‘Welkam’ Back! – Vanuatu reopens international borders

The first international visitors who set foot in Vanuatu Friday after more than two years were given a warm welcome by excited tourism officers at the Port Vila Airport.  String band songs greeted them as they arrived.

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Vanuatu, Niue borders reopen this week

After closing its international borders to everyone except citizens and residents two years ago following the COVID-19 pandemic, Vanuatu is reopening and reconnecting with the world starting this Friday. Vanuatu had not

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Vanuatu court sentence Bangladesh nationals for trafficking

Four Bangladesh nationals implicated in what has been dubbed the biggest human trafficking case in Vanuatu were sentenced this week, after a four-year court battle. Sekdah Somon, was sentenced to 14 years’

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Vanuatu Govt revise visa to rebuild tourism sector

The Vanuatu Government, through the Department of Immigration and Passport Service, has amended the Visitor Visa to Tourist Visa to allow tourists the opportunity to come to Vanuatu and stay longer. Previously a tourist

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Pacific tourism workers resilient in adversity

Pacific researchers assessing the wellbeing of tourism-reliant communities in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands amid the COVID-19 pandemic have found these communities are mainly resilient in the face of

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Air Vanuatu to focus on domestic fleet expansion

Vanuatu’s national carrier Air Vanuatu has decided to cancel its order for Airbus A220s and instead plans to add more regional turboprop aircraft.  “Air Vanuatu will not be proceeding with its order for

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MSG, Indonesia dialogue on Regional Security Strategy

The Indonesian National Police (INP) is hosting the 4th Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Regional Security Strategy (RSS) Working Group (WG) from June 6 to 10, 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. The event is attended by delegates

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Fijian pastor deported from Vanuatu

A Fijian Pastor has been deported Tuesday through a joint operation by the Vanuatu Immigration Services and Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), through the Vanuatu Interpol Unit, for violating COVID-19 protocols. Pastor Jone

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Vanuatu declares a climate emergency

Vanuatu has become the first Pacific Small Island Developing State to declare it is facing a climate emergency.  In a Twitter post, the leader of the opposition Ralph Regenvanu announced parliament passed a

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Vanuatu government eyes minimum wage increase

The Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) is against the decision to have private sector employees receive a severance pay at the rate of two months’ salary, against the number of years in service. The

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Gomes concerned about China’s advance in Melanesia

New Caledonia’s outgoing member of the French National Assembly, Philippe Gomes, has expressed concern about China’s position in the Pacific, saying Beijing has already colonised Vanuatu. Philippe Gomes, who

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Vanuatu Govt halts vaccine protest march

The Vanuatu Government has pulled the plug on a planned march yesterday in Port Vila to protest the rules around COVID-19 vaccines, specifically vaccination of children. The protestors, involving church and youth

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