Tourism operators and communities in TORBA Province are receiving improved facilities to support visitors and strengthen tourism opportunities, following the launch of a solar power project and the opening of a new cruise sanitation block in the Torres Islands last week.
The Department of Tourism launched the Tourism Solar Project on Gaua and Hui on 22 October, following earlier soft launches on Motalava and Rah. The project has provided solar power systems to 10 tourist bungalows and homestays across Gaua, Motalava, Rah and Hui.
community at the project plaque.
The Department also opened the Loh Cruise Sanitation Block at the Loh Cruise Port of Call Landing Area, providing essential facilities for visitors arriving by cruise and expedition ships.
community who helped prepare the site.
The two projects were supported by the governments of Serbia and New Zealand, respectively, to improve tourism services and support communities in some of Vanuatu’s most remote islands.
Solar power supports 10 tourism operators
Funded by the Government of the Republic of Serbia through its development cooperation programme with Vanuatu, the Tourism Solar Project was proposed by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Energy.
Each of the 10 accommodation providers received a 2,400-watt solar power station, lighting, a deep freezer and a smart TV screen.
The systems will provide lighting for guests at night, allow operators to keep fish and local produce fresh, and offer phone-charging facilities.
The beneficiaries are Welun, Ruru, Wong Grass and Tammes Bungalows on Gaua; Totolag Homestay and Motalava Gateway Lodge on Motalava; Dori Lagoon, Rah Fishing Lodge and Rah Paradise Bungalow on Rah; and Natavoa Bungalow on Hui in the Torres Islands.
The systems on Motalava and Rah were soft-launched during the Public Service Commission’s national celebration, PSC Day, held from 6 to 9 October 2026. The official launch was later held on Gaua and Hui, where the remaining beneficiaries are located.
Director of Tourism Paul Pio said the project would help operators improve their services and benefit more from tourism.
“Our operators in TORBA work hard to welcome visitors on some of the most remote islands in the country, often without power. Today they have lights and refrigeration, and that lets them offer a better product and earn more from tourism. We thank the Government of Serbia for standing with these communities.”
Serbia’s Ambassador to Vanuatu, Rade Stefanović, said his country wanted its assistance to make a direct difference to local communities.
“Serbia is not a big country, but we are trying to be a true friend of Vanuatu. We wanted to fund projects that would have an impact on local communities.”
The project was implemented by the Department of Tourism through its Tourism Investment Division. Delivery involved procurement, approval of the solar systems by the Department of Energy, shipping materials from Port Vila to the islands and installing the systems despite weather delays and inter-island transport challenges.
The solar systems were supplied locally.
Loh opens new facility for cruise visitors
Also on 22 October, the Department of Tourism opened the Loh Cruise Sanitation Block at the cruise port of call landing area in the Torres Islands.
The facility includes toilets, a handwashing basin and a rainwater tank, providing basic amenities for visitors arriving by cruise and expedition ships.
As expedition cruises bring more visitors to the remote northern islands, the facility is intended to improve the visitor experience and help the community maintain a clean beach and island environment.
At the opening ceremony, the chiefs, mamas and youth of Loh welcomed the delegation. The facility was formally handed over to the Loh community, which will be responsible for managing it.
Director of Tourism Paul Pio said the new facility would help the community welcome visitors and benefit from growing cruise tourism.
“Expedition ships are bringing visitors to the Torres Islands, and the people of Loh deserve to be able to welcome them properly. This facility gives visitors the basic comfort they expect when they step ashore, and it gives the community a better chance to benefit from every ship that calls.”
The project was funded by the New Zealand Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the Vanuatu Tourism Recovery and Resilience Programme.
It was implemented by the Department of Tourism through its cruise programme, with Senior Cruise Tourism Officer Brenda Andre managing delivery alongside Acting Manager of the TORBA Tourism Office John Anmath.
The Department also acknowledged the work of former TORBA Tourism Office Manager Olivet Dorony Lecoeuvre, Torres Tourism Association Chairman Philemon Collins, and the chiefs, mamas and youth of Loh in supporting the project.
Supporting tourism in remote communities
The solar project and the Loh sanitation block address different needs but share a common goal: improving the facilities available to tourism operators, visitors and local communities in remote parts of TORBA Province.
The solar systems provide accommodation operators with electricity for lighting and refrigeration, while the sanitation block gives cruise visitors access to essential facilities when they come ashore.
The two projects also reflect cooperation between Vanuatu and its development partners. The Government of Serbia funded the Tourism Solar Project, while the New Zealand Government supported the Loh Cruise Sanitation Block through the Vanuatu Tourism Recovery and Resilience Programme.
Vanuatu and Serbia established diplomatic relations in 2018, with the solar project among the first bilateral development activities between the two countries.
