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South Pacific Tourism Conference
PRESS
RELEASE
American
Express Supports South Pacific Tourism
“We at American Express are proud to participate in the 2001 SPTO Annual Conference that is held in Vanuatu this year,” said a statement released by American Express
The statement went on to say that, “American Express and its Foundation have been active supporters of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region for the past decade. The two entities have been working closely with local national tourism bureau and government in rolling out various programs with the aim of developing and strengthening the importance of tourism in the Asia-Pacific countries. The activities we support include destination marketing programs – to promote inter-country travel in Asia; various food and shopping festivals and different restaurant awards and promotions – to attract tourists and enhance the quality of the service industry.”
“American Express is committed to Asia-Pacific and will capitalise on the opportunities and the excellent momentum across our businesses to work with our partners,” continued the statement. American Express has sponsored international events like the America’s Cup in New Zealand and the World Cup Golf in Malaysia, which drew tourists to the host country.
This time, American Express, who is a member of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), has joined Air New Zealand and Air Vanuatu as the major sponsors for the 3rd South Pacific Tourism Conference.
“We are
grateful for the support shown by American Express by being one of the major
sponsors for our conference. We
hope that this unprecedented move by an international company like American
Express, sends a message out to other large corporations who benefit from the
region, of the need for greater cooperation in the continuing development of
this growing industry,” said Mr Lisiate 'Akolo, the Chief Executive of SPTO,
the coordinating body for the conference. “The
bi-annual South Pacific Tourism Conference is the only regional conference
dedicated to tourism, and provides a forum where the members of the of tourism
industry come together to learn, network, and formulate ideas for the
development of tourism in the region,’ added Mr ‘Akolo.
The three-day conference will open September 2nd with organised activities for the delegates, and an evening to enjoy Port Vila’s gourmet cuisine. The sessions begin the next day, ending with a Welcome Reception hosted by the Vanuatu Government. The conference concludes on September 4th with a Gala Evening extravaganza, which will feature some of Vanuatu’s colourful and exciting cultural performances.
Some of the main sessions of the conference include Internet marketing approaches; how some of he South Pacific’s Heritage Bounty can contribute to the region’s economic prosperity; whale watching as a major South Pacific visitor attraction; and safeguarding your business with fraud prevention techniques.
The second day of the conference will involve more interactive discussions during the breakout sessions, with topics such as New Processes, New Choices & New Experiences for the Internet Tourist; Nature & Adventure Tourism in the Pacific – Trends, Issues, Action; and How to Design Better Tourism Projects for Donor Funding.
About
150 delegates from the 13 South Pacific Tourism Organisation’s member
countries and travel industry personalities from Micronesia, Australia, New
Zealand, North America, Europe, and Asia are expected to attend the conference.
The conference is hosted by the government of Vanuatu, and coordinated by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), a Suva-based regional organisation created to encourage cooperation in the development and promotion of tourism in the South Pacific region. SPTO’s 13 member countries are: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
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Contact: Alise Faulalo-Stunnenberg
Conference Coordinator
E-mail: conf@spto.org
Tel: (679) 304 177
Fax: (679) 307 575
7th February, 2001
The theme echoes the resounding need for the tourism industry members in the region to be aware of the frailties that exist in our environment, cultures and social structures, and that the onus is on everyone to protect these fragile and valuable assets.
Topics will range from Marketing using the Internet, E-commerce, Tourism and the Environment, and more. There will also be an opportunity for the SPTO members and participants to discuss in an open forum, concerns and issues relating to SPTO and its effectiveness in providing the needed services to its members.
The heart of the discussions will take place during the breakout sessions, which will be in smaller groups, providing the participants opportunities to network with their counterparts and the facilitators on issues that really matter to their businesses.
Participants at the conference are expected from within the region in both the public and private sectors, and tourism partners in the source markets.
Registration fee will be FJD395.00 for SPTO members, and FJD550 for non-members.
Complete details and registration form will be available in the new SPTO website that will be online in early March 2001.
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For more information please contact the Conference Coordinator on email: tcspconf@is.com.fj, fax: (679) 307 575, tel: (679) 304 177