Business owners in Vanuatu's northern islands say they are open for business, but are struggling to persuade visitors of that.
Volunteers load 50 25kg bags of rice, ready to deliver to the Shepherd Islands. Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins
The owner of the Aore Resort, Anne Thode, says the Espiritu Santo island resort never closed and sustained no damage, but is suffering from cancellations.
Ms Thode says because travel advisories do not distinguish between Vanuatu's different provinces, it is a challenge to try to convince guests not to cancel their visit.
She says if the situation continues, jobs will be lost and local people will have no money or food.
Vanuatu's Prime Minister, Joe Natuman, says the government is looking to provide the tourism industry with money for a marketing campaign to get tourists to visit.
