Suva, Fiji, December 13, 2024 – The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and the Australian and New Zealand Government-funded Market Development Facility (MDF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), today, solidifying a collaborative effort to craft a regional yachting strategy and foster the sustainable growth of niche maritime tourism sectors. The strategy will be based on the recently completed MDF yachting economic impact studies for Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati and Fiji. This innovative partnership aims to transform the yachting tourism landscape in the Pacific. 

This partnership represents a pivotal moment for the region, underscoring the power of collaboration in creating innovative solutions for the tourism industry while ensuring the sustainable development of Pacific Island economies.

SPTO and MDF will work closely to deliver actionable outcomes under the MOU, including identifying funding opportunities, sharing vital information, and fostering partnerships with NTOs, agencies, and associations across the Pacific.

Apart from providing an overall direction for yachting for SPTO, the regional yachting strategy will benefit the yachting industry by providing a solid basis on key focus areas specific to different countries in the region and building awareness of the potential of yachting tourism in the Pacific. 

SPTO and MDF will work together to promote the Pacific as a premier destination for yachting, fostering sustainable growth for the yachting industry in the Pacific. The collaboration focuses on engaging stakeholders through SPTO’s networks, collecting feedback, and leveraging data to develop a regional yachting strategy that highlights economic impacts and unique regional features. 

Through this collaboration, SPTO has expressed interest in working with MDF to support the South Pacific Sailing Network (SPSN), an association mainly comprising marinas across the Pacific with the aim to increase the number of yachts sailing into the Pacific.

The partnership emphasizes technical support, cost-effective initiatives, and a cooperative "one team" approach to maximize resources and impact. Both parties will identify priority activities and remain flexible to adapt strategies as needed, ensuring the sustainable development of Pacific maritime tourism sectors.

SPTO CEO Christopher Cocker mentioned that this collaboration marks a significant step toward positioning the Pacific as a world-class destination for maritime tourism. SPTO and MDF will continue working together to implement actionable steps, secure funding, and build lasting partnerships to ensure the sustainable growth of these sectors.

“Our partnership with MDF represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen the Pacific’s yachting, cruising, and diving tourism potential. Together, we aim to deliver a data-driven strategy that not only benefits the tourism industry but the economic and cultural richness of the region into a thriving pillar of our Blue Pacific economy,” Cocker shared.

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About SPTO
Established in 1983 as the Tourism Council of the South Pacific, the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is the mandated organisation representing Tourism in the region. Its 21 Government members are American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Rapa Nui, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu Wallis and Futuna, and the People’s Republic of China. In addition to government members, the Pacific Tourism Organisation also enlists a private sector membership base. You can learn more about SPTO here

About Market Development Facility (MDF)

Australia's Market Development Facility (MDF) helps countries in the Indo-Pacific region to grow through improved productivity, economic diversification, competitiveness and trade.

MDF helps government and business partners to identify markets that have high potential to grow, be profitable, and deliver social and environmental value. MDF supports catalytic innovation in these markets by co-investing with local and international partners to reduce the costs and risks of early-stage commercial opportunities. This accelerates progress to profitability and scale.

Our aim is to do good by supporting good business. MDF supports business investment and innovation that reduces poverty, economically empowers women and combats climate change.

MDF currently operates in Fiji, Timor-Leste, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga and Sri Lanka. MDF is funded by the Australian Government and co-funded by the New Zealand Government in Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. It is implemented by Palladium, in partnership with Swisscontact.