This STEP Background Paper presents a clear and coordinated approach to advancing sustainable tourism and embedding Circular Economy and SCP principles across the Pacific tourism sector. It reflects extensive consultation, technical analysis, and regional consensus, and highlights both the strong commitment of Pacific Island Countries and the practical pathways needed to achieve long-term transformation.
The findings in this paper reaffirm that while many countries have embraced the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework and the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Standards, significant challenges remain before policy can be transformed into practice. Issues include limited institutional capacity, fragmented governance, underdeveloped data and monitoring systems, and barriers to finance and implementation, particularly for MSMEs and community-based enterprises.
