Growing Tourism

In an effort to further develop and promote the tourism industry of Vanuatu, and increase opportunities for sustainable livelihoods for the people of Vanuatu, the Vanuatu Tourism Office in conjunction with the Vanuatu Hotels and Resorts Association and the Vanuatu Tour Operators Association and a range of other tourism industry stakeholders have created a “Tourism Marketing Fund”

Becoming effective from 1st April 2008, the Tourism Marketing Fund is to be supported by contributions from member associations, including hotels, duty free stores, tour operators and the finance sector.

For example, the hotel industry will includes a Vt100 Tourism Development levy to be charged to each room night of accommodation provided to visitors to the country, commencing 1st April, 2008.

This Levy will be included in each accommodation providers contracts as an additional Vt100 per room night levy. Some accommodation providers may choose to include it as part of their net rates. The Levy will be collected by the wholesalers and paid to the resort along with normal monthly remittance.

The overall aim of the fund is to generate revenue of up to A$500,000 annually and by contributing to the Vanuatu Tourism Office budget, further enhance the promotion of Vanuatu as a desirable destination to foreign travelers. This is an important example of all private sector stakeholders in the Vanuatu tourism industry working together, with the support of visitors, to develop the industry which now occupies the largest segment of the Vanuatu economy.

Apart from stimulating the growth of inbound tourism, the Tourism Marketing Fund has the potential to stimulate improved living standards for every Ni Vanuatu in every part of the country.

The following are the CURRENCY amounts that should be used when quoting different currencies.
 
Tourism Development Levy – Currency Calculation, Per room night stayed

Vatu                                    Contracts      VT      100  
Australian Dollar               Contracts    AUD   $1.20
New Zealand Dollar           Contracts    NZD   $1.35

For more information, contact: Tony Burns, Vanuatu Hotels & Resorts Association, Tel (678) 22313, Fax (678) 23817. Email: gm@lelagonvanuatu.com.vu