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Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, in December 2022.
The easing of COVID restrictions has just seen the resumption of the Pacific Nation's tourist trade, a pillar of the economy.
A huge section of that trade comes from Australia, many people arriving on cruise ships into Port Vila.
Lucie Leikave Kalsakau had been preparing for the return of cruise ships for months.
She's been selling her crafts in the Island’s capital city for 20 years but without tourists, life hasn’t been easy.
“It was a very hard situation. It’s very hard – we lost lots of money. Our business is down for two years, but we manage and we are just so grateful. As I’m speaking my heart is aching. Thank God, you can come this morning, ship come back again. So we can resume our business to get money for the food, school fees.”
Vanuatu Department of Tourism officer Amos Ronnie says the entire country was excited that tourism was returning because of the importance of the industry to the economy.
“It's a big contribution to the economy in terms of transport, in terms of tourism products, cultural tours around the island. When these tours around communities, they tend to go into the village, and then contribution to churches, contribution to school, which is good for us.”
But at the same time as acknowledging the importance of tourism to many Pacific nations - it is many of those same Pacific Nations that are bearing the brunt of climate change, with rising sea levels threatening the very existence of some countries.
Postdoctoral research fellow at the Griffith Institute for Tourism Dr Johanna Loehr says the same ships that bring the tourists also contribute to climate change.
She says cruise ships are energy intensive, because they are moving resorts.
"It's not just people staying somewhere, but everything that's on there, you know, that all the facilities that come with it, they're being moved to transport it. And so if we're thinking about carbon emissions, for example, transport usually represents the largest emitter of the tourism system."
Joel Katz is the Managing Director of Cruise Lines International Association Australasia.
He told SBS in 2021 that the cruise industry is eager to take a leadership role, pledging to reach net zero by 2050 and vowing to invest in sustainable research as well as development.
“The cruise lines are spending billions of dollars working with engine providers and fuel manufacturers to really understand what are those alternative fuels that can be used. And we're very proud of the fact that a significant number of the new build ships that are coming into service over the coming years will be operating with LNG, which is a transitional fuel, and means that those ships are then ready for the next generation of biofuels as they developed and then things like fuel cells, battery technology, and of course, all those behind the scenes, equipment and systems to really help them minimise the impact of the of the ships.”
The cruise industry may be looking to make changes, but are sustainable choices a consideration when people put their everyday life behind to go on holiday?
The World Meteorological Organization and the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service calculated July 2023 to be the hottest month on record.
Heat records foreshadow changes ahead as the planet warms, scientists say, including more flooding, longer-burning wildfires and extreme weather events that put people at risk.
Lucia Principe, a tourist from Tuscany in Italy, arriving at Rome's train station says vacations are a chance to relax and although she makes environmental choices at home, comfort comes first when travelling.
“At home I think a lot about the environment, undifferentiated waste, recycling, everything. When I travel I prefer comfort and honestly I think about it less.”
But some are making a change.
German tourist Jan Sommer says that he and his travelling companion had decided not to take flights within Thailand but travel by train instead.
" Basically whilst staying in Thailand we are not planning on doing any flights within Thailand but travelling by train and by bus. So this is how we plan to contribute to a better climate."
Sustainable tourism is defined by the United Nations Environment Program and UN World Tourism Organization as ...
“Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”
Tourism Australia (TA) is the Australian Government agency responsible for growing demand for Australia as a tourism destination, both in Australia and overseas.
In a statement on their website, they say:
"Sustainable tourism includes protecting and restoring our natural environment, helping to conserve Australia’s natural wonders and cultures, so they can be enjoyed today and by future generations. It also means fostering a profitable industry that delivers employment opportunities and economic benefits to communities, and in turn helps improve the tourism experience for our travellers and the quality of life for Australians."
A tricky balancing act - and one that needs to succeed
