Thursday 18th July 2013 Issue22
Inside: VTO Out n’ About News from the office Industry News Website Newcomer Media & Trade Events & Entertainment Publisher: VTO. Host : Issuu.com. Design: VTO. Cover ©Kirklandphotos.com. Photo credits: Guillaume Laisse, Len Garae, Holiday Inn Resort, Salt Water Player, Round Island Relay, Fest Napuan. © All rights reserved. This electronic magazine may not be reproduced in any form, in whole, or part, without the consent of the publisher. The VTO can not be held liable for any information contained in the advertisements. COPYRIGHT: VANUATU TOURISM OFFICE. Vanuatu Tourism Office, PO Box 209, Port Vila, Vanuatu. Ph (678) 22515 / 22685. Email tourism@vanuatu.travel . Website www.vanuatu.travel
VTO Staff Out & About - What have we been up to lately? Last week, VTO Management and staff have been seen at the Cruise and Investment workshop at Coconut Palms, staff have enjoyed an extremely cruizy and comfortable start of the week in the new Vanuatu Limo, the VTO was also at the beautiful Mystery island on a project day tour, which ended at the Star wharf with Tourism school students and staff of Department of Tourism, including being present at the opening of the Local Food festival Monday this week.
New from the office
Click ‘LIKE’ to keep up to date with Tok Tok Vanuatu
Tok Tok Vanuatu celebrates “Vanuatu cultures”
Free changes on Vanuatu.travel this month
The Vanuatu Tourism Office is getting busy preparing for the 12th Tok Tok Vanuatu event which will take place at the Holiday Inn private island from 27th to 30th August 2013. Tok Tok is Vanuatu’s biggest tourism and trade expo held every year, steered by the VTO, with assistance from the tourism industry. The General Manager of the VTO, Ms Linda Kalpoi remarks, “Toktok Vanuatu is VTO’s signature event… Read more.
Every year, the Vanuatu Tourism Office allocates a period for complimentary webpage changes which happens in July from 1st to 31st as well as December. VTO’s website policy and charges has also recently been reviewed and amended. For example, products can now have 6 photos on their webpage and not 5. Click here to view and download the latest VTO Website Policy & Charges 2013 – 2014.
Local Industry Queiros Trek – Espiritu Santo
Queiros Trek is the latest new product to officially launch on July 20th, 2013 in Espiritu Santo. According to Glenn Russell, head of trek team from Gov departments’, Public Service and industry operators , the tour will depart Luganville on Saturday morning from 8am, on a historical journey to commemorate Pedro De Queiros’es arrival some 400 years ago, and named the island “The great south land of the Holy Spirit”. The trek is a 3 to 4 hrs hike fom Matantas to Thayon beach near Port Olry. Transportation will pick up again from Thayon beach and head back to town after refreshment. For more information contact Glenn Russell on 5660290. An update on the opening will be featured in upcoming issues.
Local Industry
Vanuatu.travel newcomer
Cruise Ship Schedule & Changes
Salt Water Players
This month Pacific Pearl is being by Carnival Spirit on 11th July (last week) and Sunday 21st July. Due to this changes, Carnival Spirit will be visiting Wala Island on the 23rd of July instead of Port Vila. Click here for the latest Cruise Ship schedule for the month of July and onwards.
Salt Water Players is the first boardriders school in Vanuatu! We offers various packages: hour lessons or tours, half day and full day sessions, or a several days course. Our activities: • Stand up paddle board trip: the unforgettable tour‌. Read more.
Media & trade If you would like to advertise in the next Islandtime issue, contact: Fran McDermott, Ph 09 8284212 Email fmcdermott@xtra.co.nz
Trade & Media
Living the Island Life in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: A weird — some would say suicidal — tradition in a South Pacific nation
Are you looking for the perfect escape that’s close to home and affordable? Look no further than Vanuatu. If I had just two words to describe Vanuatu, it would definitely be sweet escape. Formerly New Hebrides, an English and French colony, the Republic of Vanuatu is a nation of islands located in the South Pacific Ocean.
By Amanda Jones: On the island of Pentecost in the South Pacific chain of Vanuatu, there is a legend that birthed a strange -- some may say insane -- tradition.
By Claire-Maree Charters on 04 July 2013
Amid its pristine waters and stunning beaches, Vanuatu has culture, adventure and some truly unique experiences to offer. See the most accessible active volcano in the world on the island of Tanna. Dive down to the shipwreck of the S.S. President Coolidge, a luxury liner used in WW11 to carry troops, now off the coast of Espiritu Santo. Hang out with locals in Port Vila, who will tease you about your French and teach you a few tricks. Port Vila Since most flights to Vanuatu arrive here, Port Vila is recognised as the centre of tourism. Located on the island of Efate, it’s the nation’s capital city. There’s plenty to do so it’s worth starting your trip to Vanuatu with a few days in the city. Aussie Expedia travellers usually spend around six days in Vanuatu, and almost all of that time is at hotels around the port. Most restaurants in Port Vila come with scenic views and French menus – you’ll find plenty of creperies, patisseries, cafes, chocolate shops and fine dining restaurants along the main streets of town. Beyond food, there’s boundless activities that await the seasoned tourist…. Read more. The Vanuatu Tourism Office sincerely acknowledges Claire Maree Charters for the article.
The story goes that in a village several hundred years ago, a woman was fighting with her husband. She ran from him and climbed a tall tree. He ran after her and also climbed, and when she jumped off the top, he followed suit. He plummeted to his death, but she had tied a vine around her ankle and was saved, her fall broken just in time before she crashed into the earth. For three months of every year since then the village builds a tower of branches 60 to 150 feet tall and performs the Nagol Ceremony. The "land divers" (men only, from the Longwaran tribe of the island) climb up and fling themselves to the ground, liana vines tied around both ankles. Apparently this is to remind the women that the men will never again be outsmarted. The men auger into the mud beneath, often hurting and sometimes killing themselves, but in doing so exhibit extreme bravery. The VTO would like to thank Amanda Jones for the article. The story hit 25,000 "hits" on the first day which is a record. To view image gallery, click below: http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-land-divers-southpacific-20130705-photos,5,5771757.photogallery
EVENTS & festivals
EVENTS & festivals
Wilo Relay Program 2013 Friday the 19th of July 5pm Race Registration & Team Briefing at Wilco Car Park Saturday the 20th of July 4am Late Team Registration 5am Race Start for Premier Female 5:15am Race Start for Mixed 5:30am Race Start for Social Runner Number One 6am Race Start for Premier Male 8:30am Race start for Social 4pm approximate start time for Schools 7pm
Race Presentation
EVENTS & festivals FEST NAPUAN – PORT VILA, VANUATU 16TH – 20TH October 2013 Theme “Rize up with my culture / Stanap wetem kalja blong mi”
Fest'Napuan is set to return to the Pacific capital Port Vila for the 18th consecutive year: 1620th October 2013. Described by past performers One Million Dollars (New Zealand), as “a wall of thick, hot tropical air, coconut trees swaying in the breeze... Read more.