The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) has released its official Post-Event Report for the South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE) 2026, highlighting record-breaking participation, stronger regional collaboration, and significant progress toward sustainable tourism development across the Pacific.
Held from March 24–26 at the Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort and Spa, SPTE 2026 attracted more than 225 trade-floor participants, including 82 sellers representing 17 countries and territories, 60 international buyers from 16 countries, and eight ancillary providers.
The report revealed that the event achieved an 84 percent seller conversion rate, an increase of 16 percentage points from 2025, while facilitating a record 2,809 business-to-business meetings at an 80 percent booking rate — the highest figures recorded in the history of the exchange.
A notable highlight was the increased participation from Papua New Guinea, which expanded its presence from one seller in 2025 to seven sellers in 2026. The event also welcomed the Federated States of Micronesia for the first time, further broadening Pacific representation.
Development partner support enabled 11 tourism operators from Smaller Island States and Territories (SISTs) to participate, reinforcing SPTO’s commitment to inclusive regional development and ensuring that emerging destinations could access international tourism markets.
Several new initiatives were introduced during SPTE 2026, including the inaugural Industry Day, which attracted 93 participants and featured expert-led discussions on tourism trends and opportunities. The event also hosted a Women in Business Showcase, highlighting women-led tourism enterprises from six Pacific Island countries.
Media engagement exceeded expectations, with 10 media representatives from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Italy generating more than 200 pieces of digital content before, during, and after the event.
SPTO Chief Executive Officer Christopher Cocker said the strong outcomes demonstrated the Pacific tourism industry's growing unity and readiness to compete in international markets.
“SPTE 2026 demonstrated that the Pacific’s unified approach to tourism is delivering real commercial value for our members,” Cocker said.
“The strong participation, high-quality meetings, and positive stakeholder feedback show that the region is moving forward with confidence, collaboration, and a clear commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth.”
Cocker acknowledged the contributions of industry stakeholders, member countries, tourism operators, and development partners who helped make the event a success. He also extended special appreciation to Fiji Airways, the event’s Platinum Partner, for its significant in-kind support, which enabled the hosted buyer programme and strengthened international participation across key source markets.
The SPTO Chief Executive further recognised the support of numerous sponsors and partners, including New Zealand Māori Tourism, UnionPay International, the Fiji Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, South Sea Cruises, Vanuatu Tourism Office, Tahiti Tourisme, SPREP, Samoa Tourism Authority, Tourism Solomons, Tourism Fiji, Pacific Trade Invest Australia, South Pacific Pocket Guide, and several other industry supporters.
According to the report, stakeholder feedback indicated high satisfaction levels among participants and strong intentions to return for SPTE 2027.
Fiji has secured hosting rights for next year’s event, reaffirming its position as one of the Pacific region’s leading tourism hubs and reflecting confidence in the country’s capacity to deliver one of the region’s premier tourism business events.
The report recommends continued efforts to expand market reach, improve event operations, and strengthen support for Smaller Island States and Territories and emerging tourism operators.
SPTO said the results of SPTE 2026 demonstrate the growing strength and resilience of Pacific tourism and reinforce the value of regional collaboration in driving sustainable economic growth throughout the region.
