kabarsula ‘Vanuatu is not a sand and sea destination’: VTO CEO at first Australian Tok Tok roadshow bandar SLOT INDONESIA

Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) has taken its signature Tok Tok roadshow to Australia for the first time, hosting trade events in Brisbane and Sydney as it looks to reconnect with industry partners and showcase the destination’s next chapter. 

Speaking to Travel Weekly at the Sydney event, Vanuatu Tourism Office chief executive officer, Adela Issachar Aru, was quick to make one thing clear.

“Vanuatu is not a sand and sea destination,” she says. “It’s truly an adventure destination. It’s about what speaks to your heart. It’s about rawness, authenticity.”

“It really does show that culture is still part of who we are. We live it rather than stage it.”

The first Tok Tok roadshow since 2023 brought together 19 suppliers from across Vanuatu’s 83 islands – the largest delegation of its kind to visit Australia – to reconnect with travel advisors and showcase the South Pacific nation’s evolving tourism offering. 

Australian arrivals on the rise

The roadshow comes amid strong visitor growth, with a reported 42 per cent increase in Australian arrivals in January 2026 compared with January 2020.

According to VTO, Vanuatu welcomed over 48, 000 Australian arrivals from January to July of 2026, a year-on-year increase of 38 per cent.

“Australia is our number one tourism market – it has a market share of over 60 per cent,” Aru said. 

“And we’ve seen a strong growth in terms of our arrival numbers from the Australia market.”

Aru points to confidence in Vanuatu’s airline partners, changing traveller mindsets and continued investment in the destination’s sustainable tourism offering.

“The flights are there, they’re connected, and they’re arriving daily to Port Villa, and Espiritu Santo,” Aru says. 

In 2023, Virgin Australia launched direct flights to Port Vila from Brisbane, followed closely by Qantas and Jetstar’s Sydney to Port Vila service in 2024.

“We’re grateful that Solomon Airlines flies from Brisbane to Santo,” Aru said. “That really connects and opens up Espiritu Santo to the Australia market also.”

Shifting traveller demand

While Efate, home to Port Vila, remains a key gateway, VTO is looking to encourage more Australians to explore the wider archipelago, with plans to grow visitation to the outer islands and new accommodation and tourism developments expected over the next five years. 

Aru says VTO has seen a shift in the types of experiences Australians are seeking when travelling to Vanuatu.

“We’re starting to see more interest in adventure and people wanting to really immerse in culture,” she said. 

“They’re not only wanting to go to swim at the blue hole, or at the blue lagoon. They’re also wanting to immerse themselves and learn more of how we live here.”

Sustainability is also playing a greater role in traveller decision-making, with visitors increasingly conscious of the impact their holidays have on local communities and the environment.

“They want to give back to the communities, they’re looking for that sustainable experience and they’re cautious about where they’re travelling to,” she said.  

“It also highlights that our government’s policy about sustainable tourism underpins the changes that we want to introduce to safeguard our environment and cultures for the future of our generations.”  

Reconnecting with travel advisors

The Brisbane and Sydney events showcased 19 local operators, giving advisors the opportunity to connect directly with suppliers and discover experiences spanning the islands, from marine adventures to nature-based tourism. 

Both events featured cultural performances by Chief Edgar Hinge, highlighting the importance of living traditions and cultural connection to Vanuatu’s national identity. 

“I hope that the travel advisors and trade partners are able to see that Vanuatu is a gem. It’s that rough diamond,” Aru said.  

“It’s not a destination for the flop and drop. We do have that, but it’s much more than that. It’s deeper. It is something that speaks to your heart. And that’s the important part.” 

Tok Tok 2027 

VTO is already preparing to take Tok Tok back to Vanuatu in 2027, giving international trade partners another opportunity to connect with local operators and experience new product offerings firsthand.

“Taking Tok Tok back to Vanuatu in 2027 allows the opportunity for more operators to reconnect with our trade partners and to be able to tell the stories, showcase new product offerings and talk about changes that are happening in the industry,” Aru said. 

“When we start looking at the investment happening in the destination, it will support our airline partners, it will also support our travel partners, and so then everybody has a win-win.”