18 Nov 2005

Japanese firm set to make tourism pitch from base in Vanuatu

2:18 pm on 18 November 2005

A Japanese travel company is said to be about to set up in Vanuatu as a local company to market Vanuatu as a major tourist destination to the Japanese public.

The Daily Post newspaper reports the Chief Executive Officer of the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority, Joe Ligo, as saying the move is a direct result of Vanuatu's involvement in the World Expo in Japan.

Mr Ligo says the Japanese company has already purchased the South Pacific Travel Company to expand it into a new local company under a new name yet to be announced.

The Vanuatu government says the company is responsible for all its own marketing programmes because it will directly linked to hotel chains in Japan.