Press Releases

Thank You and Farewell to a Sustainable Tourism Champion – Petero Manufolau

The Division of Sustainable Tourism acknowledges with appreciation the extensive contribution of Mr. Petero Manufolau, the outgoing Chairman of the SPTO Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Authority of Kiribati. Your...

Solomon Islands, newest member of High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, leaves mark in Nairobi

15 November 2023, Nairobi Kenya - Solomon Islands might be the newest member of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) to End Plastic Pollution but this has not stopped the Pacific nation from taking the global stage at the plastic treaty negotiations...

Kiribati recognises the value in Sustainable & Regenerative Tourism

As an emerging destination, Kiribati recognises that the future of tourism for the small island state must be sustainable. This is in line with our national vision for “tourism to be a key driver for stimulating sustainable economic development,...

Palau, as PSIDS Chair, calls for a revolution to end plastic pollution

14 November 2023, Nairobi Kenya - Twenty three million tonnes of plastic are released to the environment every year and half of it ends up in the Pacific Ocean every time. This number is expected to double by 2030 under a business-as-usual...

SPREP and SPTO place sustainable tourism development on centre stage with MOU

11 November 2023, Rarotonga, Cook Islands - The pursuit of sustainable tourism development in the Pacific region, where people and the environment take center stage, has received a tremendous boost with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding...

New Caledonia to host the Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in 2025

At the annual meeting of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation (PIRT) held in Suva, Fiji, PIRT members welcomed the announcement by the Government of New Caledonia at the recent 31st SPREP Meeting in Apia that it will host the...

TMC Subsidiary NORI Shares Preliminary Findings on Environmental Impacts of Pilot Nodule Collection System Test

Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) has begun sharing emerging data on impacts of seafloor sediment plumes one year on from its 2022 test mining campaign. Building upon earlier laboratory predictions and in-field verifications, NORI now has multiple...

SPREP and SPTO Unite for Sustainable Pacific Tourism

11 November 2023, Rarotonga, Cook Islands – The pursuit of sustainable tourism development in the Pacific region, where people and the environment take center stage, has received a tremendous boost with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding...

2023 Pacific Sustainable Tourism Summit delegates deliberate on Pacific Sustainable Tourism Standard

The recent Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit held in Tahiti, French Polynesia from 16 – 17 October saw delegates deliberating on the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Standard during a side event on 16 October. Facilitated by the Pacific...

Impact of ACP MEA 3 to safeguard environment acknowledged at High Level Ministerial Talanoa

08 September 2023, Apia Samoa - On the margins of 31st SPREP Meeting of Officials: Environment Ministers High Level Talanoa at Taumeasina Island Resort in Samoa, the ACP MEA Phase 3 project hosted a Ministerial networking lunch for Pacific...

Top Asia-Pacific education unionists advocate for increased investment in public education systems and educators, and call for gender equity, and sustainable, democratic and peaceful societies

The Education International Asia-Pacific (EIAP) Regional Committee called for a greater investment in public education and educators, more for gender equity within unions, urgent action on climate change and expressed solidarity with colleagues...

SPREP and World Bank build capacities for Environmental and Social Risk Management

07 September 2023, Apia Samoa – The pressing challenges faced by Pacific countries in managing environmental and social risks, especially in a time when climate change and other global issues are exacerbating these risks, have been spotlighted at...

Kiribati Re-affirms Commitment to Improving Regional Tourism

Home Kiribati Re-affirms Commitment to Improving Regional Tourism Kiribati affirmed its commitment to being part of the regional sustainable tourism cohesion as it signed the Pacific Leader’s Sustainable Tourism Commitment in Tarawa last week....

Leveraging digital technologies for a resilient Pacific environment

06 September 2023, Apia – The application and leveraging of digital technologies to address environmental issues was highlighted during a side event at the 31st SPREP Meeting of Officials in Apia, Samoa, on Wednesday. The Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen...

Prime Minister of Samoa reiterates Pacific leaders’ commitment to the protection of environment

04 September 2023, Apia Samoa - The gathering of SPREP members, partners and donors in Samoa this week embodies the collective commitment and priority Pacific leaders have placed on the protection and management of environment resources of our...

New SPREP guidelines to support Sustainable and Resilient Coastal Development in the Pacific launched

06 September 2023, Apia Samoa – A landmark set of guidelines developed to support resilient coastal infrastructure development in the Pacific have been launched in Apia, on the margins of the 31st SPREP Meeting of Officials. The ‘Good Practice in...

State of the Climate in South West Pacific Report

18 August 2023, Nadi Fiji – Weather-related disasters and climate change impacts are unravelling the fabric of society in the South-West Pacific. Sea level rise threatens the future of low-lying islands whilst increasing ocean heat and...

Kiribati Minister for Tourism Confirmed for SPTO Meetings

Home Kiribati Minister for Tourism Confirmed for SPTO Meetings The Pacific Tourism Organisation welcomes confirmation that Honourable Michael Bootii Nauan, Minister for Tourism, Commerce, Industry and Cooperative (MTCIC) of Kiribati, will lead...

Priorities for effective employment and wage policies discussed in Kiribati

Enhance the capacity of youth employment in Kiribati. © ILO TARAWA, Kiribati (ILO News) – The formulation of a National Employment Policy (NEP) and effective wage-setting policies for Kiribati were the focus of discussions held by senior...

Training strengthens climate resilience of Micronesian countries

26 July 2023, Majuro - The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, Nauru, Palau and Republic of Marshal Islands (RMI) have benefited from the final in person training on “Strengthening Climate resilience and safe water access in rural...