Vanuatu Consultation Project: Ideas Worth a Thought

Vanuatu is always in the top of my bucket list! The country is very rich in indigenous history and diversity, and relatively untouched by massive tourism traders. Vanuatu sets target on the “Experience Collectors” as priority audiences.

I had to come up with examples of tourism strategy that exists in other developing country, but is applicable in Vanuatu. These three strategies I borrow from Indonesia, India, and Vietnam focus on embracing the cultural and indigenous values to develop the tourism and I believe can fill the gap of the need for niche tourism in Vanuatu.

Culture Festival

Baliem Valley Festival is the annual West Papuan culture festival, the biggest festival in the eastern part of Indonesia. While tourism is no

t the main income for Jayawijaya Regency that predominantly is agriculture and mining; data shows normally Baliem Valley is visited by 100 visitors per month, the number can be multiplied up to 800 international tourists and 2000 domestic tourists (ASITA, 2018) during the festival. Still not a fantastic number. It is because of the geographical condition of Baliem Valley that seems impossible for most people even for the Indonesian. It is tremendously challenging to get there and to stay there.

The successes of the festival are the participation from 40 tribes in Papua and local government to create a festival like this. Another key success is the breathtaking photos and films that captured the beauty and purity of eastern Indonesia. Those pictures we see on the internet is the reason why tourists flock to that faraway land every August.

What Vanuatu can learn from the Baliem Valley Festival is its festivity and how internet influencers can help the marketing. Vanuatu also offers many festivals as seen in the calendar events. One of the most awaited moments of the year is the extravagant Toka Festival in Tanna Island, a three days festival full of dances and colours. It is the most spectacular custom ceremonies but only occurs once every three or four years.

A good festival is proven to be successful in attracting tourists and extending their length of stay. Also, the government can media partner with TV documentaries, travel blogger or vlogger to create digital contents and attract the young market.

Mystical Tourism

The way I understand mystical tourism is as a part of dark tourism category, but it’s based somewhere between cultural and supernatural belief. Mystical or mysticism is best to describe that. However, I found that most works of literature still discuss “mystical tourism” in a concept of what I believe is actually spiritual tourism (such as defined in research by Hill (2007). So I’m offering something new here! I'll define it better sometimes...

Mayong Village is the capital of black magic in Assam, India. It is where Assam is also famous for its mythological epic Mahabharata. The village itself is scened as peaceful and picturesque but does not look normal, like it is wrapped in some sort of mystery. It is a popular tourist destination for curious travellers, those who fascinated by black magic.

It is no secret that most people used to come to Mayong to learn black magic, and it has attracted historians and archaeologists. In 2002, Mayong Central Museum and Emporium was built to keep the archaeological remains, ancient artefacts, spell books, and manuscripts. The museum is listed in 10 Unique Museum by National Geographic.

Little is known about how this niche tourism impacted their economic growth, but it has gained a lot of tourists attention. People come and go as they find their needs: either to deal with the dark magic or to feed the curiosity. It offers cultural diversity, a peculiar—if not anomaly—in the midst of typical spiritual India that the world is always familiar with.

Vanuatu does provide this kind of mystical tourism: The Black Magic Tour situated in Tanna Island. It is where the magic and mystery lingers in the air; it is where the Ni Vanuatu may reveal the secret behind the colourful Tanna face paintings. The black magic, sorcery, and spells are the strongest in Tanna, combined with even stronger cargo cult belief. Tenmaru Village in Malekula Island is also mystical, perhaps because it was where cannibalism lasted the longest.

There is huge opportunity to develop the Black Magic Tour without sacrificing Vanuatu’s kastom. People themselves have adapted the dark magic into a staged act to amuse visitors by showing the traditional fire making, bamboo magic, sand drawing, and storytelling.

Farmstay

Borrowing the definition from Gerstacker (2014), farmstay is a form of agritourism in which travellers visit a working farm and help or pay, or does both, in exchange for an overnight stay.

Mekong Delta is the heart of the rice-producing region of Vietnam. Popularly known as the Rice Bowl of Vietnam, 80% of the delta populations are farmer. Mekong Delta is home for many ethnic groups primarily Viet, Chinese, Moslem Cham, and Khmers; very rich in diversity and religion. The Khmer people still do the traditional and cultural practice. They pray to God and Goddess for every rice they plant. Many pagodas and temples in the region attract the tourists aside from the scenic view as well as handicrafts and home industries.

One essential activity that can bind them for a comprehensive tourist experience is a homestay or farmstay. The farmers and travel agents of Mekong Delta offer local life excursion for tourists: cycling, participating in farming activity or river-fishing, but the farmstays create deeper and authentic experiences with the locals.

The farmstay or homestay or agritourism in general, can be considered in Vanuatu development. Farmstay give tourists reason to stay for longer and close with the locals. It will increase the income for the area and give a more direct impact on the community.

There are more opportunities for Vanuatu to develop the tourism, embracing the culture and indigenous value that the country is always proud of. Baliem Valley Culture Festival in Indonesia, Mystical Tourism in India, and Farmstay in Vietnam are examples of tourism product that successfully grab tourists attention to come and discover each country. Similar ideas can be considered in planning the tourism direction in Vanuatu. Further research is needed to ensure the feasibility and the suitability with the recent condition and needs of the communities.

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This post is a refined assignment-essay during my uni days. Kindly comment below and drop your email if you’re interested to read the complete essay. I’ll send it right away.

As always, AF.