Vanuatu Tourism Office Manager of Short Haul Markets, Paul Pio, is urging everyone to please get vaccinated!
“It is an amazing opportunity to protect you and your family.”
Travel Monitor caught up with Paul Pio for this week’s Talking Travel. This is what he had to say.
What does your job involve?
I am responsible for the destination brand positioning and marketing of Vanuatu in the source markets of Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia.
How have you tackled the difficulties caused by COVID-19?
We are constantly reviewing all market updates related to consumer trends and behaviour, their needs and also travel restrictions amidst this global pandemic. It has been important for us to stay connected to the market to make the journey to recovery a little easier. We have also been working on some new experiences to target adventure seekers. We aim to broaden the appeal of Vanuatu once borders re-open. We have also been really focused on ensuring our industry partners have the most up to date market intelligence, enabling them to plan and make decisions about their business moving forward.
What do you enjoy most about your profession?
I am proud to call Vanuatu home, all my family lives here. I am very passionate about promoting Vanuatu not only as a tourism destination, but also its culture, its natural assets and most importantly, its people.
What are the biggest challenges for you in your profession (outside of COVID-19)?
Keeping up to date with market trends and needs, and ensuring we have the adequate financial support and technical resources to adapt to any “sudden” change in consumer behaviour. In a small community like Vanuatu, the tourism industry are my friends not just work colleagues and seeing the challenges they are facing is difficult. But I am confident, we will get through this together.
What do you think are the biggest challenges the industry faces?
The uncertainty around when the borders will re-open and the parameters under which international travel will operate makes it very difficult for our local tourism industry to start planning and making informed decisions on their future operations. We are working very hard with our partners at Air Vanuatu to ensure that we maintain our aviation access. This is critical for an island nation.
What do you think will be the biggest game-changer in the travel industry in the next 12 months’?
Health safety (ie. vaccination) will be a major requirement when borders re-open and international travel resumes. Our tourism industry will need to cope not only with much stricter border entry requirements but also manage internal public perception.
What destination/travel trend do you think is the next big thing?
Exploring the unknown, the untouched places is becoming a growing travel trend. Vanuatu is home to multiple hidden natural treasures, which makes it the ideal destination for any adventure seekers and experience collectors.
What are your thoughts on responsible travel and how do you try to implement this in your workplace?
By definition, Responsible Tourism is about “making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit.” This is everything Vanuatu is about; twice voted the happiest place on earth. Our geographical location, our environment and our socio-economic status have taught us resilience, perseverance and creativity towards adversity. Our destination brand “Answer The Call of Vanuatu” captures the essence of Vanuatu’s culture, its natural beauty and its people.
Who inspires you most and why?
There are a couple of people who inspire me, especially in the last three years of my career. Their leadership skills, their vision, compassion and charisma are amongst some of the qualities that have inspired me and helped shape who I am today.
What is your must-pack travel item(s)?
My phone of course 😊
Who would you invite on your next holiday if you could choose anyone and where would you go?
Probably my parents. So much has happened in the last year that has given me new perspectives and priorities. Family is everything. I’d probably take them to Japan. I would also love to ask some of my international friends to the Mount Yasur Volcano Run. We are holding the first-ever as a domestic event this year with a view of it becoming an international event next year. It will be an amazing experience and something that will be pretty unique to Vanuatu.
