WHEN: 23-24 April 2025 I TIME: 9:00 - 17:00 (Fiji Time) I This hybrid event is by invitation only
Background:
The Regional Validation Workshop on Sustainable Tourism Enhancement in the Pacific and Multi-Stakeholder Consultation (MSC) for Strengthening Policy Ambitions on Tourism and Climate through Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and Circular Economy (CE) will be held on 23 to 24 April 2025 in Suva Fiji.
This event is organised by the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) in partnership with the EU SWITCH-Asia Pacific Policy Support Component (PSC) through the Sustainable Tourism Enhancement in the Pacific (STEP) project. The event, designed in synergy with the SPTO will gather representatives from the region, will validate policy recommendations, foster regional dialogue, and drive the integration of SCP and Circular Economy into tourism and climate policies to enhance resilience in transition to sustainability in the Pacific.
Invited participants: EU INTPA HQ, EU Delegations in the Pacific, SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component (PSC), Partners and stakeholders of the SWITCH-Asia Technical Advisories (TA) on the Sustainable Tourism Enhancement in the Pacific (STEP).
Invited partner organisations: Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), UN ESCAP Pacific Regional Office, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFs), EIB, World Bank, FAO, ADB, UNDP Pacific, GGGI, SIDS Global System Network, Pacific Sustainable Tourism Alliance, IFAD, WWF Pacific, UN Tourism, UN 10YFP and its Construction and Tourism programmes, among others.
Objectives:
The consultation serves as the regional validation workshop for the findings of the Sustainable Tourism Enhancement in the Pacific (STEP) Project Phase 1, which aims to:
- Evaluate the current national tourism standards in the four pilot countries—Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, and Vanuatu—and assess their alignment and integration with the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Standard (PSTS) at the national level.
- Develop tailored pathways for the four pilot countries as scalable models for other Pacific destinations, integrating the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Standard (PSTS) with a focus on resource efficiency and circular economy principles.
- Establish a Regional Roadmap that consolidates country-specific insights and provides actionable recommendations for incorporating sustainability principles into tourism standards, policies, and business operations across the Pacific.
Workshop Agenda
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Regional Validation Workshop on Sustainable Tourism Enhancement in the Pacific (STEP): A Multi-Stakeholder Consultation for Strengthening Policy Ambitions through SCP and CE Wednesday, 23 April 2025 (DAY 1) |
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8:30A M |
DAY 1 (Registration) |
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08:45 – 09:10
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OPENING SESSION Welcome and Opening Remarks
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09:10 – 09:15 |
Prayer |
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0915 – 09:30 |
SESSION 1: SETTING THE SCENE Session Objective: To provide participants with a shared understanding of the STEP Project, the goals of the workshop, and how the 2-day agenda is structured to drive outcomes. Presentation on the Overview of the STEP Project Christina Gale, Sustainable Tourism Manager, SPTO Presentation on Workshop Objectives, Outcomes, and Agenda Loraine Gatlabayan, Expert, SWITCH-Asia Pacific PSC |
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09:30 – 10:15 |
SESSION 2: UNDERSTANDING THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE Session Objective: Provide a foundational refresher on the key frameworks (PSTPF, PSTS, CE, SCP) and equip participants with a shared language for the rest of the workshop. Presentations by: Penelope Spoelder, SWITCH-Asia Pacific Expert on Tourism Rebecca Last, SWITCH-Asia Pacific Expert on Circular Economy and Tourism Topics to be presented:
Group Talanoa Open Q&A / Discussion |
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10:15 – 10:30 |
GRACE - MORNING TEA |
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10:30-11:00 |
SESSION 3: KEY FINDINGS AND COUNTRY AND REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS Session Objective: Present insights from the country assessments and demonstration missions, identify shared challenges, and introduce the draft Presentations by: Penelope Spoelder, SWITCH-Asia Pacific Expert on Tourism Rebecca Last, SWITCH-Asia Pacific Expert on Circular Economy and Tourism Topics to be presented:
Group Talanoa Open Q&A / Discussion |
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11:00 – 13:00 |
SESSION 4: FROM INSIGHT TO ACTION – REGIONAL AND NATIONAL PATHWAYS Session Objective: To present country-specific pathways and gain feedback on roadmap themes and their relevance to broader Pacific contexts Presentations by: Penelope Spoelder, SWITCH-Asia Pacific Expert on Tourism Rebecca Last, SWITCH-Asia Pacific Expert on Circular Economy and Tourism Topics to be presented:
Group Talanoa Open Q&A / Discussion |
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13:00 – 14:00 |
GRACE - LUNCH |
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14:00 – 15:00 |
SESSION 5: SHOWCASING INNOVATION IN THE PACIFIC Session Objective: To inspire and inform through real-world examples of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and circular economy (CE) innovation across supply chains, buildings, agritourism, and waste, and identify models for scaling and sharing. Presentation and moderation of session on CE and innovation practices Penelope Spoelder, SWITCH-Asia Pacific Expert on Tourism Rebecca Last, SWITCH-Asia Pacific Expert on Circular Economy and Tourism Brief presentations of current approaches / projects and innovations on the following topics (Speakers to be confirmed):
Brad Kirner (Cook Islands Tourism Corporation) Erwin Eperania (Tahiti Tourisme)
Rob Ah Sam (Samoa Tourism Authority) Sukulu Soko (Sunnyville Bamboo – Fiji)
Salaseini Daunabuna (PS Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Fiji) Geraldine Tari (DoT Vanuatu)
Clint Wendt (Pacific Recyclers Foundation (Fiji) Dwayne Bentley (SPREP)
TBD Group Talanoa Open Q&A / Discussion |
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15:00 |
WORKING AFTERNOON TEA - TRANSITION TO BREAKOUT GROUPS |
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15:00 – 16:00 |
SESSION 6 SCALING UP INNOVATION TOWARDS SCP and CE – IMPLEMENTATION Session Objective: Explore how to move from ideas to implementation through focused discussion on five key impact areas Thematic breakouts through facilitated discussion:
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16:00 – 17:00 |
WRAP OF DAY AND PREVIEW OF DAY 2. |
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Regional Validation Workshop on Sustainable Tourism Enhancement in the Pacific (STEP): A Multi-Stakeholder Consultation for Strengthening Policy Ambitions on Tourism through SCP and CE Thursday, 24 April 2025 (DAY 2) |
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08:30 – 09:00 |
Registration |
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09:00 – 09:05 |
Prayer |
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09:05 – 09:30 |
SESSION 7: REFLECTIONS AND PROGRAM FOR THE DAY Session Objective: Reconnect and reflect on Day 1 and introduce Day 2’s more action-oriented focus on scaling and enabling implementation. Recap from Day 1 Christina Gale, Sustainable Tourism Manager, SPTO Overview of workshop objectives, outcomes and agenda (Day 2) Loraine Gatlabayan, Expert, SWITCH-Asia Pacific |
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09:30 – 11:00 |
SESSION 8: SUPPORTING INDUSTRY TRANSITION Session Objective: To explore how to support governments and industry to transition to sustainable, circular models through targeted systems improvements. Parallel Rotating Roundtable (including Virtual) – 30 mins each
Roundtable Topics:
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11:00 – 1130 |
GRACE - MORNING TEA |
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11:30 – 13:00 |
SESSION 9: PANEL - CIRCULARITY IN TOURISM VALUE-CHAINS – BUILDING ON PROPOSED ROADMAPS AND PATHWAYS Session Objective: Hear from Pacific tourism and CE Industry leaders on challenges and success factors in embedding CE principles at the value-chain level. Panel Discussion: “Where are the gaps and how can we promote local/sustainable suppliers to tourism buyers?” (Speakers to be confirmed)
Group Talanoa Open Q&A / Discussion |
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13:00 – 14:00 |
GRACE - LUNCH |
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14:00 – 15:30 |
SESSION 10: PANEL - Value Adding & Leveraging Other Opportunities Session Objective: To engage development partners in dialogue about unlocking investment, technical assistance, and regional partnerships to deliver on the roadmap. Panel Discussion: “How can development partners and financial institutions collaborate with Pacific nations to unlock funding, technical assistance, and long-term value creation through sustainable and circular tourism initiatives?” (Speakers to be confirmed)
Group Talanoa Open Q&A / Discussion |
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15:30 – 16:00 |
GRACE – AFTERNOON TEA |
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16:00 – 16:45 |
SESSION 11 - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REGIONAL ROADMAP AND COUNTRY PATHWAYS Session Objective: To synthesise insights from the full workshop and reflect on their implications for national and regional priorities. Presentation, Car park reflection, Facilitated Discussion |
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16:45 – 17:00 |
WRAP OF THE WORKSHOP Evaluation from Participants Closing Remarks
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17:00 |
END OF DAY – CLOSING PRAYER |
