China’s Millennials Are Driving World Travel Growth
Tourism boom helps rebalance economy to more consumer-led growth Post by Richard Butler | 24 September 2017 | Burgeoning wanderlust among young Chinese is becoming a key driver of global travel growth and helping reshape the domestic economy. "China, led by younger...
BAUERFIELD TERMINAL UPGRADE
Richard Butler | Daily Post | Sept 16 2017 FEATURE Airports Vanuatu Ltd has just announced plans to upgrade the existing Bauerfield airport terminal, with the intention of having it ready in time for the influx of athletes and officials attending the Pacific Mini...
Chinese tourism key to unlocking growth potential of Pacific nations: World Bank
Richard Butler | China Daily | Sept 5th 2017 SYDNEY -- Often overlooked in terms of the broader world view, the nations of the South Pacific are primed with tremendous growth opportunities over the next few decades, with tourism from China pegged as one of the most...
New Port Vila Seafront Walkway and Parkland
https://vimeo.com/301937445 A video by Megan Singleton (top NZ Blogger) produced by Media Mash to celebrate the newly upgraded Port Vila Seafront Walkway and Parkland stretching from Chantillys and Moorings Hotel to the Port Vila Market house, which will launch...
Beijing’s bid to redirect Chinese cash from London property to Vanuatu telecoms
Mele Island in Vanuatu. Chinese companies are being encouraged to secure deals for projects such as telecom networks in the Pacific island nation. Photo: Handout Richard Butler | SCMP | Aug 22 2017 Move to restrict overseas investment in some areas could be an...
Longest Wharf in South Pacific in August 2017
Richard Butler | Daily Post | Aug 21st 2017 The Government of China, through the the Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu, officially handed the new main wharf at Luganville, Santo-the longest wharf in the South Pacific to the Vanuatu Government last Saturday. “Once they...
Steve Jacobs works in Sydney and lives in Vanuatu
Richard Butler | Daily Mail Online | July 31st 2017 How’s the weather up there? Today’s weather presenter Steven Jacobs poses for hilarious photo with Sydney Kings basketball stars He’s known for his skills as a weather presenter on Weekend Today. But two statuesque...
Vanuatu set to graduate from Least Developed Country status in 2020
Post by Richard Butler | 25 July 2017 Mark your diary: Vanuatu will cease to be a Least Developed Country (LDC) in 2020. DPM Joe Natuman is attending the World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s 2017 Aid for Trade Biennial Review in Geneva, Switzerland. He has attended some...
70% is a predicted increase in Chinese demand for foreign property in 2017
Richard Butler | July 24th 2017 I recently attended a high profile accountants Price Waterhouse Cooper's seminar in conjunction with real estate service comany Investorist who provided attendees with a detailed report on the comprehensive survey completed in March...
Top 10 dive spots in the world: Vanuatu is on the list!
Richard Butler | Financial Express | July 9th 2017 The SS President Coolidge off Santo, northern Vanuatu, was a World War II luxury ocean liner. It was commandeered by the US navy and fitted out as a naval ship. Unfortunately, it got sunk by one of America’s own...
Tallis Obed Moses sworn in as President of Vanuatu
Richard Butler | PMC Editor | July 7th 2017 Pastor Tallis Obed Moses has been sworn in as President of the Vanuatu Republic. Nineteen votes secured this victory, which was warmly acknowledged by all dignitaries and Electoral College people present at the ceremony...
Maiden voyage with 54 ni-Vanuatu
Richard Butler | Daily Post | June 28th 2017 For P&O Cruise Liner, Pacific Explorer, this is its maiden voyage to Port Vila under its new name even though it had visited in the past as Dawn Princess. Not only that but it also has 54 ni-Vanuatu young men and women...
Pacific Haven Resort Limited releases the First Scuba Academy in a Vanuatu Resort Site
Post by Richard Butler | 5 June 2017 | Pacific Haven Resort Limited, a Vanuatu investment promotion authority approved company, has now released waterfront bungalows for sale, selling off plan and complimented by the first scuba divers academy within a Vanuatu resort...
Pacific Haven Resort Limited releases the First Scuba Academy in a Vanuatu Resort Site
Richard Butler | June 5th 2017 Pacific Haven Resort Limited, a Vanuatu investment promotion authority approved company, has now released waterfront bungalows for sale, selling off plan and complimented by the first scuba divers academy within a Vanuatu resort site,...
Vanuatu Real Estate & Vanuatu Residency
Vanuatu Real Estate & Vanuatu Residency This article about buying Vanuatu real estate was written by Richard Butler, current special economic commerce envoy and former trade commissioner from 2012 to 2015 and reappointed in April 2017 for a further 2-year term. Mr...
Vanuatu & China Celebrate 35 years of friendship
Post by Richard Butler | 19 March 2017 | 35 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Vanuatu and China, were celebrated at the new national convention centre with the Prime Minister and the Chinese Vanuatu Embassy Ambassador Liu Quan. The Ambassador in...
Be part of Malekula’s adventure
Post by Richard Butler | 12 March 2017 | MALEKULA island is the second biggest island in Vanuatu and it is famous for its unusual festivals. Malampa Travel, local tour specialists, says if you’re keen on an outer-island cultural extravaganza then Malekula, with its...
Vanuatu Government and World Bank to strengthen partnership
Post by Richard Butler extracted from Loop Pacific| 20th February 2017 | The government of Vanuatu and the World Bank have committed to strengthening their partnership, with the Bank set to establish a more significant presence in Port Vila. It will also boost its...
Vanuatu’s Torba province to ban Western junk food
Post by Richard Butler extracted from news.com.au| 7th February 2017 | THE next time you holiday in Vanuatu, don’t expect to see any M&Ms or Mars Bars in every hotel minibar. The Pacific nation’s northern Torba province is set to ban foreign junk food from...
Breaking news: Tanna nominated for Academy Award for best foreign language film
Post by Richard Butler | 25 January 2017 | In a first for film in Vanuatu and the Pacific islands region, The film Tanna, shot on location in Vanuatu using a local, untrained cast of actors, has been officially nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film by...
Vanuatu province of Torba first to be declared organic
Post by Richard Butler | 24 January 2017 | TORBA Province – often described as the ‘forgotten province’ – is now the first to be declared ‘Organic Province’ by its provincial tourism council. The chairman of the TORBA Tourism Council, the former Head of State, Father...
When in Port Vila… get out of town
Post by Richard Butler | 15 January 2017 | GET out of Port Vila and experience a tour that highlights the true untouched spirit of Vanuatu in the new Turtle Reef glass bottom boat cruise. That is the credo from the owner of Turtle Reef cruises, Chrissy Boland, who is...
French chocolatier buys Vanuatu cocoa plantation
Post by Richard Butler | 2 January 2017 | A French chocolate company in New Caledonia has taken over a Vanuatu cocoa plantation to produce organic chocolate. The company Biscochoc will take over management of the 500 hectare (5 square kilometers) plantation in January...
Mystery Island to welcome 120 Cruise Ship visits next year
Post by Richard Butler | 1 January 2017 | Mystery Island will be setting a new record in 2017, for the highest number of cruise ship calls in a year. 120 cruise ships are expected to visit the tiny islet and port of call off Tafea province this year, said the Director...
First Chinese Cruise Ship Visits Vanuatu
Post by Richard Butler | 16 December 2016 | The Costa Atlantica, currently sailing China's first 46-day cruise to the South Pacific, has become the first large cruise to visit Vanuatu from China as it berthed in Port Villa earlier in the week with over 2,000 Chinese...
25% of Americans Threaten To Leave If Trump Is Elected: Where Will They Go?
Post by Richard Butler | 2 November 2016 | Record numbers of Americans are renouncing citizenship. Four times a year the Treasury Department names individuals ho renounced -- publicly. The numbers are HUGE. One poll, reported in The Hill, shows 25% of Americans will...
Easier travel between Vanuatu and Russia as visa waiver agreement comes into effect
Richard Butler | Vanuatu Digest | Nov 1st 2016 Citizens of Vanuatu and Russia no longer require a visa to enter each other’s countries, as a new visa waiver agreement between the two countries has now come into effect. The Governments of Vanuatu and Russia signed an...
Fast-track immigration to Vanuatu in under a month
Post by Adrian Bishop | 12 October 2016 | A fast-track immigration scheme provides citizenship in the Pacific islands nation of Vanuatu in as little as under a month. The government Capital Investment Immigration Plan costs $260,000 per applicant, inclusive of spouse...
Vanuatu Has Got To Be The Most Underrated Island Paradise On Earth
Post by Richard Butler from an article by Suzy Strutner | 12 October 2016 | Ask any traveler to run down their bucket list of islands to visit, and you’ll almost certainly recognize the lineup. Hawaii, Fiji, Bali, and Bora Bora are all stunning spots, to be sure. One...
DNA shows first inhabitants of Vanuatu came from Philippines and Taiwan
Post by Richard Butler | 4 October 2016 | Those who settled on the archipelago 3,000 years ago – and Tonga shortly after – travelled from farther away than previously believed, scientists say. The first inhabitants of Vanuatu hailed from Taiwan and the Philippines...
2016.09.11 – I’m Ba-a-ack!
Richard brings us up to date (don't miss this short podcast) Today marks the re-launch of the "Lifestyles and Real Estate of the South Pacific" podcast. We know, it's been a long time, and with good reason. All is explained in this short episode. Listen or download...
