The Vanuatu Government has pledged their support to grow tourism with plans to develop a 747 capability airstrip in Espiritu Santo, upgrade roads in neighboring smaller islands including Tanna, and open a multi-international Ports Terminal in Port Vila.

"Vanuatu is the poster child of the Pacific," Minister for Justice, The Hon. Bakoa Kaltonga said, during an interview with e-Travel Blackboard at the opening of Tok Tok this week.

"The stability, our law and order as well as the best public finance system in the Pacific Islands makes us eligible for  USD$2.5 funding,"

"It's like riding a wave, we need to do it now, or we'll be left behind."

The funding will be filtered toward initial planning stages to construct the 747 airstrip and airport upgrade in Santo which is still in a conceptual stage, meanwhile USD$60 million has been spent to facilitate a multi-ports terminal in Port Vila for its booming cruise industry.

Vanuatu receives 100,000 international cruising visitors each year, with 2009 reporting a record year, and provides some AUD$190 million toward its tourism revenue.

Infrastructure to build its MICE product has also commenced, with the Chinese Government providing funding to construct a convention centre in Port Vila.