Vanuatu

Connecting Cruises and Communities

Cruise ships have called at Port Vila since the early  1980s, bringing travellers keen to sample fresh pawpaw, shop for woven mats at the Mama’s Market and swim the Blue Hole Lagoon. Today, cruise tourism has become a pillar of island income. When ships berth, spending flows to guides, craftsmen and market vendors. As the cruise industry deepens its investments in Vanuatu, it is more important than ever to work side-by-side, so we can keep those benefits alive while safeguarding the reefs, ridges and cultural stories that make our islands so special.

Support Cruise Tourism in vanuatu

Enhance Local Opportunity

Cruise passengers bring cash straight to market stalls, bus drivers and guides across the island. As cruise tourism rises along with investments in our local community, new opportunities are opening in hospitality, guiding, maintenance and security. By working together, we can make sure ni-Vanuatu earn a bigger share of cruise spending.

Maintain the Lives We Love

Cruise tourism already helps businesses grow. By working together we will work to find solutions that contain everyday costs of living and keep more vatu in local pockets.

Respect Our Islands

Local communities and cruise partners are working together to protect our reefs, beaches and swim spots. Through partnership between residents and cruise tourism leaders, we can keep Vanuatu clean, celebrate our culture and protect the environment for future generations.

Make Your Voice Count

One of the joys of living in a close-knit community is the ability to drive real change. In places like ours where neighbors know one another and local voices carry weight, there’s a powerful opportunity to shape our future. When it comes to cruise tourism, it’s essential that locals are driving the conversation.

Did You Know?

The average cruise guest spends more than VT 20,000 onshore on handicrafts, market food and excursions.

The iconic Central Market hosts over 300 stallholders on ship‑days, selling everything from lap‑lap ingredients to woven mats, with many vendors reporting cruise calls as their busiest trading days of the year.

Cruise lines supported recovery after Cyclone Pam in 2015 and the 2025 earthquake, supporting local organisations to speed Vanuatu’s comeback.

Cruise spending supports more than 3,250 jobs across Vanuatu and adds more than VT 9 billion to the economy every single year.

Community Voices and Ambassadors

From Mama’s Market stallholders to young guides learning hospitality skills, ni‑Vanuatu are shaping the future of cruise tourism. Share your story on how visitor spending supports your family, your village or your environment and learn from neighbours doing the same.

Talem stori blong yu!

Whether you are a business owner, a worker in the tourism industry or an advocate living in a port city, submit your story below:

"*" indicates required fields

Name*

Profession*

Email*

Location*