Tuvalu Agritourism Policy Setting Workshop 2018
Policy Setting for Improved Linkages Between Agriculture, Trade and Tourism:
Strengthening the Local Agrifood sector and Promoting Healthy Food in Agritourism
Concept Paper and Workshop organised by the Government of Tuvalu
in collaboration with and Pacific Community, CTA, PIPSO and SPTO
Funafuti, Tuvalu, 7 & 10 September 2018
Background
Promoting linkages between agriculture and tourism-related markets for improved food and nutrition security
Tourism is the lifeblood of many Pacific economies and agritourism provides a promising avenue for diversification and trade growth. High quality, nutritious and healthy food, available every day of the year, is critical to hotels, lodges and resorts. Often the food purchasing bill of a tourism site is large in comparison to the size of the local economy, yet surprisingly little of this is spent locally, even when supplies are available from farmers, fishermen and small-scale agribusinesses. The challenges of shifting food-sourcing to local suppliers are considerable – achieving this in a way that meets commercial needs and customer preferences and meets food and safety requirements would be one way in which tourism operations can significantly increase their contribution to local economic development.
The first Pacific Agribusiness Forum on Linking the agrifood sector to the tourism-related markets was held on 1-3 July 2015 in Denarau as part of the Pacific Agritourism Week, and organised by the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) and the ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA). It highlighted successes in strengthening links between agriculture and tourism industries in the Pacific region. Since 2016, a total of four consultative national agritourism policy setting workshops were organised in Vanuatu and Samoa, Solomon Islands in 2017 and Fiji in early 2018 which led to concrete policy measures and funding proposals developed for each country.
There are significant challenges for Tuvalu which includes the limited infrastructure and transportation both domestically and international. Accommodation is only available on the main island of Funafuti. Some of the key issues which need to be considered in developing agritourism linkage policy in Tuvalu are as follows:
Goal: To promote sustainable use of local food by the tourism industry through a new coordinated Tuvalu Agritourism Plan or Strategy to strengthened intersectoral policies.
Objectives:
- To promote linkages between the agrifood sector and the tourism industry to increase sustainable local sourcing through a new developed agritourism plan or policy for Tuvalu
- To identify key institutional and supply chain gaps and issues that should be advocated through this new Plan and stakeholders that would drive the changes
- To formulated an initial work plan and a working group that will take forward concrete actions drawn from the consultations.
- To identify concrete projects that can be supported under the intra ACP EU funding.
- To contribute to the Pacific regional agritourism strategy.
Expected results
- A better common understanding of the opportunities in agritourism in Tuvalu
- A platform promoting linkages between Agriculture and Tourism is established
- Priority areas for development and support under the intra ACP funding are identified
- A Tuvalu Agritourism Policy and the framework to implement the policy are designed
- The main elements of the Strategy/policy on agritourism are developed and validated by the multi-sectoral focus group.
- An initial work plan and a working group that will take forward concrete actions drawn from the consultations.
Updates:
– A Testimonial from Tuvalu on Food Handling Training (SPTO; July 2019)
PROGRAMME
Friday 7 September 2018
8h30-9h00 Registration
9h00-9h15 Opening Address
(A.g) Minister for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Tourism, Environment and Labour.
Honourable Namoliki Sualiki Neemia
9h15-11h00: Session 1: Setting the scene: what do we know about opportunities to support linkages between agriculture, health and tourism
This session will set the scene on the opportunities that the tourism sector can bring and the needed linkages with other sectors such as agriculture and trade. It will look at successful models in other parts of the world and what could of interest to Tuvalu agritourism policy.
Moderator: Tuvalu
– Setting the scene: Agritourism Policy for Tuvalu
Mr Matio Lonalona (Department of Agriculture) [presentation]
– Global trends and evolution of agritourism and food tourism
CTA
– Tourism Opportunities for Development in Tuvalu
SPTO (Marketing Manager, Ms Alisi Lutu) [presentation]
– Agritourism Development in the Pacific
PIPSO (Mr Bou Mawi) [presentation]
11h00-11h15 Coffee Break
11h15-13h00: Tuvalu Context: Opportunities for Agritourism Development
This session will look at the Tuvalu context. It aims at reaching a better common understanding of the opportunities in agritourism in Tuvalu. It will assess the situation in the key areas important to set up an agritourism policy.
Moderator: Tuvalu (potential names to be provided by Tuvalu counterparts)
– Overview of tourism development and opportunities for greater connection with the agriculture industry at policy level
Rep Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Commerce [presentation]
– Overview of main agricultural and fisheries fresh and processed products with potential for the tourism-related markets an exports
FAO/SPC Rep
– Developing the Tourism Market for Tuvalu – What is currently being done and future opportunities?
Rep Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Commerce [presentation]
13h00-14h00 Lunch
14h00-16h00: Session 2: Identification of priority Areas for Development for Agribusiness and Agritourism
This session will discuss key areas in agribusiness and agritourism that are priority for development support and present specific examples of what can work and already identified in the Tuvalu Agriculture Sector Plan. Furthermore to identify how development support can be better tailored in the local context.
– Agribusiness key priority areas for support
Mr Soloseni Penitusi – Rep from Tuvalu National Private Sector Organization [presentation]
– Opportunities for support to build quality seafood supplies
Mrs Lita Piita – Rep from Afelita Isand Resort [presentation]
– Developing Agritourism Attractions, Tours and Handicrafts
Mr. Taafaki Semu – Rep from Tuvalu and Hospitality Association of Tuvalu
16h00-17h30: Working groups in each of the 3 areas to identify key elements of the strategy/policy on agritourism and proposed actions. Identify 3 or 4 key areas for priority development and support
Monday 10 September 2018
9h00-13h15: Session 3: Promoting Agritourism through Value Addition, Value Chains and Safety standards
9h15-11h00
– Building Sustainable Value Chain for Agritourism – What needs to be done?
Theresa – Rep from SPC [presentation]
– Supporting Farmers and Farmers Organisations
Mr. Matio Lonalona – Rep from Department of Agriculture [presentation]
– Product Development (Value Additions), Market Access and Food Safety Standards/Certifications
Mereia Volavola
11h00-11h15 Coffee Break
11h15-13h15: Chefs for Development: the link between agriculture & cuisine
This session will look at the role of chefs and the hospitality sector in stimulating demand of local products and its use by chefs. It will share experiences from other regions.
– Building Food Tourism in Tuvalu – Why it is important and what can be done?
Ms. Alisi Lutu – Marketing Manager from SPTO [presentation]
– Sourcing local food by the Chefs – Challenges and Opportunities
Mrs Sele Kaitu – Rep from Funafuti Lagoon Hotel [presentation]
– Promoting Food festivals and Food celebrations – Would Tuvalu be looking at this opportunity?
Mrs Pulaalofa Haulagi
– Challenges and Opportunities for Farmers & Farmers Organisations
Mr Matio Lonalona – Rep from Department of Agriculture Tuvalu [presentation]
13h15-14h15 Lunch Break
14h30-16h00: Identification agritourism Policy Consideration and Priority Developments – Group Presentations
Key elements of the strategy/policy on agritourism and proposed actions. Identify 3 key areas for priority development and support [presentation]
Conclusion—Moderator provides concluding remarks focusing on agreed future actions
