Santo Island, Vanuatu Tourism Overview
Sanma is a province located in the Northern part of the nation of Vanuatu. It occupies the nation’s largest island, Espiritu Santo, located approximately 2,500 km northeast of Sydney, Australia.
Sanma Province is located in Vanuatu and consists of the islands of Santo and Malo, along with several smaller surrounding offshore islands. The province includes Luganville, the second-largest city in Vanuatu, which had a population of 16,312 according to the 2016 census.
The population of Luganville is diverse, comprising a majority of indigenous Ni-Vanuatu, along with smaller communities of Chinese and European descent, including English and French heritage. Some residents originate from other parts of Santo or other islands within Vanuatu, contributing to the city’s demographic mix.
The travel and tourism sector plays a significant role in the local economy. In 2017, the industry directly supported approximately 11,000 jobs, accounting for 14.4% of total employment. Employment in the sector was projected to increase by 2.4% in 2018 and to grow at an average rate of 3.0% per year, reaching an estimated 15,000 jobs and 15.0% of total employment by 2028.
Sustainable Destination Assessment of Santo Island, Vanuatu
Funded by the Vanuatu Department of Tourism, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Destination Assessment of Santo was conducted in November 2019 by Dr.Mihee Kang. The assessment evaluated destination policies and practices against the GSTC Destination Standard and its performance indicators, with each indicator used to structure and interpret the findings.ator.
The onsite assessment followed a period of preparatory work, including desk research, stakeholder mapping, and document review. It was carried out over four official days, with an additional two days of assessment activities. As a result, the findings represent a limited view of destination management conditions at the time of assessment.
Tourism development in Vanuatu is guided by the Vanuatu National Sustainable Development Plan, which outlines national development priorities for the period 2016–2030. The plan serves as the country’s highest-level policy framework and emphasizes monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. It is grounded in culture, traditional knowledge, and Christian principles, and aligns national development goals with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the 2030 Agenda.
At the provincial level, the Sanma Provincial Government previously implemented a 10-year Tourism Plan (2009–2018), developed through stakeholder consultations and workshops. The plan included eight strategies focused on capacity building, improved destination management, and tourism development. It addressed management, socio-economic, and cultural sustainability, while environmental, health, and safety considerations were not specifically included in dedicated action plans.
Global Sustainable Tourism Council Overview
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Standard. There are two sets: Destination Standard for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Standard for hotels and tour operators.
These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination could aspire to reach if they wish to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources, while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.
Key Takeaways
The assessment indicates that Santo faces high risks in terms of sustainability and requires action to address the identified issues. Priorities include strengthening cultural and environmental management, as well as developing a comprehensive visitor management system to support more sustainable tourism management.
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council encourages Santo to review and strengthen existing plans, laws, regulations, and guidelines across environmental, socio-cultural, and economic dimensions of sustainability. The effective implementation and enforcement of these frameworks can support alignment with the GSTC Destination Standard.
