRIORITY 7. Protect Our Islands, Coastal and Ocean Ecosystems
4.20
Mobilise investment for blue carbon protection and restoration initiatives for climate mitigation
and adaptation.
4.21
Support natural disaster response and risk reduction strategies for tourism.
4.22
Support carbon offset projects that enhance the biodiversity conservation priorities of each nationand that support tourism.
4.23
Support the management of conservation areas through capacity building and strengthening ofstakeholder networks.
PRIORITY 8. Build resilience to Climate Change and Transition to a Low Emission, Resource Efficient Sector
4.45
Foster sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives by financing green technology and clean energy
investments such as solar power, wind energy and biofuels in tourism activities.
4.46
Mobilise funding for green investments and to support the industry to transition to moresustainable operating practices.
4.47
Mobilise financing to stimulate low emissions technologies and climate resilient infrastructure.

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