The Vanuatu Government has doubled its financial support to boost Australian tourism to Vanuatu, the country’s Minister of Finance Moana Kalosil Carcasses announced yesterday in Sydney, amid cheers from wholesalers.

According to Mr Carcasses, the fact that tourism accounts for up to 45 percent of Vanuatu’s GDP and with Australia at the fore of visitation numbers and expenditure, an increased investment was necessary.

“But I will have to justify this investment to the government,” Mr Carcasses joked.

“So please sell Vanuatu to Australia.”

The Deputy Prime Minister (who is also the country’s Minister of Tourism and Trade) Hon. Ham Lini Vanuaroroa told e-Travel Blackboard that the Vanuatu Government is committed to building the country’s tourism and hence its economy because “every tourist makes a real difference to our people”.

“Tourism is important to the Ni-Vanuatu,” Mr Vanuaroroa told e-Travel Blackboard.

“Tourism builds the hospital, supports the community and lets Australians meet our very friendly people.”