Tourism as a river of Growth in the Pacific; A Pathway to Growth and Prosperity for Pacific Island Countries

Abstract

Tourism in the Pacific is increasing and will be a key driver of economic growth in the coming decade. Yet despite more visitors to the Pacific, tourism growth is not inevitable for all countries in the region. This brief identifies the trends driving this increase. To secure and sustainably harness the benefits of this growth, this brief recommends that Pacific island countries create an enabling environment for tourism through interventions in four areas: tourism policy, strategy, and the regulatory environment; infrastructure; human resources; and product development and marketing.