Vanuatu Tourism Office’s (VTO) annual two-day industry tradeshow, Tok Tok, is set to showcase more than 57 local sellers – including 15 new operators – in the South Pacific Island’s capital of Port Vila, from 29 to 31 August, 2019.Buyers from across Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, Singapore, China, Europe and the United States will have the opportunity to build one-on-one relationships with key industry contacts, with this year’s Tok Tok attracting more local operators than ever before. Representatives from across a range of accommodation offerings including resorts, budget and adventure-focused lodgings; fresh diving, cultural and eco touring options; as well as a range of local boutique offerings, will all be on hand.
Further, Tok Tok 2019 will also welcome a whole host of exciting new products including Vanuatu’s newest property, The Palm House on Efate; a thrilling Blue Cave tour on Tanna, for all the adventure-seekers; Little Paradise Bungalows on Vanuatu’s largest island, Espiritu Santo; and Island Experience Vanuatu on Malakula, who offer a true taste of Ni-Vanuatu life.
Vanuatu Tourism Office Chief Executive Officer, Adela Issachar Aru, said Vanuatu’s annual Tok Tok has always played an integral role in VTO Australia’s trade calendar, though with the growth of participation by local operators and small boutique product, it has never been more influential.
“We’re very excited to announce that this year’s Tok Tok will see the highest number, and widest variety, of local operators taking part, allowing VTO to truly showcase the diversity of our action-packed holiday destination – and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Australian market. With regular non-stop flights servicing Sydney, Brisbane and now Melbourne, the opportunity to attract Australian travellers to our South Pacific archipelago has never been stronger. Now in its 17th year, Tok Tok will not only provide a platform for wholesalers to strengthen existing connections and build new ones, but also provide the chance for sellers to promote their offering to a whole new captive audience,” said Mrs Issachar Aru.
“According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, visitors from Australia to Vanuatu were up 6.8 percent in 2018 compared to 2017, and in the first five months of 2019 we have seen an additional 13 percent increase. With the new non-stop flight from Melbourne, we are anticipating this figure will continue to strengthen over the coming year/s, as Melburnians’ awareness of Vanuatu’s uncharted wilderness, ancient traditions and pristine oceans grow.”
Tok Tok will officially launch on the morning of Thursday 29 August with B2B meetings and a buyers’ function in the evening, followed by three exciting famil options kicking-off on the Friday. The event will round-out with a spectacular gala dinner on the Saturday evening (31 August) at this year’s host venue, Warwick Le Lagon.
The specially crafted famils will provide the opportunity for wholesalers to experience Vanuatu’s natural beauty and rugged landscapes firsthand, including witnessing the local women of Espiritu Santo take to the sea in traditional island attire to express themselves through Water Music; enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime fireworks display spilling from one of the world’s most accessible active volcanoes, Mt Yasur, on Tanna island; or discover the main island of Efate’s hidden treasures, beyond the capital of Port Vila.
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