Sustainable Tourism

We are working to support an inclusive, private sector-led tourism sector in the Pacific.

Tourism plays a crucial role in the Pacific's economic development and job creation. The Pacific island countries are popular tourist destinations, boasting vibrant cultural heritages, stunning natural landscapes, and unique biodiversity.

Yet, in several countries, the tourism sector faces challenges such as unclear regulations, difficulties accessing finance to expand or grow, insufficient planning and policies, a lack of reliable data, and minimal digital innovation.

That is why PSDI is working to ensure that the economic contribution of tourism throughout the region is maximized, and that the sector is sustainable and inclusive.

To achieve this, PSDI works with both the most advanced tourism economies in the Pacific, such as Fiji, and the emerging tourism markets—such as Kiribati and the Marshall Islands, where even a modest growth in tourism can generate significant positive economic outcomes.

PSDI’s sustainable tourism work area focuses on:

  • Increasing evidence-based tourism planning by working with national tourism organizations and ministries of tourism to improve tourism data collection and analysis to support the development of policies that enhance sustainability and inclusivity.
  • Enhancing crisis management and resilience by supporting national tourism organizations and ministries of tourism to improve policy and planning to foster a stronger and more resilient sector.
  • Enabling private sector-led tourism through work to ensure that the policy and regulatory environments in Pacific developing member countries support innovation and growth in the tourism sector.
  • Supporting a gender-inclusive tourism sector by working with national tourism organizations and ministries of tourism to assess and maximize the role of women in tourism.
Sustainable Tourism at a glance

Resilient reopening framework

developed by PSDI to support the safe resumption of tourism after COVID-19, to guide national policies.

Strategic tourism planning

documents developed in 8 Pacific countries including tourism policies, marketing strategies and strategic tourism development plans.

17 tourism publications

developed to form an evidence base for the sustainable tourism work area (which was added to PSDI in Phase IV).
Latest News
23 September 2024
Supporting a safe and resilient resumption of tourism in the Pacific

PSDI has worked to support the Pacific developing member countries to safely reopen for tourism after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and build the resiliency of the tourism sector.

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9 April 2024
PSDI supports TAK’s tourism brand consultations in Kiribati

PSDI’s tourism team was in Kiribati in March 2024 to support the Tourism Authority of Kiribati with a first round of consultations to support a tourism target market analysis and the development of a new tourism destination brand strategy for the country.

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30 January 2024
Tourism Authority of Kiribati launches the PSDI-supported Sustainable Tourism Policy and 2024-2026 Strategic Plan

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) on 13 January 2024 launched the destination's first ever Sustainable Tourism Policy, alongside it’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, developed with PSDI support.

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8 December 2023
Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) of PNG holds validation workshop for PSDI-supported National Tourism Policy

More than 50 participants from the public and private sector, academia, and civil society took part in a 2-day workshop, held at the University of Papua New Guinea on 5-6 December, to validate the draft of the PSDI-supported National Tourism Policy.

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Key Publications
PSDI Country Overviews 2024
PSDI Country Overviews 2024
These fact sheets provide an overview of PSDI activities in each country to 2024.

PSDI Annual Report FY2022
PSDI Annual Report FY2022
This report gives an overview of PSDI activities from July 2021 to June 2022.
PSDI Tourism Infographic Brochure
PSDI Tourism Infographic Brochure
This infographic brochure illustrates PSDI’s work and key achievements in the Pacific tourism sector.
Reopening Borders to Tourism in Pacific Island Countries: Key Lessons and Guidance
Reopening Borders to Tourism in Pacific Island Countries: Ke...
PSDI has launched a tourism reopening framework for Pacific island countries, providing critical policy guidance as international tourists return in the post-COVID-19 era.
Cook Islands | Pacific Tourism Sector Snapshot
Cook Islands | Pacific Tourism Sector Snapshot
This tourism sector snapshot for the Cook Islands provides an overview of the tourism sector before the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies new and existing challenges and opportunities for the tourism industry.
Federated States of Micronesia | Pacific Tourism Sector Snapshot
Federated States of Micronesia | Pacific Tourism Sector Snap...
This tourism sector snapshot for the Federated States of Micronesia provides an overview of the tourism sector before the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies new and existing challenges and opportunities for the tourism industry.