Developed and hosted by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation, the newly redesigned and updated website – The Pacific Cruise Micro-site – has been relaunched. The project was funded by the European Union, to offer a comprehensive online access to port information for American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Papua New Guinea – Photo by David Kirkland
Pacific Cruise microsite represents an important reference source and regional promotional tool that was created to up to date and authoritative information on cruise operations in the region, which was previously inaccessible to many.
SPTO Chief Executive Ilisoni Vuidreketi says “equipped with this Pacific Cruise microsite, participation in the premier trade show event such as Seatrade Cruise Global in Fort Lauderdale, is an equally essential action by the Pacific cruise tourism sector to boost targeted promotion of the region as a desirable cruise tourism destination.”
Niue – Photo by David Kirkland
The site he adds has “improved access to comprehensive and authoritative Pacific cruise and port information by global cruise lines and improved the systematic promotion of the Pacific cruise tourism sector.”
The website provides details on port and berthing anchorages, positions, depth, bottom composition, satellite reference images , pilot roses – historical wind speed & direction used for planning, official Charts – name and number displayed for each country, customs and immigration information, destination information, ports of entry with relevant satellite images.
“Yachts, Superyachts and Cruise ships distribute an enormous amount of wealth into the economies of the South Pacific.”, said Dietmar Petutschnig CEO of Good Anchorage, project consultants.
“With the help of SPTO and its member organization’s Customs and Immigration, Port and Maritime Authorities, National Tourism offices and Tourism departments we have now identified that yachting of small and medium sized vessels alone bring more revenue into a country – and specifically into outer ridges – than many of the number one commodity based export industries such as Copra. In addition it reduces urbanization and supports communities and cultural integrity for many of these Island Nations. If you add cruise ships on top of it the overall positive impact is multiplied”
