July 2007

The Travel Bug - Issue 29

Vanuatu TV Stories Travel Video Award Nomination

WeShow.com has announced that two videos on Vanuatu by Vanuatu.tv have been selected among millions on the internet to be one of the ten best travel videos of the month in the USA. Click here to view the top ten videos! Vanuatu.tv is an internet based TV station dedicated to bringing Vanuatu customs, tourism and business via professionally produced television programming via the Internet. Vanuatu.tv is also a private sector member of south-pacific.travel. Visit their website www.vanuatu.tv for more information. (Source: south-pacific.travel)

The Pacific at Shanghai World Expo 2010

A delegation of Pacific representatives recently met with World Expo 2010 Organisers to discuss the participation of the Pacific Islands at the event. The Pacific Islands representatives were Peter Dawkins (ICT and Planning Manager of south-pacific.travel), Glynis Miller (Trade Commission Liaison Officer of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat) and Rohan Ellis (Trade Representative of the Pacific Islands Forum Trade Office, Beijing). The Pacific delegation proposed plans of the possibility of a joint Pacific Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 representing the Pacific Islands states with south-pacific.travel and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat as the main facilitators and coordinators. The Deputy Director of Shanghai World Expo 2010, Professor Zhou Hanmin, thanked the Pacific representatives for the inspiring and ambitious concept, however also noted that there are a number of technical issues that need to be addressed surrounding the proposed regional participation due to the governance of World Expos by BIE, the international organisation that oversees world expos. south-pacific.travel’s ICT and Planning Manager Peter Dawkins said “the Shanghai organisers assured us of their fullest support for an impressive display by the Pacific at the World Expo in 2010. At the moment we are considering a large shared space for the Pacific of around 6,000 square metres that will feature a large lagoon containing islands for each country interconnected by bridges and canoe rides. World Expo 2010 is a major promotional opportunity for the Pacific as we expect Chinese tourist arrivals to the Pacific will be gathering steam by this time”. (Source: south-pacific.travel)

Kokoda Trail Lures Aussies

The challenges of walking the war time Kokoda Track continues to lure more tourists with a record 900 tourists walking the 96 kilometre track in April. They were dominated by young Australians, many of them appreciating more the historical significance of the track in the defence of their country and now walking in the footsteps of their heroes. The beaches of Gallipoli is thousands of miles away and many Australians now find Kokoda a more rewarding experience as 400 of the trekkers attended the ANZAC Day services at the picturesque Bomana War Memorial outside Port Moresby. Another 300 attended a moving service at Isurava Memorial along the track as the first light of dawn pierced through the mist covered valleys. As at April some 1200 trekkers have walked the Kokoda Track. (Source: PNGTPA Newsletter Issue 3 – June 2007)