A South Pacific Tourism Organisation Regional Marketing Meeting in Apia this month agreed to work together on promotional opportunities for its 17 Pacific Island member countries.

Marketing Managers and Executives attended the meeting on October 2, preceding the SPTO Board and Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting at the end the week.

Organized by SPTO and now in its 6^th year, the objective is for SPTO “to collaboratively strategize promotional opportunities with marketing managers of its member countries” and agree on the way forward for the region by reviewing the SPTO Regional Marketing Plan 2019. 

The meeting not only discussed the challenges of marketing activities but also listened to presentations by guest speakers. Lisa Sadaraka of AUT University gave a presentation on experiences of sexual harassment by customers in the Cook Islands hospitality industry. Other guest speakers came from Trip Advisor, the School of Hospitality & Tourism, the South Pacific Sailing Network (SPSN) and Miles Partnership presenting on opportunities and ways to enhance SPTO and its member countries in maximizing its Marketing strategies and objectives.

The SPTO Marketing Plan 2019 reviewed with the Pacific Tourism Marketing Managers emphasized three key marketing priorities in the area of Business to Business (B2B), Business to Consumer (B2C) specifically focusing digital transformation and Capacity building initiatives to enhance SPTO’s promotional reach and support of its member countries priority marketing needs, said Chris Cocker SPTO CEO.