Indigenous Communities, Tourism and Biodiversity Workshop Series: New Information and Web-based Technologies Workshop II: Islands Pacific Region Chantal Robichaud Dr John S. Hull Carolyn Nodder Nathaniel Dobbin Professor Simon Milne

3 – 5 November 2008, Samoa

Activity: Presentation of participant websites (home page only)

We invite you to introduce us to the home page of your chosen website and tell us…

What is the purpose of your website? In other words, what are you trying to achieve by having a website?

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A Diverse Region…..

• Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia • Diversity of species 260 endemic species endangered in New Caledonia, 3000 fish species, 600 coral • How small is small? - microstates • Physical landmass and resources • Proximity to markets and transport links

…with much in common

• Limited resources, relative isolation • MIRAB structures: migration, remittances, aid & bureaucracy • Globalization • Sun, sand & sea • ‘Untouched’ environments and culture • Tourism

Tourism in the Pacific – challenges and issues

• The Pacific countries stretch across a large geographical region located in distant countries and are difficult to reach and the product is fragmented - much of it is small scale. Target consumers are • Poor

infrastructure

in many countries • Land tenure is an issue • The

small size of the regional tourism

industry in relation to world tourism markets • Lack of skilled personnel • Air transport links that are infrequent and expensive

Tourism in the Pacific – challenges and issues (continued)

• Limited awareness at senior government level and in the wider community of the potential economic benefits

of tourism

• Lack of

funding

for tourism related activities • Low awareness in the trade of Pacific destinations other than Fiji, Tahiti and Cook Islands • Vulnerability to natural disasters • Small

size of the private sector

, primarily due to high costs of operation, low volumes of visitors and lack of domestic capital for investment 30/04/2020 12

• CRS/GDS limited representation for the Pacific and for SME • Growing internet access and exposure – content becomes the problem • Reaching the elusive tourist – IT vital • Increasing economic yield (broaden the experience) • Sustaining the environment and community Ideally ….

•

The host community experience should be as good as, if not better, than the visitor experience

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Biosecurity

• • • How successful are we at spreading the message?

Tourism distribution channels – how are they assisting? Do you think the travellers generally support programmes to keep pests and diseases out?

• Research in NZ showed that - MAF are perceived as doing a reasonably good job but...

• • • Agents want additional support Websites need to be pushed MAF needs to work on agent relationships 30/04/2020 14

Group discussion

• There are other issues facing indigenous communities • There are other issues related to biodiversity protection and conservation, and tourism In your group, please discuss the areas that you feel are of critical concern and feedback to the meeting.

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Question: How do visitors find out about you?

• Answer: The Internet the Internet