Richard Butler | An Exclusive Report by VANUATU TOURISM | 2024
The 2024 Yachting Economic Impact Assessment showed that an estimated 376 yachts arrived in Vanuatu in 2023, including 16 superyachts. These yachts spent in total VUV 580 million on services in Vanuatu, and when combined with their indirect expenditure, yachting contributed VUV 902 million to the Vanuatu economy in 2023. Nautical tourism already plays a significant role in Vanuatu’s tourism sector, with cruise ship arrivals accounting for 70 per cent of all tourist numbers.
While yachting is much smaller, yachts have been found to have a higher per person spend than cruise or air arrivals. On average, yachts under 24 meters spent an average of VUV 1.1 million while in Vanuatu. Most of this spending was directed toward hospitality and retail, which reflects the availability of quality markets and restaurants but also highlights the limited availability of yacht-specific services and equipment supplies.
Superyachts spent an average of VUV 12.6 million each while in Vanuatu. In 2023, spending by yachts is estimated to have been: ⛵️ VUV 8.2 million in PENAMA ⛵️ VUV 9 million in TORBA ⛵️ VUV 37.2 million in TAFEA ⛵️ VUV 43.3 million in MALAMPA ⛵️ VUV 63.3 million in SANMA ⛵️ VUV 417.4 million in SHEFA. Despite the direct economic contributions, there was a notable leakage of VUV 257 million, reflecting that much of the spend of yachties on goods and services, particularly fuel and imported food, ultimately leaves Vanuatu’s economy. Improving the availability of yacht-focused services and supplied would enable Vanuatu to retain more spending within the economy and reduce leakage.
