| David Stanley is a noted
author and the host of the South
Pacific Travel website. I have corresponded with David for
several years and was pleased when David agreed to participate
in an online Q&A.
To begin this conversation, David could you introduce
yourself and your work to Planeta readers?
I've been writing travel guidebooks since 1979. I co-authored
my first book, Moon Handbooks South Pacific, with Bill Dalton,
author of the legendary Indonesia Handbook. Bill bowed out after
the first edition and I went on to research and write the following
seven editions single-handed. The 8th and final edition of South
Pacific was published in 2004 but I've plans to post many
of the 1,091 pages on Southpacific.org.
This process could take several years.
New editions of my other books, Moon Fiji and Moon Tahiti, were
just published by Avalon Travel Publishing of Berkeley, California.
I plan to keep the Fiji and Tahiti books going for another few
editions at least as it will give me an excuse to revisit one
of my favorite travel areas. BTW, my photo collection of 15 South
Pacific countries and territories is accessible at Pacific-pictures.com
David, I read the news about the demise of the South Pacific
guidebook in Tim Leffel's blog
which led me back to your site. You write that changing Pacific
travel patterns are a factor in the falling sales: "These
days the vast majority of tourists to the South Pacific visit
only a single destination. Longer island-hopping trips to three
or more countries have become the exception." I imagine that
these changing travel trends are having a big impact on some of
the smaller islands.
What's your view of the future of South Pacific travel?
Is it possible for travelers to buck the trend and visit three
or more countries? Also, what would you need to convert the South
Pacific Handbook into an updated website or downloadable files?
Of course it's quite possible to visit three or more South Pacific
destinations on a single trip - it will just cost you a bit more
money. If you're flying from Australia or New Zealand, you'll
probably need to purchase another ticket from somewhere like Fiji
to Samoa
and Tonga.
Another popular triangle ticket is Fiji to Vanuatu and the Solomon
Islands. Coming from North America, you can get stops at either
Tahiti or Rarotonga (one of them, not both) on the way down and
Fiji or Samoa on the way back. You'll be forced to transit Auckland
even if you aren't interested in visiting New Zealand.
Regarding Moon Handbooks South Pacific I want to post as much
of the book as possible on my website,
but I'm still not sure how I'm going to handle it. I already have
10 one-page introductions.
I may use subdomains to keep the material separate from my main
site and I'll probably start with a smaller chapter like Tokelau
to see how it goes.
A background question -- who are the leaders in South
Pacific Tourism and in your opinion are they doing a good job
of promoting independent travel? Are there regional policies highlighting
ecotourism and responsible travel?
The South
Pacific Tourism Organisation is the regional tourism promotion
body, and yes, they do support smaller, independent tourism operators.
Information about their Pacific Plan to facilitate the sustainable
development of the tourism sector in the South Pacific is on the
website.
The SPTO works closely with the national tourism offices, all
of whom are listed online.
In French Polynesia the territorial tourism body Tahiti Tourisme
promotes family-operated pensions as strongly as the mega-resorts.
This is partly because the pension owners vote locally while many
of the five-star resorts are owned by overseas companies. The
lesson is that politics can work to the advantage of smaller interests
if they're organized and make their voices heard.
In Fiji, the Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau provides training and
marketing support to village-operated backpacker resorts in the
Yasawa Islands, for example. A strict Code of Contact to prevent
environmental degradation and to maintain standards has been formulated
by the Nacula Tikina Tourism Association in cooperation with the
FVB and other stakeholders. The main points are summarized on
online
and much of it is applicable in any rural tourism venue.
These are inspiring examples of government sites! David,
could you share some personal background? When did you first travel
to the South Pacific? What stimulated your interest in documenting
tourism in the region?
My first visit to the South Pacific was in 1978 when I flew Pan
American Airways to Tahiti and Pago Pago. I'd been corresponding
with Bill Dalton, author of Indonesia, a Travelers Notes, and
had sent him many corrections and additions to his guide. I told
Bill that my next trip was to the South Pacific and he suggested
we co-author a guidebook to the area. A year later the first edition
of South Pacific Handbook appeared. The subsequent history of
that book is on online.
Over the years I've revisited the South Pacific many times and
some of the countries - especially Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa, and the
Cook Islands - are among my favorite destinations anywhere in
the world. They're far enough off the mass travel routes not to
be overwhelmed, and the environment is simply beautiful. It's
a real pleasure to revisit an outer island I haven't seen for
a while, to reconnect with old acquaintances and see how things
have developed.
David, can you tell us more about Fiji and Tahiti in terms
of environmental awareness and attention to sustainability? Also,
what should eco-minded travelers know before they buy their ticket?
Frankly - and let's be completely honest here - the truly eco-minded
traveler would probably chose to stay home. Jet aircraft are big
emitters of greenhouse gases and most flights to the South Pacific
are overnight when the damage to the environment is worst. The
most eco-friendly travel is travel in your own local area, just
the way the most eco-friendly food is locally grown.
However, I'm in the business of promoting travel to the South
Pacific and I try to minimize the impact of mass tourism by encouraging
visitors to stay in low impact locally-owned accommodations and
to eat island food. I encourage people to use public transportation
whenever possible rather than renting a car. In Fiji, it's very
easy to travel everywhere by public transport, in French Polynesia
less so.
In my opinion, sustainability means using local rather than imported
products and living as the local population lives. If travelers
spend their money in places where they see local residents spending
their money, they strengthen the local infrastructure rather than
helping outsiders create artificial economies for their own benefit.
It's as simple as that and doesn't take a genius to recognize.
Where are Fiji and Tahiti in terms of sustainability? Fiji is
much poorer than French Polynesia in material terms but it is
decades ahead as far as sustainability goes. The French Polynesian
economy is totally dependent on subsidies from France and the
European Union. Much of its tourist industry is run by transnational
companies. Bora Bora is a classic case of unsustainable development
which will collapse as soon as long haul airline tickets become
priced out of sight, as is certain to happen eventually.
Fiji also has a number of unsustainable mega resorts but they
don't dominate the way they do in French Polynesia. Fiji is not
dependent on foreign aid and much of its food is grown locally.
Over half its electricity is hydroelectric. Fiji's vast sugar
fields seem perfect for biodiesel production. For visitors, lots
of village-operated resorts exist on the outer islands. They're
the ones without air-conditioning, motorized watersports, imported
food, and overseas managers. They're quite easy to spot.
One of my favorite sections in any travel guidebook is
the phrasebook. Daru lako! What's your favorite Fijian phrase
... and why?
Very Happy Every Fiji visitor should know how to say vinaka (thank
you). To emphasize your thanks, say vinaka vakalevu (thank you
very much). But the word Fiji visitors will hear most often is
bula! meaning welcome! It's sort of symbolic of what Fiji is all
about, and there aren't many countries around the world as friendly
and welcoming as this. A variation is bula vinaka.
Another word you hear a lot is moce (goodbye), pronounced 'mothe.'
And during your stay you'll doubtless be offered yaqona (kava),
pronounced 'yanggona.'
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