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...
Visit from Australian Politician Bodes Well for Investors in Agriculture
Post by: Richard Butler | 18 August 2016 | The visit of Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Australia’s Minister for International Development and Pacific to Vanuatu for three days has been very successful as she saw for herself the development of Vanuatu with the...
Maritime Silk Road Expo promotion has been launched in Vanuatu under China’s “1 Belt 1 Road” concept.
Post by Richard Butler | 8 August 2016 |
Port Vila Wharf Capacity increased to two Cruise Ships
Post by Richard Butler | 9 August 2016 | The Director of South Seas Shipping, Mr John Tonner today revealed that the Cruise Tourism Committee has successfully completed its Traffic Management Plan for the wharf area and it plans to make it available from the next...
Maritime Silk Road Expo promotion launched in Port Vila
Post by: Richard Butler | 8 August 2016 | * Richard Butler, travelling with Deputy Mayor Yang Xiaotang of the Chinese Powerhouse first tier City of Dongguan in southern China and currently on a road show in the South Pacific including Australia, New Zealand and the...
Vanuatu Tourism Awards for Excellence gears up Tourism Industry
Post by Richard Butler | 6 August 2016 | The Vanuatu Tourism Office has been making fast progress towards the development of major places of attraction and gives tourists a taste of a new flavour of enjoyment. Also the success of the Vanuatu Tourism Awards for...
Plans to Upgrade Airport to Welcome Tourists in Bigger jets
Post by Richard Butler | 1 Aug 2016 | With the Airport Services now resumed at Vanuatu's Bauerfield Airport in Port Vila, plans are now proceeding increase it’s accessibility by improving the present services. With the new services the Port Vila’s Bauerfield Airport...
Tourism Market Recovery Stands at Vt180 million
Post By Richard Butler | June 20th 2016 Tourism is of great importance in these days not only for Vanuatu also for the whole world. The tourism market contributes to the World’s 11% GDP and for Vanuatu it is as high as 40%. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of...
Masters in Paradise
Post By Richard Butler | 6th June 2016 | "Masters in Paradise" is the title of the annual regatta held on Port Vial's Second Lagoon. If you are expecting state of the art rowing sculls, you will certainly see them - but not surprisingly for Vanuatu, alongside will be...
Virgin Resumes their service to Vanuatu’s Bauerfield International Airport
Post by Richard Butler | 26 May 2016 | Rejoicing was heard on the ground and in the air, as after four months' suspension of service from Virgin Australia, the Airport once again is receiving regular visits from the Australian carrier. The Government's...
Chinese Construction completes Luganville International Wharf
Post by Richard Butler | 26 May 2016 | Pacific Pearl (above) was in the Luganville limelight this Friday, as it tied up to the brand new Luganville International Wharf. The project of Rehabilitation and Extension of Luganville Main Wharf was started on 28th July 2015...
A rising tide will lift all boats
By Richard Butler | 22nd May, 2016 | What a great statement this is, that was made this week in Vanuatu in a story in our local paper. It has ushered in a new sense of hope and promise. It was used in a release of the concept plan that was included in the request...
Vanuatu Rower Luigi Teilemb sets his sights on Rio Olympics
Post by Richard Butler | 22 May 2016 | After his outstanding performance in consecutive three World Championships finally Luigi Teilemb's next dream has come true. The 24 year old having missed out on automatic qualification 13th out of 20 at last months Asia/Oceania...
Asia-Pacific Luxury Travel Market surges past Europe
Post by Richard Butler | 21 May 2016 | European observers have been surprised to see the great leap in the travel market in the Asia-Pacific region within the last few years. They will see a much greater increase in its growth in the coming years too, as revealed in...
New Resort Marks Entry of Heavy Investment Hitters
By Randy Mitchell | 20th May 2016 | This AU$30M development is expected to open in September 2016. You will find it five minutes from the heart of Port Vila and just a 10-minute drive from Bauerfield International Airport. When finished, the four-star resort will...
Good news for locals, investors, retirees and relocators
By Adrian Hunter | 18th May 2016 | The new Government within these short 3 months of their taking power has been able to put forward a new vision for the Pacific Islands of Vanuatu. The island nation has already made a remarkable appearance under the world's...
Vanuatu models itself on success
By Adrian Hunter | 18th May 2016 | With even major western countries faltering, it is good to see that the tiny island nation of Vanuatu is not blindly following their lead. At the opening of the ICT Days 2016 conference held at the new Conference Centre in Port...
Vanuatu PM Salwai gets a new Office Building
By Richard Butler | 18th May 2016 | Within just three months, apart from a Convention Centre Prime Minister Charlot Salwai (and his successors) also were handed a new office building concept last Saturday with the unveiling of an artist impression of the project. With...
Convention Centre to bring profits to Tourism operators
Post By Richard Butler | 14th May 2016 | With the new National Convention Centre now built in the Capital of Port Vila and handed over to Vanuatuan control, the small Pacific nation of Vanuatu has been provided with a venue that will attract many inbound travellers....
Disaster-resistant housing good for investment
Post by Richard Butler | 4th May, 2016 | Not only Expat buildings are being constructed in Vanuatu to exacting cyclone-proof and earthquake-proof standards. Here is a great story from the southern island of Tanna, Vanuatu, which shows how the locals are also...
Land of 1000 Dancers
Post by Richard Butler | 26th April 2016 | An article by Anita Roberts with the above title has appeared in the Vanuatu Daily Post. (See extract below) This is excellent news for those wanting to move to, invest in, or do business in Vanuatu. It augers well for future...
