The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) in co-operation with the Espiritu Santo Tourism Association (ESTA) are set to embark ondeveloping an Accreditation programme to give a base standard level for the country's tourism product offering.

"We want to introduce an Accreditation programme from grassroots bungalows to five star luxury properties," ESTA Chairman, Dave Cross said.

"This is so that agents can acknowledge the standards offered across the whole of Vanuatu, giving them a degree of confidence when making a booking"

"It will be the step in the right direction." Mr Cross said the Accreditation programme will also include other tourism products including tours and services, but funding for the scheme has yet to be finalized.

The programme will also assist agents for bookings in outer islands, where famils are rarely organized for the trade to visit firsthand.