Business News, Monday 11 July 2022
Dear members, a few updates from our tourism partners, a feel-good story from Santo, opportunity to join a charter from Santo on Wednesday, and the document forgotten on Friday. Enjoy!
Update from Department of Tourism on how to become an ‘Accredited Tourism Facility’
Tourism Operators have been asking what procedures they need to follow and comply with to become an accredited tourism facility as per Order no. 111 of 2022 of Immigration Act.
The term ‘Accredited Tourism Facility’ is referring to any tourism business or tourism accommodation provider [Hotel, Motel, Resort, Guest House, Bungalow, Lodge, Holiday Home, etc] that has a Tourism Permit. All tourism businesses are required to have a Tourism Permit prior to obtaining a Business License. This process has been in place since 2015. Majority of active Tourism Operators are already an Accredited tourism facility.
Private residences that are being promoted to the tourist market as a Holiday Home also require a Tourism Permit and Business License as they are engaging in a commercial activity.
If you are a businesses that needs a Tourism Permit in order to be recognized as an accredited tourism facility please contact Elma Didas at the Department of Tourism via email edidas@vanuatu.gov.vu or call 33400 so she can assist you in facilitating this process.
Supporting Welkam Back to Vanuatu – Tools for the Industry
Following its launch the Vanuatu Tourism Office is pleased to provide you with marketing tools that you can use across your social media and other marketing channels.
The message of the campaign is simple “Welkam Back”. The advertising campaign will roll out in two stages.
- A Welkam Back to Vanuatu through the telling of our brand story and reminding people what Vanuatu is all about (21 June to 15 July)
- An Invitation from Vanuatu to come and enjoy Vanuatu. The campaign will feature local people in spectacular holiday locations reminding visitors what makes Vanuatu special.
You can download the toolkit from the following website page: www.vanuatu.travel/en/welkam-back-to-vanuatu
If you have any enquiries, please contact the VTO team via digital@vanuatu.travel or call +678 22515 or send an SMS to +678 5261594 ask to speak to Ms. Jaimeen Kenni.
Supporting our Industry Development Fund grant recipients In Santo
VCCI’s project team visited Santo 2 weeks back, to meet with 12 successful IDF grant recipients, spread out far and wide across Santo and its closest islands, Malo, Aore and Araki.
These business men and women were all thrilled to host the team, and to talk openly about the changes they have planned with receiving this monetary support from the Government, via support from EDF11.
One business that has already put their grant to good use is Espiritu Natural Oil, who have invested into their marketing and packaging. They now have new bottles and labels for their coconut oil, and have also invested into their production capacity – purchasing new machinery including an expeller, new filters, a conveyor belt and bottle refilling station. They are also now sealing their bottles using a plastic seal, a new initiative funded via the grant.
VCCI will be supporting Espiritu Natural Oil via in-depth business planning, and one on one financial management capacity building, to help them realize their goal of exporting their product to overseas markets by 2023. VCCI will be visiting regularly to support their achievements and growth.
Seats on charter flight from Santo to Port Vila, Wednesday 13 July, 7.30am check in
Due to no flights running on Wednesday morning we are chartering a flight from Santo to Port Vila, check in 7:30am. Tickets 35,000VT one way. Call Esther now on 733 9478 if you are interested in booking a seat on this flight.
Severance Pay Amendment attachment
Apologies, in last Fridays newsletter the Gazette N#51 June 2022, which contains the amendment of Subsection 54 (1) (d) of Employment Act relating to severance, was not attached. Please click here to download Gazette N#51.
Have a wonderful week,
The VCCI team
