Tourism, climate, and conservation practitioners gathered in Nadi, Fiji, this week to share experiences and develop practices aimed at building climate resilience in the sustainable and regenerative tourism sector - emerging concepts that can have a large impact on how tourism shapes an island's economy, ecosystem and culture.

The Building Island Climate Resilience and Sustainable Tourism workshop held from 28-31 October aims to increase awareness of these tourism concepts, understand climate impacts that islands face, and build strategies for employing sustainable and regenerative tourism techniques.

Fiji’s Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Viliame Gavoka, highlighted the workshop as a critical opportunity for collaboration toward solutions, and emphasized the need for solutions that balance enjoyment and stewardship of Pacific resources.

He said that tourism, as a major economic driver, can also serve as a powerful tool for climate resilience and environmental protection.

“We need solutions that support our collective goals of climate resilience and sustainable tourism. This gathering is a powerful reminder that while we enjoy the bountiful gifts of our islands, we are also bound by a shared responsibility to protect them. As island nations, we are on the frontlines of climate change. Its impacts, whether through rising sea levels, extreme weather events, or coastal erosion, are challenges we live with every day,” Mr Gavoka shared.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) CEO, Christopher Cocker underscored that regenerative tourism, a practice rooted in Pacific values, has long aligned with climate resilience goals.

“Today, we discuss a critical link how regenerative tourism can serve as a tool for climate resilience. The Pacific tourism sector recognizes the importance of responding decisively to the challenges posed by climate change, not just to protect our industries, but to safeguard our communities, cultures, and ways of life. Regenerative tourism, while gaining global recognition, is not new to us. It is deeply embedded in our Pacific values and practices—where living harmoniously with nature and fostering respect for our environment have always been at the core of who we are. It’s encouraging to see that the rest of the world is now catching up with what our ancestors have practiced for generations,” Mr Cocker said.

“This workshop is key to aligning our actions with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and preparing for SPTO’s Strategic Plan for 2025-2029," he added.

The four-day workshop was held at the Novotel Nadi Hotel, hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in partnership with the Local2030 Islands Network, SPTO and The Ocean Foundation, with support from the U.S. Department of State.

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is the mandated organisation representing Tourism in the region. Its 21 Government members are Tonga, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Rapa Nui, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, and the People’s Republic of China.