The Pacific community Agritourism week - Share your thoughts about Agritourism in SIDS

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Crucial facts about TOURISM:

it's a Key, Sustainable Economic Driver: as in the Pacific Island Countries it grew by an average of 3.5 per cent per annum over 2008-2012 – in line with global growth rates. Despite being a small, isolated region in the global context, the Pacific continues to shows its weight as a popular destination of choice.

· The total value of tourism sector in the Pacific is expected to nearly double – from an estimated $2billion at present to close to US$4 billion by 2019.  

But yet, an estimated 60-80 per cent of the food consumed by the tourism industry is currently imported.

·A survey of leisure travellers in the Asia Pacific by Hilton Worldwide in 2014 found that over a third (36 per cent) voted food and drink as a critical determining factor in their choice of destination.

·The import bill reflects an opportunity. The demand exists now – within our local markets.  There is opportunity for all stakeholders - government policy makers, private sector, farmers and suppliers to take steps to meet that import gap   – and to better organise themselves for the projected growth in tourism. 

The general objectives of the Pacific Community AGRITOURISM Week is:

1- to explore an innovative way to reduce poverty through linking smallholder agriculture to the tourism industry

2-  to build capacities through learning events that promote food tourism and agrifood opportunities.

Involving 200 attendees from the Pacific, Caribbeans and Indian Ocean, the PAC AGRITO event will particularly promote the supply of local produce, agrifood and agriproducts into the tourism market.

Folow the event on:

Twitter: #PacAgriTo

But also through blog posts on this group.