The third Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit kicked off today in Vava’u.
Her Royal Highness Princess Sālote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita, Patron for Tourism in Tonga, delivered the welcoming address at the summit’s opening session at the Puataukanave Hotel, taking place under the theme, “Midway to 2030: Realigning, Reaffirming, and Recommitting to Sustainable Tourism.”
Image: Ministry of Tourism
Princess Pilolevu welcomed delegates to the “serene haven” of Vava’u, renowned for its humpback whales and pristine marine environments. She highlighted the importance of aligning tourism development with environmental stewardship and community well-being.
The two-day forum marks a key junction for the region’s tourism industry, arriving at the halfway point of the 2021-2030 Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework. According to a Ministry of Tourism statement, the gathering highlights both the challenges and opportunities ahead for Pacific Islands in transforming tourism into a force for economic resilience and environmental protection.
Previously, the summit series has shown the shift from volume-based tourism to value-driven, sustainable models, with frameworks such as the Pacific Tourism Organisation’s standards gaining traction.
As the summit progresses, tourism ministers, industry leaders and community voices from across the region are expected to review progress since 2021, renew commitments to regional cooperation, and explore how Tonga and its Pacific neighbours can harness tourism for community benefit and environmental stewardship. to review progress since 2021 and recalibrate priorities to ensure tourism contributes positively to the region’s cultural and ecological resilience.
The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is hosting the summit in partnership with its 20 member countries. SPTO CEO Christopher Cocker highlighted the event as a key moment to strengthen regional collaboration and reaffirm the Pacific’s commitment to sustainable tourism practices.
