Vanuatu Tourism Accreditation Program Proposed Time Line

Vanuatu Tourism Standards Forum_ October 2015 TO DATE: Preparation and launch of Vanuatu Tourism Accreditation Info Pack Awareness, Training and mentoring of DoT Provincial Product Development Officers Development and roll out of Operator Self-Assessment Forms Development and roll out of the process for issuing 2015 Tourism Permits Review of the Minimum Standards based on feedbacks collected from this years Accreditation rollout Review of timelines – Post Cyclone Pam Main Focus [2015/2016] Process linking: DoT/Customs [Municipal & Local Govnt area Secretay] – Business License Information collection: Self-assessment [Feedbacks] – 2015/2016 Full Enforcement

Vanuatu Tourism Standards Forum_ October 2015 Timelines & Process - VTAP: 2016 Tourism Business Permit Application (October/November 2015) 2016 Tourism Permit Issuing (December 2015) Review & Amend Tourism Council Act (2015 – Feb 2016) Amendment to the Business License Schedule (2015 – Feb 2016) - Forum, Endorse/Standards Committee/Amendment Develop the Draft 2017 Operational Plan – Accreditation Program ( Jan - May 2016) Confirm Schedule of required trainings (Mar 2016) Confirm list of Recognised Tourism Associations (June/July 2016) Trainings & Coaching for Tourism Standards assessors (June – August 2016) 2017 Tourism Business Permit Application (October/November 2016) 2017 Tourism Permit Issuing (December 2016) Develop Vanuatu Tourism Rating system ( ) Establish the Vanuatu Tourism Standards Program ( )

Vanuatu Tourism Standards Forum_ October 2015 Tourism Permit Process 2015 – Tourism Businesses Requiring a business License now require a Tourism Permit The new revised VTPCS & VTOMS will be drafted after todays forum and be endorsed by the Tourism Standards advisory Committee 2015 – Self Assessment (leniency / DoT spot checks) 2016 – Self Assessment (reduced leniency) 2017 – DoT Assessors (mandatory for Accreditation) 2015/ DoT issues Permit based on Self Assessment and case-by-case review where mandatory Minimum Standards are not met (‘grace period’) - but mandatory compliance with selected items i.e. Tourism Association 2017 – All Minimum Standards for each Category must be met to get Accreditation and Permit. - reason why its important to provide true information when completing the self assessment forms.

Sample Tourism Permit

QUESTIONS

Feedbacks/Key Points from the Program Rollout  Insurance Tourism association affiliation Understanding of the Process - Permit issuing, application process - Information flow Training requirements Marketing Levi [TMDF] contribution Cost to business - License, insurance, trainings etc. Timing - prior to licensing [2015 Tourism permits] Some Categories that are too broad - i.e. Adrenaline, soft adventure Categories that cross over with non - tourism services - i.e. Air Tourism Services OI's small business - Need to consider multiple business licenses What's achievable & fair for the OI's Consistency & Credibility of the program User friendly Island Bungalow guide for each respective province Need Sustainable/Eco Tourism program - Especially for the Rural/Outer Islands

An additional Program A SUSTAINABLE ECO-TOURISM CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Ensuring Credibility in this initiative is very necessary, reason why we are going to: Work closely with Eco Tourism Australia and The Global Sustainable Tourism Council for: A. advice, B. guidance and C. Technical support for the review and incorporating into our Accreditation Programme – eco certification program and also the development of its Operational Plan NOTE: We have an idea of what we want [in terms of the purpose of the proposed program, its importance to the tourism industry overall]. But, its how we get there – Expert support/resources - Lack

QUESTIONS

Proposed New License Categories Requiring Department of Tourism Accreditation Category Current Customs Category 2016 CategoryReserved?DoT Accredited?DoT Minimum Standard that applies D3 - ACCOMMODATION CATEGORIES Hotel D3 (a) ThresholdYesHotel Operator Standards Resort D3 (a)D3 (i)ThresholdYesResort Operator Standards Motel D3 (b) ThresholdYesMotel Operator Standards Unique Accommodation D3 (c) NoYes(Tailored - DoT discretion only) Self Contained / Holiday Homes D3 (d) NoYesSelf Contained / Holiday Home Operator Standards Guest House D3 (e) ThresholdYesGuest House Operator Standards Island Bungalows D3 (f) ThresholdYesIsland Bungalows Operator Standards Home Stay D3 (g) NoYesHome Stay Operator Standards Camp Site D3 (h) NoYesCamp Site Operator Standards E3 - TOURISM TRANSPORTATION, PRODUCTS Tourism Accredited Public Services Air Transport, Transfer and Tour Operator - Tourism Accredited E3(1)E3 (a)NoYesAir Transport, Transfer and Tour Operator Standards Water Transport, Transfer and Tour Operator - Tourism Accredited E3(2a)E3 (b)NoYesWater Transport, Transfer and Tour Operator Standards Bus Transport and Transfer - Tourism Accredited E3(3a)E3 (c)Yes Bus Transport and Transfer Operator Standards Taxi Transport and Transfer - Tourism Accredited E3(3a)E3 (d)Yes Taxi Transport and Transfer Operator Standards Private Transfer Operator - Tourism Accredited E4(a)E3 (e)NoYesPrivate Transfer Operator Standards Rental and Hire Services - Tourism Accredited E3(3b)E3 (f)Yes Rental and Hire Service Standards Spa and Beauty Services Operator - Tourism Accredited G2(b)E3 (g)NoYesSpa and Beauty Services Operator Standards Restaurants, Cafes, Takeaways and Bars - Tourism Accredited no codeE3 (h)NoYesRestaurant, Cafe, Takeaway and Bar Operator Standards Tourism Packaging and Guiding Services Inbound Travel Operator E3(4c)E3 (i)ThresholdYesInbound Travel Operator Standards Outbound Travel Operator E3(4b)E3 (j)ThresholdYesOutbound Travel Operator Standards Tour Guide E3(4d)E3 (k)NoYesTour Guide Standards Unique Tourism Service no codeE3 (l)NoYes(Tailored - DoT discretion only) Tourism Activities - Land Land Active and Adrenaline Activity Operator E3(6a)E3 (m)NoYesLand Active and Adrenaline Activity Operator Standards Land Recreational and Soft Adventure Activity Operator no codeE3 (n)NoYesLand Recreational and Soft Adventure Activity Operator Standards Traditional and Cultural Activity Operator E3(6b)E3 (o)NoYesTraditional and Cultural Activity Operator Standards Handicraft and Arts Shop E3(4e)E3 (p)NoYesHandicraft and Arts Shop Operator Standards Recreational Grounds and Facilities G2E3 (q)NoYesRecreational Grounds and Facilities Operator Standards Tourism Activities - Water Water Active and Adrenaline Activity Operator E3(5a)E6 (r)NoYesWater Active and Adrenaline Activity Operator Standards Water Recreational and Soft Adventure Activity Operator no codeE3 (s)NoYesWater Recreational and Soft Adventure Activity Operator Standards Scuba Diving E3(5b)E3 (t)NoYesScuba Diving Operator Standards Yacht and Boat Charters E3(2b)E3 (u)NoYesYacht and Boat Charters and Tours Operator Standards