WHEN: 12 November 2026 I TIME: 13:00 - 14:30 (Fiji Time) I REGISTER Here
Background:
The Sustainable Tourism Enhancement in the Pacific (STEP) programme, implemented with the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and supported by the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component (PSC), has helped build foundations for more sustainable tourism through country pathways and policy and standards-related work in Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa and Vanuatu. The next challenge is translating these foundations into practical changes in tourism businesses and destinations.
This webinar will explore how business-led supply chains can connect tourism enterprises—particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and community-based operators—with suitable products, suppliers, technologies, services, skills and, where relevant, technical or financial support. Discussion will focus on practical needs and bottlenecks in areas such as energy and resource efficiency, alternatives to single-use plastics, waste management, sustainable procurement, local sourcing and access to suppliers in outer-island markets.
The webinar will bring together tourism businesses and industry associations, suppliers and solution providers, regional technical organisations, development partners and relevant EU/Team Europe stakeholders. It aims to identify potential connections and realistic follow-up opportunities based on country priorities and the interest of potential partners to support the STEP Programme in achieve mutual objectives.
Objectives
- Show how STEP’s foundations in Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa and Vanuatu can support the next phase of business implementation.
- Identify practical supply-chain barriers faced by tourism businesses and community enterprises.
- Connect business needs with suppliers, technical expertise, industry networks and relevant partner programmes.
- Identify potential follow-up actions and opportunities for further exploration by SPTO, country partners, businesses and interested organisations.
Expected Outputs
The webinar will produce a concise summary of common business needs and supply-chain bottlenecks, identify organisations interested in further discussion, and develop a short post-webinar opportunity brief.
Speakers
Dr Zinaida Fadeeva, Team Leader, SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component
Chris Cocker, SPTO CEO
Erik Lindebo, Team Leader, Climate Adaptation, Water and Environment, EU Delegation to the Pacific
Christina Leala-Gale, Sustainable Tourism Manager, SPTO
Agenda
Moderated by Loraine Gatlabayan, Expert, SWITCH-Asia PSC
Proposed speakers are subject to confirmation
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Time (Fiji Time) |
Session |
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13:00–13:10
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Welcome and Opening Remarks |
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13:10–13:15
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Session 1: Strategic framing, moving from standards to business implementation focusing on sustainable supply-chain |
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13:15–13:25 |
STEP foundations and priorities in Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa and Vanuatu and focused reflections on common implementation needs in the Pacific |
|
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Session 2 |
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13:25–13:40 |
Business experience of Industry: needs and supply-chain bottlenecks |
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13:40–14:00
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Supply-chain solutions and regional experiences |
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14:00–14:20
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Moderated opportunity exchange: connecting demand, supply and support |
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14:20–14:30
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Next steps and closing |
