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Tourism is a resilient industry that can recover quickly after an epidemic or natural disaster. This was emphasized by Christopher Coke, CEO of the Pacific Tourism Organization, in his keynote speech on “Regional Sustainable Tourism Policy and the Future”. He presented the current status of sustainable tourism and participated in a panel discussion on community tourism.
The Pacific Islands Tourism Organization was invited and funded by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) to participate in Pacific Islands Week in Tokyo, Japan. The week-long seminars explored a variety of topics including safety, sustainable tourism, preservation of traditional culture, disaster management, public health, and the impacts of rising sea levels.
Mr. Kok presented the South African Tourism Organization’s post-pandemic efforts and future recovery plans. He stressed the importance of responsible recovery and prioritizing people and the planet.
“For SPTO, any regional work we do must have domestic solutions. Global and regional collaboration is also vital. An integrated approach is necessary. SPTO and our members are committed to measuring sustainability by looking at economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts,” he said.
Regional leadership, digital transformation and sustainable financing from donors and development partners are critical to the SPTO. Mr Cocker’s presence at the SPF event highlighted the need for a formal partnership between the SPF and SPTO to replicate community tourism projects.
During his participation in Pacific Islands Week (SPF), Mr. Coker hosted a session on economic development/route expansion, discussing issues such as accessibility and partnerships. The partnership provides an opportunity for the Pacific Islands Tourism Board and Palau to work with Japan Airlines (JAL) on a Pacific sustainability initiative as part of JAL’s corporate responsibility activities.
Mr. Kok also discussed SPTO membership with Palau Tourism Minister Ngirabelas Tmetuchl and Palau Visitors Authority (PVA) Managing Director Kadoi Ruluked. The discussions were fruitful and are ongoing.
SPF Pacific Week activities focused on Palau, highlighting effective community tourism programs and potential collaboration between SPTO, Palau, and SPF. SPTO member countries can learn from Palau and emulate these efforts.
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) was established in 1986 to promote international exchange and cooperation and strengthen ties between Japan and other countries. As an independent private foundation, SPF promotes various programs and projects to respond to natural disasters and social crises and seek new models of social governance. SPF’s Pacific Island Project was launched in 1989 to build mutual trust and promote peace and prosperity between Japan and the Pacific Island countries through targeted research and localized projects.
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