The Union of Hotels of New Caledonia has signed a statement of intent with the New Caledonian government to support preparations for the 14th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture, or FESTPAC, scheduled to be held in the French Pacific territory in 2028.
The agreement was signed on May 21 by Mickaël Forrest and Philippe Etwiller as part of broader efforts to strengthen accommodation capacity and tourism readiness ahead of the regional cultural event.
According to the parties, the agreement aims to improve coordination between the government and the hotel sector to ensure delegations from Pacific countries and territories are accommodated under optimal conditions during FESTPAC 2028.
The partnership will focus on increasing the territory’s accommodation capacity, promoting Oceanian culture within tourist establishments, strengthening communications around the festival, improving the experience for delegates and visitors, and supporting the economic recovery of the hotel industry.
The government said FESTPAC represented a major opportunity to showcase New Caledonia’s cultural identity and tourism sector across the Pacific region and internationally.
Under the proposed cooperation framework, both parties will explore initiatives including the promotion of hotels and accommodation venues as spaces for cultural experiences, the development of dedicated FESTPAC travel packages, and the creation of a “FESTPAC 14 Partner Hotel” label offering tariff advantages for participating establishments.
The partnership will also seek to align the values of FESTPAC with sustainability goals and the promotion of local identity across participating hotel operators.
FESTPAC is one of the Pacific region’s largest cultural gatherings, bringing together artists, performers and cultural representatives from across Oceania to celebrate and preserve Indigenous and Pacific cultural heritage. The 14th edition will be hosted by New Caledonia in 2028.
